Victorian Response: Medicare Locals - Primary Health Care

The Victorian Government has released a response to Medicare Locals. The response highlights a set of principles to inform the Victorian approach.

http://www.health.vic.gov.au/news/health_reform-2011.htm

There are several references to PCPs including the following:

The current Victorian proposal for a minimum of 20 is based on the premise that the 30 local primary care partnerships will continue to operate in conjunction with the Medicare Locals.

The state commits to:

• Funding the community health program through existing service,


• Delivery mechanisms, which include local hospital networks,


• Registered community health services and non-government organizations,


• Aligning the strategic directions of the state-funded programs, both primary care partnerships and


• Community health, with the agreed national policy and statewide plan at the earliest opportunity reviewing the integration of the primary care partnerships functions with Medicare Locals on the successful evolution of Medicare Locals.

In the immediate to medium term, Victoria will continue to fund and manage Primary Care Partnerships. Once Medicare Locals are fully established and partnerships are evolved, integration of Primary Care Partnership functions will be considered.

Funding - Conferences/Journals

The Statewide PCPs have received funding from the Department of Health to support development of the evidence base through the evaluation of partnership activities. This is ideally in the form of submission of abstracts and journal articles, and also for attendance at national or international conferences. There is an expectation that financial support will cover the span of PCP activity. The Statewide Executives are currently finalizing the guidelines and application processes for distribution. 

Bulletin Information

If you have information relevant to the Statewide PCPs that you would like included in the bulletin, please contact Catherine Tran at catherine.tran@vha.org.au or on (03) 9094 7777.

Calendar

The schedule of statewide PCP meetings can be found on the PCP website www.vicpcp.org.au.

Attachments/Forms:

HP Application Form

HP Courses and Conferences

HP Grants' Guidelines

Short Course in Health Promotion