Name Northern Division of General Practice Division Number 308 Classification Urban Number of Member GPs 233 State Victoria Year Established 1993 Number of Member Practices 112 Postcodes Covered 3056, 3058, 3060, 3061, 3062, 3072, 3073, 3074, 3075,3076, 3082, 3083, 3750, 3751,3752, 3754, 3755, 3757 Population 237,408 (2001 Census) Area Covered The Division catchment comprises the City of Whittlesea, Preston within the City of Darebin, and the eastern section of the City of Moreland to Sydney Road. The Division catchment comprises 350 square kilometres and includes high density inner suburban areas such as Preston, Coburg and Brunswick, established and growing outer suburbs such as Lalor, Thomastown and Epping, to the rural community surrounding the township of Whittlesea. CEO Mr Phillip Bain Chair Dr Shane Conway Physical Address: Level 1 232 Plenty Road PRESTON VIC 3072 Australia Postal Address: PO Box 1526 PRESTON SOUTH VIC 3072 Australia Email: ndgp@ndgp.org.au Phone: 03 9416 7689 Fax: 03 9416 7749 Website: http://www.ndgp.org.au

The Northern Division of General Practice is based in Preston, between the two major public hospitals serving the northern suburbs of Melbourne. It plays a leading role in health service planning in conjunction with local government and other service providers.

The Northern Hospital in Epping is within the catchment as are five private hospitals. Local Government plays a major role in service coordination and delivery throughout the region. However, community and public health services are generally characterised by insufficient resources to meet the health and community needs of the population.

The Division has enjoyed a great deal of success in improving coordination of local, private and Commonwealth services and attracting additional resources to the disadvantaged northern suburbs. The area is largely one of low socio-economic status. A high proportion of its citizens are dependant upon welfare benefits or live on a lower than average household income.

The health status of the community is far below the Victorian average in almost all categories. The area has the highest concentration of indigenous residents in Melbourne, and a high proportion of residents of CALD background including refugees and asylum seekers. The northern fringe of the Division is undergoing rapid population growth. After hours GP services are a major problem for the Division and local hospitals.

The Northern Division's important role as an advocate for GPs, and in support of the professional objectives of GPs, makes it a vital organisation in improving the health status of the north.

MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS

• Strong relationships with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community, the Councils, the local hospitals and the local CALD population.
• The Division's support of improved patient care by supporting practices in using new technology and embracing quality assurance for a continuous improvement in the quality of care.
• The Division has won national awards for its innovative and high quality communications including newsletter, fax and a weekly email which is rapidly becoming an important resource for health providers in Melbourne's north. 
• CPD and practice staff training programs are recognised for their quality. The Division has built on its central location to become a major education provider for this part of Melbourne.

CHALLENGES FOR THE FUTURE

• The Northern Division is an active partner in a number of new projects which aim to prevent hospital admissions by providing improved and more coordinated patient care to particular groups, funded by the Victorian government.
• Our work with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population is increasing and during 2004 will include a weekly radio show on local station 3KND; and an updated, online version of our 2000 Aboriginal Directory.