Name Mallee Division of General Practice Division Number 332 Classification Rural Number of Member GPs 62 State Victoria Year Established 1993 Number of Member Practices 23 Postcodes Covered 2648, 2715, 2717, 2734, 2735, 2736, 2737, 2438, 2739, 3396, 3413, 3420, 3485, 3487, 3488, 3489, 3490, 3491, 3494, 3496, 3498, 3500, 3501, 3502, 3505, 3506, 3507, 3509, 3512, 3530, 3531, 3533, 3544, 3546, 3549, 3583, 3584, 3585, 3588, 3589, 2590, 3591, 3594, 3595, 3596, 3597, 3599 Population 96,000 Area Covered The total area covered within the Division is approximately 100 000 square kilometres covering Balranald, Hopetoun, Manangatang, Merbein, Mildura, Nyah West, Ouyen, Piangil, Red Cliffs, Robinvale, Sea Lake, Swan Hill, Wentworth and many more smaller communities within these areas. CEO Mr David Thompson Chair Dr Stewart Booth Physical Address: Mildura Private Hospital, 220-228 13th Street MILDURA VIC 3500 Australia Postal Address: PO Box 3210 MILDURA VIC 3502 Australia Email: office@malleedgp.com.au Phone: 03 5023 8633 Fax: 03 5021 4794 Website: http://www.malleedgp.com.au

The Mallee Division of General Practice is the largest Division in Victoria. The main feature of the Division is the Murray River, which could be referred to as the 'life blood' of this area. Irrigated horticultural production along the Murray is this area's largest industry. Dried vine fruits, wine grapes, citrus and vegetables are produced as a result of the irrigation. The remainder of the Mallee Division of General Practice is primarily dry land farming country producing cereal crops, wool and meat. The Division has two large regional centres - Swan Hill and Mildura - with a number of smaller rural communities. The Majority of GPs are located in the two regional centres in both solo and group practices. The head office of the Division is located in Mildura with a branch office in Swan Hill.

Major Achievements:
The Mallee Division has had an emphasis on providing support services to the large number of overseas trained doctors, the establishment of a comprehensive community participation strategy and the provision of health services to young people. In 2002 the Division was awarded the ADGP National Divisions Achievement Award for Innovation for its 'Overseas Trained Doctor Support Program'. In 2003 we won the ADGP National Divisions Achievement Award for Consumer Participation. Both of these national awards recognized the work of the Division in these two very important areas of activity. We have maintained a high level of involvement with our local aboriginal communities concentrating mainly on practice accreditation for local aboriginal medical services and the provision of GP services.

Challenges for the Future:

• Ensuring that the smaller rural communities have access to general practice services.
• Continuing to expand the influence of direct community participation in all Division programs and activities.
• Adapting our support services to general practice to meet changing demands.
• Encouraging more direct GP involvement in Division programs.
• Ensuring that services to general practice are delivered equitably across the entire Division.
• Adapting our support services to the aboriginal community to meet changing demands.