The Allan Labor Government is making sure Victorians get the specialist care they need, faster and closer to home.
Waiting months for a specialist care appointment costs families time and money.
It's why Labor is reforming how Victorians access specialist care, now and into the future.
A new system-wide plan - the Specialist Care Reform Blueprint - will make care fairer and more equitable, no matter where a person lives.
Developed with clinical experts, it will make the system easier for patients to navigate.
It will also strengthen collaboration across hospitals, primary care and community services.
The reform will be achieved by:
- expanding access to virtual appointments to give patients more options, saving them time and money
- making appointment scheduling more flexible
- streamlining processes like referral, triage, and waitlist management for faster appointments
- improving shared care arrangements with GPs to minimise the need for patients with chronic and complex care to attend hospitals for regular reviews
- increasing the use of nursing and allied health-led services to improve timely access to care.
This work is supported by Labor's significant investment in specialist care in the Victorian Budget 2026/27.
A $16 million will deliver 45,000 more specialist clinic appointments for kids and young people.
It means more children access the right care, in the right place, at the right time, with the right clinician.
An $8 million investment will establish and pilot Specialist Advice Now - a service for GPs and patients to get timely specialist advice without the need for a referral.
While $33.3 million will expand VicKey and increase the number of health services using the platform.
It is a secure digital portal that allows clinicians to focus on care and improve coordination of appointments and communication with patients.
For more information, please visit health.vic.gov.au/specialist-care-reform-blueprint.
As stated by Minister for Health Harriet Shing
"We're making sure more families right across Victoria can access the specialist care and treatment they need."
"Too many Victorians are waiting too long or struggling to navigate a complex system to get the specialist appointments they need."
"That's why this reform is vital - it will mean quicker access, clearer communication, and more options for patients and their families."
