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Investing in community health infrastructure
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 Investing in community health infrastructure
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4.2 MB |
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Social infrastructure mapping
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19.23 MB |
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Access to social infrastructure consumer research
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3.69 MB |
Community health organisations provide services like general practice, dental care and allied health at low or no cost to Victorians experiencing disadvantage. They also offer social services like aged care, housing and homelessness services, and mental health support.
Community health organisations could help more people, but most operate out of buildings that are old or not fit for purpose, with leaking roofs and structural issues. Some have had to give up funding for services because their spaces cannot accommodate their clients' needs.
This research finds that with the right planning and a small increase in infrastructure funding, community health organisations can help keep the most vulnerable Victorians healthy and ease demand on its hospitals and emergency departments.
Key findings
- In Victoria in 2023–24, around 546,000 people could have avoided visiting a hospital emergency department if a primary care or community health service had been managing their health condition.
- Almost half of Victorians, 3.2 million people, live with at least one chronic health condition.
- In Australia, chronic health conditions contribute 85% of the total disease burden each year.
- Registered community health organisations receive about half of their service funding from the Victorian Government and 28% from the Australian Government.
- One in five community health organisation buildings were reportedly in poor condition, affecting the ability of community health providers to deliver services.
Recommendations
- Conduct an asset assessment of all community health facilities in Victoria, including integrated and registered community health services.
- Undertake long-term infrastructure planning in consultation with community health services and use this to develop community health services infrastructure investment priorities.
- Invest in community health facilities to support the delivery of local, high-quality community health services over the next five years.
The report is accompanied by two supporting technical documents.
