Innovation
ACSO – Australian Community Support Organisation
Integration and Partnerships
South Coast Youth Clinic Partnership – South Gippsland Hospital, Foster, Leongatha Health Care Group, Korumburra Medical Centre, South Coast PCP.
This partnership developed the local Youth Assist/Access Clinics (YACs) across South Gippsland and Bass Coast as a new innovation in youth health service delivery. They also embraced a review by Orygen into referral characteristics and understanding how to develop youth services in rural settings.
This winning submission demonstrated a combination of strategies for supporting families and carers who provide support for people challenged by drug and alcohol issues. It’s provided 875 single sessions of support and given 572 brief intervention for the families and carers. More than 300 individual family clients have been supported across Gippsland.
West Gippsland Healthcare Group for the I.CAN Survivorship Program
Honourable Mention
This partnership included Monash University and Victorian Department of Health and Human Services and the program included the multi modalities with exercise and nutrition one-to-one, group and combination therapies and support. Community videos expressed the positive impact of the program.
Improved Access to Health Services
Wonthaggi Medical Group and Bass Coast for establishing the local Pharmacotherapy Clinic
This submission identified that there were no medical practitioners trained in pharmacotherapy in the south coast region. Two of their GPs completed the pharmacotherapy training and in August 2017 a pharmacotherapy clinic opened at the practice supported by the Bass Coast Health pharmacotherapy team. There are 40-50 clients and the clinic holds 20+ permits for methadone and suboxne and continues to grow.
Cultural Appropriate Support for Indigenous and Diverse Communities
Relationships Australia Victoria – headspace Bairnsdale for the Unique but United project
This submission demonstrates a community led approach to provide a culturally sensitive support group for LGBTQI+ young people aged 12 – 25, who want to meet other sexually and gender diverse young people and allies in a safe and supportive space.
Merinda Harrison-Drake from Ramahyuck – for her Care coordination work in Baw Baw Shire
Honourable Mention
This submission is a nomination for an individual and their personal commitment to primary health care for the Indigenous community. The story recognises Merinda’s dedication to her mob in Baw Baw Shire over many years. Merinda brings a strong culturally sensitive approach working closely with the local GP and other support staff to reach her indigenous community providing care coordination and support to build their health and wellness.