General News
3 October, 2024
Have your say: regional health services research seeks community input
Residents invited to share health service experiences for study.
Grampians-Wimmera residents can have their say about their local community health services as part of a new research program.
Grampians Community Health and La Trobe University are partnering on the research which is designed to improve local service delivery.
La Trobe University will conduct client consultation sessions at Horsham on October 17 and Stawell on October 18 and is encouraging local people to share their experiences.
The sessions will focus on what community health services and supports are most important to people's health and wellbeing, barriers that people experience in accessing health and social support, people's experience in accessing health and welfare information and support during emergency or pandemic events, and what health and community services could do to better support people during these events.
Grampians Community Health Program Leader Quality and Engagement, Kerry Heinrich, said the research would help GCH to learn more about local experiences of rural community health care.
"Understanding the experiences of rural health consumers and the key issues they face will improve community health service delivery and inform the types of services GCH provides," she said.
The feedback will help to guide Grampians Community Health's decision making and delivery of health and social services.
People who have had experience as a rural community health client are being invited to attend the consultation sessions.
The Horsham group discussion session will be for up to 90 minutes from 4pm on October 17 at Grampians Community Health, 70-72 Hamilton Street Horsham.
The Stawell group discussion session starts at 10am on October 18 at the Stawell Health and Community Centre, 8-22 Patrick Street.
Participants will be offered a $60 gift voucher for their time.
People interested in participating in the study can contact Ms Heinrich on 5358 7400 or Kerry.heinrich@gch.org.au.