For a service that has challenged the status quo and designed a new model for care or workforce in the pursuit of improved services.
Diabetes Connect is a free, community-based program supporting people living with type 2 diabetes across Gippsland and Victoria. The program provides personalised care coordination, linking clients to exercise physiology, dietetics, podiatry, counselling, social prescribing, and structured exercise programs. Since its launch, nearly 300 participants have engaged with the service, experiencing measurable improvements in physical fitness, clinical outcomes, and overall wellbeing. By combining innovative care pathways, health coaching, and social supports, Diabetes Connect reduces barriers to care, prioritises vulnerable populations, and fosters integrated, person-centred support that addresses both medical and psychosocial needs.
Wellways Australia’s Lived Experience Suicide Prevention Service strengthens community capacity to prevent suicide by embedding lived experience in training, support, and capability-building across Gippsland. The program engages vulnerable populations and local organisations, including sporting clubs, equipping community members with the skills and confidence to recognise and respond safely to suicide risk. Through Communities of Practice, tailored training, and collaborative initiatives, the service amplifies the voices of people with lived experience, fosters connected, resilient communities, and creates safe, sustainable environments for suicide prevention, ensuring that interventions are informed by lived experience and effectively reach those at risk.
The Community Health Nurse in Preschools Program supports vulnerable children and families across the Latrobe Valley, preparing children for school through early intervention and coordinated care. Nurses work with preschool educators to identify developmental, behavioural, and social concerns, providing health education, screenings, referrals, and access to allied health and social services. Since September 2024, the program has delivered almost 500 individual services, including vision, hearing, oral health, and developmental support. By embedding nurses within preschools, the initiative strengthens school readiness, enhances child wellbeing, and fosters collaborative partnerships between families, educators, and local health services.
The Healthy Access GP After Hours Program provides free, timely primary care to the Gippsland community outside regular practice hours, addressing gaps caused by limited GP availability, distance, and socioeconomic barriers. Phone and video consultations, triaged by nurses or paramedics, ensure patients receive appropriate care, with outcomes shared with their regular GPs. Serving over 1,300 people, the program reduces unnecessary emergency department visits and improves access for vulnerable populations, including older adults, children, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. By combining innovation, equity, and collaboration, it ensures essential medical care is accessible when and where it is needed most.
Buchan Bush Nursing Association, Victoria’s oldest bush nursing service, has delivered continuous in-centre and in-home care since 1911. Following the 2019–20 bushfires, the team established a Wellbeing Support Officer program, offering mental health and social support to help the community recover from disaster and COVID-19 disruptions. Initiatives such as walk and talk groups and community gardens promote social connection and overall wellbeing for patients and the wider community. By combining clinical care with community-led programs, the team strengthens resilience, fosters connections, and improves health outcomes across their rural catchment.
Gippsland Southern Health Service established an Allied Health Assistant (AHA)-led clinic to provide essential foot care for older adults in South Gippsland, particularly those over 65. Developed to address podiatry workforce shortages, the program trains AHAs to deliver safe, routine nail trimming and basic foot care, freeing podiatrists for complex cases. Operating for 12 months, the clinic has been operating near capacity, cleared waitlists, and prioritises vulnerable older adults. Annual podiatrist-led assessments and ongoing consumer feedback demonstrate high standards of care. Its locally accessible, affordable model ensures people can maintain routine foot health, even in communities that might otherwise face barriers to care.
Latrobe Regional Health’s nurse-led abdominal paracentesis service improves access to care for patients with chronic liver disease. An Advanced Practice Nurse, trained alongside interventional radiologists, performs safe, timely procedures, reducing emergency department visits and wait times. Patients are prioritised based on clinical need, with integrated care supported by gastroenterologists, imaging services, and Hospital in the Home. Additional registered nurses are trained to expand capacity, while ongoing supervision ensures high-quality, patient-centred care. This initiative enhances disease management, improves health outcomes, and demonstrates a model for advanced nursing practice in delivering efficient, specialised services.
The Sexual and Reproductive Health Hub at Latrobe Community Health Service delivers accessible, evidence-based sexual and reproductive care, including early medical abortion, across Gippsland. By offering “no ultrasound” early medical abortion where clinically appropriate, the service reduces appointments, costs, and delays. Task-sharing between nurses and doctors allows bulk-billed, stigma-free care in person and via telehealth, meeting nearly 100% of local demand. By prioritising accessibility, patient-centred practice, and strong partnerships with local health services, the hub ensures timely, safe, and equitable reproductive healthcare, while sharing its innovative model nationally through professional education and conference presentations.
The Better Health Self-Management Program empowers people with chronic conditions to actively manage their health and wellbeing across four Latrobe Valley sites. Delivered over a six-week period by care coordinators, respiratory educators, and pharmacists, the program provides practical tools, education, and peer support to help participants set goals, adopt lifestyle changes, and improve quality of life. Combining evidence-based strategies and lived experience, participants report increased confidence, better self-care, and reduced hospital admissions. By placing people at the centre of their care, the program promotes resilience, independence, and healthier communities in Gippsland.
Wellways Australia’s Mental Health in Aged Care (MHiAC) program delivers tailored, face-to-face psychosocial support to older adults living in residential aged care across Gippsland. Through in-reach and outreach services, it helps residents adjust to care environments and manage complex psychosocial needs. Combining therapeutic interventions, telehealth, and collaboration with GPs, allied health, and facility staff, the program provides coordinated, person-centred care. Continuous evaluation and feedback have guided service improvements and staff development, ensuring aged care residents receive compassionate, high-quality mental health support that enhances wellbeing and resilience.
The Medicare Mental Health intake program, delivered by ACSO in Gippsland, provides phone-based mental health advice and navigation for our regional community. Using the Initial Assessment & Referral Decision Support Tool (IAR-DST), the service connects people to appropriate support within a stepped-care framework, enabling timely, coordinated, and person-centred pathways. With an 89% consumer satisfaction rating, the program is responsive to community needs and systematically collects feedback to inform continuous improvement. Accredited under the National Safety and Quality Digital Mental Health Standards, ACSO embeds staff development and leadership programs into their work to ensure accessible, compassionate, and effective mental health support across the region, adopting a “no wrong door” approach.
Yallambee Traralgon Village for the Aged delivers comprehensive aged care services focused on consumer wellbeing, safety, and quality. Their programs integrate clinical care, social support, and community engagement, promoting independence, dignity, and connection for residents. Staff are supported through professional development and continuous improvement initiatives, fostering a positive workplace culture. By prioritising person-centred care, responsive service delivery, and engagement with families and community networks, Yallambee strengthens the quality of aged care in the region — ensuring residents experience wellbeing, social connection, and a safe, supportive environment.
Cure and Care Family Practice in Drouin revitalised a long-abandoned medical cottage, transforming it into a modern, purpose-built clinic. Led by Dr Sai and Practice Manager Clare Westlow, the practice embodies a culture of resilience, compassion, and community engagement. Beyond the clinic, the team delivers outreach care to underprivileged populations, including aged care facilities, schools, and remote communities. Advanced digital diagnostics and planned mobile health services expand access, while staff are trained in adolescent mental health, immunisation, and opioid treatment. By fostering collaborative, patient-centred care, Cure and Care demonstrates collective courage in healthcare delivery and community renewal.
The Community Led Integrated Health Care (CLIHC) program delivers holistic child and family health services for children aged 0–12 in the Latrobe Valley, a region of high social disadvantage. The initiative integrates access to paediatric assessments, allied health, mental health support, care coordination, and referrals through a “one-stop-shop” model. By co-locating services, embedding Care Coordinators, and leveraging trauma-informed, culturally safe practice, the program simplifies access, empowers families, and improves health outcomes. Strong partnerships across primary health, community organisations, and specialist providers foster integrated care, continuous workforce development, and responsive service design, achieving high consumer satisfaction and meaningful impact for vulnerable Gippsland families.
Orbost Regional Health, in partnership with GippsDairy, launched Q-Fever clinics in far East Gippsland to address local gaps in preventive care. Using GippsDairy-supported GP training, on-site experience, and funding for vaccines, the service provides two-stage clinics involving initial screening and follow-up assessment with vaccination. The first clinic supported nine patients who otherwise would have had to travel long distances. With high local uptake, the partnership demonstrates how collaboration between community health services, local industry, and medical providers can address health needs in underserved regions.
Latrobe Community Health Service, in partnership with Latrobe Regional Health and Latrobe Leisure Morwell, developed a collaborative Exercise and Dialysis Program for people undergoing dialysis. The program combines aerobic and resistance training with social and recreational activities between dialysis sessions, addressing physical, mental, and social wellbeing. Referrals are coordinated between hospital and community services, with integrated governance ensuring seamless care. Quantitative and qualitative measures assess physical fitness, satisfaction, and social engagement, while a research component provides evidence for future policy. Staff receive ongoing training and mentoring, supporting sustainability and expansion of the program to enhance patient outcomes across the region.
Latrobe Regional Health’s (LRH) Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) team partners with the Gippsland Region Public Health Unit (GRPHU) to strengthen communicable disease management and workforce capacity. LRH IPC provides expertise in outbreak control, staff training, mentoring, and embedding infection prevention into public health strategy, creating blended teams that bridge clinical care and community prevention. The collaboration fosters consistent, coordinated outbreak responses, improved communication pathways, and workforce flexibility, laying foundations for sustainable, scalable, and integrated infection prevention and management across Gippsland.
Latrobe Community Health Service, in partnership with headspace Morwell and the Latrobe Health Assembly, delivers the Live 4 Life program, a school- and community-based initiative targeting youth suicide prevention, resilience, and mental health. Engaging students from Years 8–10, families, schools, and local youth services, the program includes the CREW initiative, where 35 Year 9 students champion mental health among peers. Collaboration across schools, community organisations, and health services ensures coordinated delivery, with co-planning, joint events, and shared evaluation. Staff participate in ongoing training and Communities of Practice workshops, while CREW workers build advocacy and mental health promotion skills, strengthening youth mental health outcomes across the Latrobe Valley.
