Our Commitment to involving the Community
Central Bayside Community Health Services underlying principle is that individuals and communities have a right to affordable and accessible health care and that they are best served by an integrated, coordinated system of care that is well researched and responsive to the needs of the community and reduces the dependence on hospital and other specialist institutional health facilities.
Community Participation is one of the pillars of the social model of health. It is well documented that the best results are achieved when community members are involved in the management of their own health and their community’s health care; and in the development of public health policy that promotes social cohesion and a sense of community.
CBCHS views the community that its serves as being made up of;
- Internal – Board of Management, staff and volunteers
- External – clients, the Department of Human Services and other funding agencies, other service providers with whom we have a relationship for the planning and development of services in the City of Kingston such as Primary Care Partnerships and the Middle South Primary Mental Health and Early Intervention Service; and from whom we receive referrals from and send referrals to. This group includes although not limited to GP’s, RDNS, mental health agencies, hospitals, nursing homes, and local government and sub acute services.
Much of our focus during the past year has been directed to strengthening the involvement of the community in the planning for health services, particularly in the Clarinda area of the City of Kingston.
Clarinda is a community with over 30 culturally and linguistically diverse communities and a significant proportion of the local population being born overseas. The area is typified by less coordinated services, including transport than other wards in the City of Kingston that are striving to cater for first, second and third generation migrants. Working with such a diverse group of communities poses a significant challenge to CBCHS.
In 2002 CBCHS commenced its work on the development of a community engagement strategy for Clarinda. Initial information gathered at the Open Day held in August 2002 provided a sketch that has assisted CBCHS to formulate a strategic vision for the area. This sketch included the recognition that a ‘grass roots’ approach of working directly with local community groups and strengthening community capacity as well as improving access to services will be most beneficial to sustained community involvement and engagement with CBCHS.
This is to be achieved with the role of our community development worker who works in-conjunction with established groups such as the City of Kingston Access and Equity worker, South East Migrant Resource Centre, CBCHS health promotion working group and the health professionals working at Clarinda.
CBCHS will identify the service model for Clarinda based on the evaluation of the community development work and the Clarinda work plan. This will occur in collaboration with the City of Kingston.
The City of Kingston have been able to provide population data and expected trends in population changes for the next 10 years. This statistical data is helping to shape the service mix for the area. In addition, the current population demands are also to be met, with particular reference to allied health, youth services and parenting services.
Evidence based practice shows that traditional service models are often not the most effective way to engage and improve access to health services for emerging communities. The model of service development will need to be sensitive to the needs of a very diverse range of cultural groups.
The development of services for Clarinda is a high priority fro CBCHS. Significant constraints have existed with the current capacity of the building located at 58 Viney Street and limited growth funding; yet service growth and development has occurred over the past 2 years by targeting growth funds:
- 0.5EFT generalist counselling (social worker)
- 0.2EFT Podiatrist
- 0.5EFT Assessment and Care Management for older clients (CHN)
- 0.2EFT Paediatric Speech Pathology and Occupational Therapy
- Health Promotion Steering Committee (focus on East Timorese)
The finalisation of the service model will occur in parallel with the redevelopment of the Viney Street building during 2004-05 and the increase in building capacity will support additional service growth as additional recurrent funding becomes available.
Other CBCHS services and programs have also been focussing on increasing the participation of the community in our work. CBCHS Disability Service has developed a community participation program that places clients with a disability as volunteers in the ‘Meals on Wheels’ Program. This provides opportunities for clients to increase their skills and become part of a vital community volunteer program in the City of Kingston.
CBCHS Health Promotion activities actively encourage consumer participation in the planning and implementation of health care. This will be encapsulated in the development of a community participation policy that will be developed following consultation with our community.
Community Participation Lastest News
| Your Community Needs Your Help! (Created: Nov 12, 2008 - Updated: Nov 20, 2008) | |
| Central Bayside Community Health Services wants you to tell us what you want for your health care. We are looking for consumers, carers and community members to join us for meetings, answer surveys and help us to plan our services. More | |
Publications for Community Participation
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Your Community Needs Your Help | 451 KB | English | 20/11/2008 |
Membership
Another way that you can become involved with CBCHS is by becoming a member. A member of the community is eligible to membership of CBCHS if they are over the age of 18, live, work or is enrolled as a student at an educational institution in the City of Kingston, or if the person is a client, carer or volunteer of CBCHS.
We encourage eligible members of the community to become involved with CBCHS by enrolling to be a member. It provides opportunities to see and hear about what we do through invitation to community consultation forums, open days and the Annual General Meeting. CBCHS advises members on new services and programs by letter. Members are eligible to apply and vote for candidates for the Board of Management at the time of election.
