Health service plans for future

Bellarine Community Health CEO Shane Dawson hosted the Ocean Grove Community Conversation on Thursday 6 October.
It was the seventh in a series of eight forums across the Bellarine.
Two community members attended the Ocean Grove forum.
The aim of the ‘Community Conversations’ is to build a shared understanding of challenges and priorities facing the community health sector and gain an understanding of community insights and priorities for Bellarine Community Health.
“There have been some consistent topics across the different Community Conversation locations, such as transport to access health services and better supports for older people to access health services through My Aged Care,” Mr Dawson said.
“Participants have been so generous with their insights and I have truly appreciated their encouragement to make critical improvements to the organisation.”
The series of forums gave the community an opportunity to learn about some of the key challenges ahead that are affecting all health services, including funding gaps, competition from private health service providers and an increasing focus on quality and safety in the health sector.
Bellarine Community Health will use the community feedback to help establish a 12-month plan to transform the organisation and ensure it is ready to face future challenges.