The Rural Primary Health Services (RPHS) program focuses on increasing access to a range of primary and allied health care services and activities for rural and remote communities, in particular, small and more remote communities targeting indentified community health needs. This has enabled better service coordination, responsiveness and improved access to the services identified as priorities for the communities.
The aim of the RPHS program is to improve the health and wellbeing of people in rural and remote Australia. The RPHS program Objectives are to:
- Provide and maintain access to additional allied health and primary care services that are based on identified health needs in each community.
- Promote coordinated, multidisciplinary team based approaches to the provision of integrated primary health care services.
- Establish and maintain effective community consultation practices for the planning, management, flexible delivery and ongoing review of the RPHS program.
- Provide and maintain access to relevant health promotion and preventative health programs and activities designed to promote health and wellbeing.
- Encourage people in rural and remote Australia to adopt or modify behaviours to better manage their health and wellbeing.
- To improve health outcomes for people living in rural areas by providing the opportunities for General Practitioners to link with allied health professionals to upgrade the quality of health service delivery at the local level.
The RPHS program provides community-based primary health services with greater flexibility in the range of services offered, including health promotion and preventative health activities, to people in rural and remote communities. Primary health care services encompass active treatment, screening programs, health education on individual health risks, and more broadly, addresses health concerns for the entire community.
RPHS program may be accessed by individuals in rural communities in 2 ways; Primary referral usually made through another primary health professional e.g. General Practitioner, a Nurse in a specialist role or other Allied Health Professional and Self/Family/Carer referral where a client assessment will be undertaken prior to acceptance or onward referral to the appropriate service.
Under this program the Network provides Physiotherapy, Speech Pathology and Counselling services through collaboration with 6 Community Health Services and their satellite centres in the Network's rural catchment. In 2010-2011 the Network received 1844 Referrals with 50% of GP rural members referring clients to the Program services. In total, the Network delivered a total of 2889 RPHS sessions to clients within the community.
RPHS program allied health and primary care services may be accessed by individuals in rural communities in two ways:
Primary referral: Initial referral to a RPHS program service is usually made through another primary health professional e.g. General Practitioner, nurse in a specialist role or other allied health professional.
Self/Family/Carer referral: Acceptance of a client to a particular service may need to be determined by an intake process where a client assessment will be undertaken prior to acceptance or onward referral to the appropriate service.
Services Contact list:
Castlemaine District Community Health (CHIRP)
Address:13 Mostyn Street,
Castlemaine 3450
Tel: 035479 1000
Fax: 03 5472 3221
Services Provided: Psychologist & Family Therapist
Cobaw Community Health
Address:47 High Street,
Kyneton 3444
Tel: 03 5421 1666
Fax: 03 542 2161
Services Provided: Physiotherapist & Speech Therapy (NEW)
Djerriwarrh Health Services (Melton Community Health Centre)
Address:Cnr of High & Yuille Street,
Melton 3337
Tel: 03 8746 1100
Fax: 03 9743 8640
Services Provided: Physiotherapist
Djerriwarrh Health Services (Bacchus Marsh Community Health Centre)
Address: 35 Grant Street (Enter via Turner Street)
Bacchus Marsh 3340
Tel: 03 5367 9674
Fax: 03 5367 4247
Services Provided: Physiotherapist
Hepburn Health Services (Daylesford Community Health Centre)
Address: Cnr of Hospital & Jamieson St,
Daylesford 3460
Tel: 03 5348 2523
Fax: 03 5348 1785
Services Provided: Psychologist
Macedon Ranges Health Services
Address: 5 Neal Street,
Gisborne 3437
Tel: 03 5428 0300
Fax: 03 5428 4433
Services Provided: Counsellor, Physiotherapist & Speech Pathologist
Mitchell Community Health Services
Address: 72 Ferguson Street,
Broadford 3658
Tel: 03 5784 5555
Fax: 03 578 43314
Services Provided: Social Worker
For further information contact: Christine Borg