East Gippsland Division of General Practice
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Name East Gippsland Division of General Practice
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| Division Number |
328 |
| Classification |
Rural |
| Number of Member GPs |
84 |
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| State |
Victoria |
| Year Established |
1993 |
| Number of Member Practices |
27 |
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| Postcodes Covered |
3847, 3850, 3851, 3852, 3857, 3858, 3859, 3860, 3862, 3864, 3865, 3866, 3875, 3878, 3880, 3882, 3883, 3885, 3886, 3887, 3888, 3889, 3890, 3891, 3892, 3893, 3895, 3896, 3898, 3900, 3902, 3903, 3904, 3909
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| Population |
74,266 (2001 Census)
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| Area Covered |
Approximately 27 778 square kilometres (12.5% of Victoria) covering the Shire of East Gippsland, and the Shire of Wellington. The Division includes the townships of Heyfield, Rosedale, Sale, Bairnsdale, Paynesville, Omeo, Orbost, Nowa Nowa, Maffra, Metung, Lakes Entrance and Mallacoota.
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| CEO |
Ms Pauline Bommer |
| Chair |
Dr David Monash |
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| Physical Address: |
| 87a Main Street |
| BAIRNSDALE VIC 3875 |
| Australia |
| Postal Address: |
| PO Box 1210 |
| BAIRNSDALE VIC 3875 |
| Australia |
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The East Gippsland Division of General Practice is a stunning region, bordered on one side by the Victorian Alps, Mt Hotham and Dinner Plain, and on the other by the Ninety Mile Beach. The Division has two offices located at Bairnsdale and Sale. There are six hospitals within the Division. These are located at Sale, Bairnsdale, Omeo, Orbost, Maffra and Heyfield.
The recreational benefits of the region are significant with leisure activities ranging from snow-skiing in winter, water-skiing in summer, or bushwalking in the magnificent wilderness areas.
The region also has a number of excellent educational facilities both at primary and secondary levels. Tertiary education is available by distance education. The closest facility is Monash University - Churchill Campus. An excellent TAFE College is situated in both Bairnsdale and Sale, providing a range of vocational education and training opportunities, as well as tertiary studies.
MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS
Health Status and Needs Identification project
The advantage of a GP organisation leading a Health Status and Needs Identification project is that it has fostered ownership amongst GPs of the findings and priorities identified during the consultation with all participating stakeholders as legitimate for the Division to progress. The findings formed the development of a significant part of the Division's Strategic Plan 1999 - 2002.
Consistent with the key findings of the Health Status project, the Division has established Cardiovascular, Mental Health and Aboriginal Health Liaison Programs. These programs have a strong primary health care focus and reflect the key health status inequities in this region.
Rural Workforce Support & Development
- Full-time Division Locum GP appointed July 1999.
- Inaugural Derek Leon Scholarship for a year 12 student wishing to pursue a medical career in rural practice.
- Participating in the initial roll-out of the Active Script Program in Victorian Divisions.
- Production of a Grief and Bereavement Booklet which has been used extensively by local GPs, hospitals and Palliative Care teams.
CHALLENGES FOR THE FUTURE
- Engaging with a majority of GPs in a Division that covers a large geographic area.
- Rural GP workload often impacts on their ability to actively participate in the Division
- Keeping members up-to-date with the complex policy issues associated with current Commonwealth and State primary care reforms.
