The Victorian Government announced an $8.4 million Community Health Pharmacotherapy Grants program to support 15 community health services to establish or expand pharmacotherapy services.
Applications for the Community Health Pharmacotherapy Grants were open from 15 October through to 18 November 2024. Selected health services were informed 20 February 2025. The program will run until 30 June 2028.
Pharmacotherapy is the use of medication (such as methadone and buprenorphine) to help treat opioid dependence. These treatments are used by around 15,000 Victorians each day.
Until now, pharmacotherapy services have been provided by GPs, nurse practitioners and community pharmacies as well as state-funded pharmacotherapy clinics across Victoria. Funding through the grants will expand access to pharmacotherapy across the state, supporting more Victorians to get the support they need.
The pharmacotherapy grants are part of the Victorian Government’s $95.1 million Statewide Action Plan to reduce drug .
How this grant program will help
All pharmacotherapy grants will be for a three-year timeframe. Grants can be used flexibly to respond to the local context and needs to meet the program’s objectives.
The grants aim to:
- Increase access to pharmacotherapy prescribing: including increased prescribing hours, bulk-billed prescribing and culturally safe environments
- Strengthen access to pharmacotherapy: building on existing Community Health Services pharmacotherapy programs by establishing strong relationships with local GP prescribers and community pharmacies
- Build resilience in local pharmacotherapy provision: creating strong networks and partnerships, including with Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs), local health and wellbeing services, and Primary Health Networks (PHNs).
Grants will be allocated to community health services in all regional catchments and across metropolitan Melbourne.
Grant recipients
- Ballarat Community Health
- Barwon Health
- Bendigo Community Health Services
- DPV Health
- Echuca Regional Health
- Gateway Health
- Gippsland Lakes Complete Health
- Goulburn Valley Health
- Grampians Community Health
- Latrobe Community Health Service
- Monash Health
- Peninsula Health
- South West Healthcare
- Western Health
- Your Community Health
Reviewed 25 March 2025