Community Health Impact Report 2023-24
Healthier Victorians, Stronger Communities
We are pleased to share our first-ever collective impact report. It is clear that community health has never been more critical to meeting the needs of Victorians. With continuing challenges facing our health system and the escalating cost-of-living place more pressure on Victorians, community health provides a critical safety net to ensure every Victorian can access affordable health care and to alleviate strain on our hospitals.
An expanding sector: Community health works across Victoria to support people at every stage of life to access the right care, in the right place at the right time.
259 locations
608,000 clients
11,075 staff
Key Findings
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Demand for community health services has continued to skyrocket, with our client numbers growing by more than 20% over the last 2 years, with community health now reaching over 608,000 Victorians.
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Community health is pivotal in maintaining health and wellbeing in our communities across Victoria, with over 91.2% of clients reporting that their local community health service helps to keep them healthy and well and 84.9% agreeing that community health makes it easier for them to access the supports they need.
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Clients want to see more investment in affordable healthcare close to home with 94% of clients agreeing this should be a focus of government investment.
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The future of community health is on the minds of voters, with 80% of clients saying it would impact their vote at the next state election.
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Community health is reducing pressure on our hospitals, with over 58% of clients reporting that the help they receive has reduced their frequency of hospital visits. We continue to demonstrate that community-based care can provide care close to home and save on acute care costs.
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Our innovative outreach models tailored for diverse communities and those experiencing significant challenges with access to healthcare continue to ensure that every Victorian can access quality care when they need it
But lack of investment is driving long waiting lists for services and Victorians may soon struggle to get the support they need in a timely manner.
Funding from the State Government for the Community Health Program has not increased for over a decade, despite record population growth and escalating health.
Further investment is urgently needed to ensure that the burden on our hospitals doesn’t increase further and all Victorians can access a healthcare system that focuses on keeping them healthy, no matter who they are or where they live.