Consumers and Community

Divisions of General Practice: Future Directions: the government response to the Report of the Review of the role of Divisions of General Practice April 2004 supports the need for divisions to "open themselves to community view and accountability"...(p.23).

GPDV supports Victorian divisions in the use of effective models of involvement with all those who have a key interest in the work of divisions and in General Practice.

GPDV's Policy Issues Paper No. 20  - Community and Consumer Connections and Divisions of General Practice suggests that useful areas for divisions to further their work are:

  • Ensuring divisions programs are consistent with the needs of the local population (through consultation, needs assessment, joint work with other groups in the community, primary care partnerships etc).
  • Increasing access for disadvantaged groups of consumers. Ensuring that disadvantaged groups within the local area are identified for divisions programs that address Commonwealth health priorities (e.g. ensuring that a Heart Health program is made available in an appropriate form to a local Aboriginal community).
  • Incorporating consumer views into the development of continuing professional development programs for GPs to further GP knowledge about consumers experiences of general practice and consumer views on quality improvement.
  • Promoting and facilitating consumer input to general practice through practice accreditation processes.

The most recent report on the ways in which divisions are engaged with consumers was attached to the GPDV Business Plan report to the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing in April 2004. 

Please click here to view the attachment.  (20KB).

For further information contact Louise Willis, Policy Analyst email l.willis@gpdv.com.au.

Related Resources:



To access related pages please click on the below links:
Consumers and Community Workshops
Useful Websites