A new program is being trialled in Condobolin, Forbes, and Parkes, to address local needs in primary health care. The Collaborative Care Program is a community-led planning approach to improve access to primary health care services. Primary health care includes general practice, primary care nurses, pharmacy, and allied health.
Collaborative Care is a joint initiative between Western NSW Local Health District, Western NSW Primary Health Network, NSW Rural Doctors Network, and many local stakeholders.
Wellington Digwa is the community contact for the Lachlan Valley project. He works with Western NSW Local Health District.
“I believe that people from the community are experts in their community. They have a better understanding of the challenges that their community face and they have lived experience of what works and doesn’t work,” he said.
As part community consultation, a virtual workshop is planned with community representatives from Forbes in the coming weeks.“I am planning face to face visits to the region to speak to more people who did not attend the workshops,” said Wellington.
“We want to consult with General Practitioners, practice managers, non-medical clinicians, allied health practitioners, local councils, and community representatives.”
The aim is to identify opportunities for service providers to strengthen services and to improve community health outcomes.“The partner organisations involved in the Collaborative Care Program are exploring better ways to deliver primary health care in the Lachlan Valley,” said Wellington.
“We need to engage communities to understand from their perspective the gaps and challenges in primary health care and how these can be addressed.”
The Collaborative Care Program received funding through the Australian Government and is expected to run until mid-2022.