Growth and definition of the community health sector
In late 2006 VCOSS and The Victorian Healthcare Association (VHA) agreed to partner in a project which would look at the future growth and definition of the primary and community health sector. This project is occurring in the context of the Victorian Government’s social policy framework, A Fairer Victoria, and recent Department of Human Services’ policy documents such as Community Health Services: Creating a Healthier Victoria and Care in your community.
The project began with a seminar in October 2006 for primary and community health services to come together and think about a vision for the future. A background paper was prepared to assist in participants’ preparation for the forum so as to inform and stimulate discussion on the day. The forum was well attended with representatives from both metropolitan and regional and rural community health services. One of the key outcomes from the forum was the establishment of a Working Group to advance some of the priority issues identified at the forum.
This joint VCOSS and VHA Working Group first met in February 2007 and has identified a number of activities that the project should include. The main outcomes will be a position statement and an action plan for advocacy activities. The Working Group has also subsequently identified a number of synergies with the VHA Marketing of Community Health project and has created a partnership arrangement with this project in recognition of these synergies.
A number of activities that have been identified to support the achievement of the key outcomes of the project. These include a short survey provided to all community health services to test a definition of community health (and its applicability into the future) that has been created through the Marketing of Community Health project, and the development of a background paper.