Gippsland Regional Action Plan 2008-09

This regional plan for 2008-2009 has been developed in the context of broader government and departmental directions. In developing the plan, the region considers inputs from stakeholders who have been canvassed through a range of collaborative mechanisms.

In 2008-2009 major priorities for the region include:

Coordinating and enhancing services to clients with multiple needs through service integration
Seeking partnerships that foster safe, healthy and supportive family environments with strong communities and cultural identity
Improving systems and processes to meet the needs of, and generate increasing value for, clients and other stakeholders.

These priorities will be achieved through:

Service development activities (Child FIRST, Child Protection and culturally and linuistically diverse families, family group conferencing, high risk tenancies, maternity services, emergency services, housing options for people with a disability, statewide Youth justice Service Delivery Model)
Developing protocols and systems to support integration of services (Shared Client Protocol, e-referral for GPs, service coordination protocols between Mental Health and Child FIRST and Child Protection and Disability services)
Working with other State Government departments and Local Government on community capacity building and emergency management planning initatives (Regional Managers Forum, Neighbourhood Renewal, Influenza Pandemic Planning)
Implementation of new policy areas (Improving Care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients’ Paediatric Palliative Care policy),
Work with the Gippsland Health Services Partnership and associated task groups to develop and implement plans in sub-acute services, renal services, health promotion and oral health; and supporting area-based planning for health and aged care services in the South Coast catchment
Supporting good governance through provision of training to boards of management in health and disability services
Improving access to services (respite services in the areas of Aged Care, Disability and Mental Health;
Home and Community Care services for Aboriginal people)
Increasing our capacity to deliver services (recruitment and retention of Child Protection staff, Youth Justice capability to provide interventions
for clients with specific offending behaviours).

I encourage your participation to move this work forward.

Valerie Callister
Regional Director