Health orgs to talk statewide services

REPRESENTATIVES behind eleven community health organisations in Victoria will come together for their first showcase meeting at Creswick this week.

Taking place on Thursday and Friday, the Alliance of Rural and Regional Community Health’s inaugural conference will see the partner organisations meet to focus on health equity in regional Victoria.

ARRCH governance group member and Grampians Community Health CEO Greg Little said the event will showcase the alliance’s mission statement.

“We’re probably the best kept secret in the Victorian health system,” he said.

“Everyone knows what a hospital does, but not a lot of people know how deeply connected and how much impact community health has in local communities.

“We wanted to share some of the excellent best-practice work we do, strengthen what we do together, continue to address service gaps, learn from each other, and help set the agenda for the future.

“We are proud to be able to deliver this program in country Victoria and hope to expand on it in future years.”

The conference will take place at RACV Goldfields Resort and will be centred around the theme of ‘engaging with communities to address health equity, the rural and regional way.’

Ballarat Community Health and Grampians Community Health are among the members of ARRCH, which is estimated to provide health services for more than 80 per cent of Victoria.

More than 200 people from throughout the state are expected to attend the sold-out event.

ARRCH’s executive members will speak concurrently on various regional health topics following a keynote presentation from journalist Professor Stan Grant.

The second day will include 50th birthday celebrations of Community Health as well as appearances by Victorian Minister for Health, Mary-Anne Thomas, and Department of Health secretary Professor Euan Wallace.