This Budget is a missed opportunity to invest in a sector that is well placed to address the major challenges facing our communities, including diabetes, heart disease, and rising rates of development support needs in children.
1 in 10 Victorians rely on community health to access affordable health care close to home.
Community health provides allied health, nursing, counselling and chronic disease care to children, families and adults to support them to live well and stay healthy at home. Through a network of over 250 sites state-wide, community health ensures that every Victorian – including those in rural and regional communities – can access the healthcare they need.
Anna Robinson, Chair, Community Health First said, "With demand for community health skyrocketing more than 20% in the last year and waiting lists growing, this budget does nothing to meet increasing demand and to ensure every Victorian can access the healthcare they need.
"Our healthcare system is currently focused on treating people when they are sick, rather than preventing them from getting sick or their illness from escalating to the point that they require expensive hospital services. As a result, hospital funding has now reached record levels in this budget."
Increased investment in community health prevention is needed to ensure our health system is sustainable into the future and we can meet unmet demand for services.
A strong community health sector means fewer ambulance callouts, reduced emergency department strain, and a healthier population. The more we prevent disease, the less we rely on costly acute care.
Community Health First welcomes the continued funding for existing programs. But without further investment, community health services will not be able to keep up with growing demand as more families seek affordable health care in the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.
"Victorians deserve a strong healthcare system. A long-term investment in community health is needed to create healthy communities for years to come," says Robinson.
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