Partnerships

The kind of work performed by Primary Care Partnerships is vital to improve the health of the nation.

In Victoria, members of the partnerships are organisations at the first point of entry into the health system - the frontline.

They typically include hospitals, community health services, local government, aged care assessment services, women's health services, community drug treatment services, ethno-specific health services, mental health services, disability services and aboriginal community controlled health organisations.

Before partnerships many service providers worked in isolation, often unaware of the range of services that could benefit their clients. Now service providers have support from, and knowledge of, what other providers have to offer.

They work together and share information to enable coordinated service system responses - responses especially important for people with chronic disease or complex care needs who need help from a range of services.

The partnerships are building a unified health system, with the various parts working together for the benefit of consumers. Partnerships have enhanced service delivery, making life easier for consumers, improving health outcomes and increasing efficience of Victoria's health sector.

Sourced from Department of Health "Primary Care Partnerships" brochure September 2009