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Victorian Government Website (Victoria the Place to Be)
Department of Human Services, State Government of Victoria, Australia
Subsite title

Primary Health Branch

Director: Janet Laverick
Enquiries: Tel (61 3) 9096 7021

The vision for the Primary Health Branch is to improve the health and wellbeing of Victorians, particularly those with or at risk of poorest health status, by developing strong, effective and modern primary health care services as part of Victoria's health care system. This vision is consistent with the Victorian Government's 'Growing Victoria Together' agenda and the Department of Human Services' mission and objectives.

Primary health services help reduce the likelihood of serious illness and reduce the need for hospital and specialist medical services.

The Primary Health Branch is responsible for:

  • State funded primary and community health services including Community Health, Dental Health, Women's Health and Health Promotion.
  • Liaison with the Commonwealth Government and General Practice to develop a coordinated and effective primary health care system.
  • Strategies that improve the integration of the Primary Health Care sector, such as the Primary Care Partnership Strategy, and improve the interface between the Primary Health Care sector and the Acute Health Care sector - such as working closely with the Hospital Admission Risk Program.
  • Developing the capacity of the primary health sector to respond to chronic disease.
  • Facilitating, together with Metro Health & Aged Care Services, Care in your community, the state wide ambulatory care framework.

See Primary & Community Health Topics on Victorian Government Health Information site for more information.

Primary Health Branch Funded organisation requirements 2009-10 to 2011-12

The Primary Health Branch Funded organisation requirements 2009-10 to 2011-12 supplements the Victorian health services policy and funding guidelines 2009-10. It provides further program information and outlines the mandatory requirements for organisations funded through the Primary and Dental Health Output Group and the Small Rural Health Services Output Group (Activity 35048).

Primary Health Care in Victoria - A discussion paper

Overview of discussion paper and feedback form.

Primary Health Funding Approach

The Primary Health Funding Approach is the model used to fund service delivery organisations to provide allied health, counselling, nursing and health promotion services. From July 2007 the Primary Health Funding Approach will be revised.

Primary Health Report

Provides a snapshot of the achievements of the Primary Health Branch. The Primary Health Report is available from the Community Health website.