CURRENT PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS (Yarra Valley pre-amalgamation)

The Division works on a variety of programs to achieve the following objectives:

• To ensure a well managed efficient Division with a greater involvement of members.
• To improve immunisation coverage rates within the Division, specifically for young people.
• To promote opportunities for the involvement of GPs in public health through specific programs.
• To support GPs in their primary prevention of cardiovascular disease through the promotion of healthy lifestyles.
• To improve the health outcomes for diabetic patients within the Division through better management procedures.
• To develop a program to support GPs with mental health issues for themselves and their patients.
• To provide ongoing support to individual practices.

 CURRENT PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS (Sherbrooke and Pakenham pre-amalgamation)

The Division's programs are structured into six areas:

GP Service Program

This program focuses on providing a range of services to General Practitioners and practices but with a stronger emphasis on Information Management/Information Technology (IM/IT). IM/IT strategies will focus on encouraging and supporting the use of clinical computer applications and improved electronic communication by General

Practitioners. Immunisation activities and clinic-focused accreditation activities will remain a strong focus within this program area. Professional development activities for members will continue to be conducted in the Division's priority health areas of Aged Care, Mental Health and Cardiovascular Disease (CVD).

Delivery of education and training to GPs related to the new MBS items has already been undertaken in the early months of 2000 through the PASS program. However, resources and information will continue to be provided to GPs and practice staff also through the Integration and Health Promotion programs.

Rural Workforce Program

The Rural Workforce program builds on the planning activities, consultation and needs assessment undertaking in the first year of the Division's three year Strategic Plan. Links have been developed with neighbouring Divisions including Yarra Valley and Gippsland Divisions. A range of innovative strategies have been developed and the program uses three elements to achieve its outcome requirements. These are supplementation, recruitment and retention strategies.

Integration Program

A reflection on the Division's commitment to maintaining active working relationships with other relevant services and organisations and commitment for improved population health through improvements in access and continuity of care. The plan emphasises the Division's continued involvement with a range of initiatives, including Primary Care Partnerships.

Health Promotion Program

A program which uses the 'Putting Prevention into Practice' principles into a pilot number of practices with a view to encouraging better health promotion in the majority of practices over the next two years. The focus is in relation to three priority areas of Mental Health, Aged Care and CVD. It includes practice-based education opportunities for patients on a one-to-one basis, recall systems and screening programs as well as clinical upskilling opportunities for General Practitioners.

Advocacy and Representation Program

The Advocacy and Representation program continues to focus on facilitating General Practitioner input into a range of decision-making processes to ensure improved collaboration between General Practice, the community and other providers. The program will help General Practitioners in developing systematic prioritisation and resourcing processes. A framework will be developed to assist our Division members to decide both what the Division wants to achieve and what we have the capacity to achieve.

Management Program

Created to address issues such as governance, management and administration of the Division. Only with an effective organisational and management structure, and efficient and functioning administration, can the Division deliver its programs, fulfil its Commonwealth requirements, statutory and ethical responsibilities.

Consumers and the Division

This Division has a strong commitment to consumers with an integrated community liaison strategy including a Consumer Reference Group, widespread local print media coverage, and a regular radio program to promote health and explore community and General Practice issues. The community liaison strategy focuses on strengthening links between the community and the Division; extending community consultation; improving communications and increasing consumer input into Divisional activities.

Sherbrooke and Pakenham Division has been one of the first Divisions to elect a consumer to its Board. This enables a direct channel of communication between the Board and the Consumer Reference Group and ensures that the consumer perspective is considered in all Division decisions.

The Consumer Reference Group includes ten community representatives from various local groups. Meeting bimonthly, it has an interest in developing long lasting links between the community and the Division. The group contributes to various consultations, tracks local developments and provides feedback where possible.

Other community liaison activities include regular articles in local press, a fortnightly radio program, community presentations with a GP speaking to community groups about the Division and General Practice, stakeholder briefings, and representation on various decision-making forums across the Division's catchment area.