A Department of Human Services plan lays out a 10-year vision and set of principles for making health care more person-centred and community-focused.

Care in your Community—A Planning Framework for Integrated Ambulatory Health Care is a joint responsibility of the Rural and Regional Health and Aged Care Services Primary Health Branch and the Metropolitan Health and Aged Care Services Programs Branch.

Care in your Community responds to the challenges faced by the current health care system.

It provides a planning framework for achieving the vision and principles and sets out the short-term actions needed to build the momentum for change.

Minister for Health Bronwyn Pike and Minister for Aged Care Jennings launched the framework.

More than 200 people, including representatives from the health sector, Chief Executive Officers and Board Chairs of metropolitan and rural health services, community health services, peak bodies, academics, Primary Care Partnership chairs, local government and Department program leaders attended the launch, hosted by the Primary Health Branch.

Minister Pike also announced locations for integrated area-based planning trials.

Trials will begin in the second half of 2006—in Eastern, Southern and Gippsland Regions.

Ms Pike said Care in your Community aimed to integrate and coordinate health care around the needs of people rather than service types.

Health care modernisation was necessary for demand management, improved health outcomes and access and equity, Ms Pike said.

Mr Jennings said Care in your Community incorporated health policy directions so a coherent framework and set of enablers could see an efficient, integrated hospital and community-based health system developed.

Care in your Community could provide a health care system that would deliver person-centred health care in community settings, reducing the need for in-patient care and improving the health outcomes of Victorians, Mr Jennings said.

•          The Care in your Community website at www.health.vic.gov.au/ambulatorycare will be updated regularly with progress reports on the trials and other implementation activity.