Aboriginal Health Forum
Primary Care Liaison
Overview
The current Victorian state government initiative for primary care reform is the Primary Care Partnership (PCP) Strategy. A PCP is a voluntary alliance of service providers that work together to improve health and well being in their local communities. In Victoria more than 800 organisations have come together in 31 PCP catchments across the state to progress reforms. Key elements of this reform are support for integrated chronic disease management, service coordination, and integrated health promotion. Divisions of general practice are members of their local PCP(s) and provide local leadership on engaging GPs in the reform process. Division staff and, in many cases, GP representatives, participate in committees and working groups to help ensure that new processes and projects are workable for general practice.
The Department of Human Services also funds a number of chronic disease prevention and management initiatives through Community Health Services, Health Services (eg hospitals, small rural health services) and non-government organisations such as Diabetes Australia-Victoria.
Key Objectives
GPV is funded by DHS to build capacity in the primary health care system so that divisions of general practice, working with Primary Care Partnership member agencies, can support general practice and state funded providers to communicate, coordinate and collaborate more effectively. In particular, the GPV Primary Health Care Consultant assists divisions to work collaboratively with other primary care agencies in the context of PCPs, the Early Intervention in Chronic Disease Program(EiCD) and Commonwealth funded programs. .
GPV �s role is to:
- Facilitate interchange of information, good practice models and generate partnerships between and among general practice divisions, GPs, health and community agencies and where appropriate DHS regional offices
- Advise Primary Health Branch (DHS) on strategies to strengthen engagement with divisions of general practice
- Foster a collaborative approach between divisions and DHS/Primary Health Branch programs and initiatives including Early Intervention in Chronic Disease, Small Grants for Service Coordination and Integrated Health Promotion, Service Coordination and use of the Victorian Statewide Referral Form
For further information contact:
Lenora Iippamann, Integration Team Leader Ph: 03 9314 5214 | Fax: 03 9341 5299 | Mob: 0407 302 913 | Email: