Listening to our Community

The Community Health division of Barwon Health has facilitated focus groups at all community health sites during 2007. This initiative has evolved from the "Friends of Barwon Health" groups, whose role was to recognise the value of consumers, carers and community member's contributions. As part of the focus groups, participants were asked their opinion of accessing and using community health services and provided input new service development.

Both positive and negative was received. In particular, feedback included an understanding of the broad range of services available within each local centre and that the care provided was holistic and individually tailored to each person.

Discussion also revealed that further promotion of community health services was needed along with more information regarding waiting times. The feedback provided will be used in developing service access areas including intake systems and care coordination.

Community input into the improvement of our services is vital and the Community Health division is committed to ensuring it is considered in the development of services. Plans are being made for ongoing community consultations during 2008.

For more information, please contact Volunteer Serivces.