Key messages
- The Department of Health had developed the Community Health Integrated Program (CHIP) guidelines to guide organisations funded under the Community Health Program.
- The guidelines support planning, program design and service delivery, and clarify expectations for integrated service provision.
- Complementary guidelines on child health services, refugee and asylum seeker health services and care for people with chronic conditions, help services to meet the needs of these groups.
Community Health Program
The Community Health Program (CHP) delivers allied health, nursing and counselling services to the Victorian community. The delivery of these supports and services is flexible and responsive to the needs of people and local communities. In this way, the CHP focuses on person-centred and well coordinated care.
Program guidelines
Providing appropriate healthcare for people in the community is a priority in Victoria. The Community Health Program (CHP) is an important part of providing this community-based care.
The Community Health Integrated Program (CHIP) guidelines describe what is expected of organisations funded to deliver the CHP.
The aim is to improve consistency across the state in planning, program design and service delivery, as well as to clarify expectations for coordinated service provision.
The guidelines are evidence based, and translate that evidence into practical components that underpin program delivery. This will ensure the CHP is well positioned to respond to current and future challenges.
Guidelines for child health guidelines, refugees and asylum seekers and the care of people with chronic disease
Stand-alone guidelines have been developed for children, refugee and asylum seeker populations and people with chronic conditions.
These complementary guidelines provide guidance on meeting the specific needs of these groups.
The guideline Care for people with chronic conditions is also supported with a Summary of the guide and case studies from community health services.
Preliminary revision of the Community Health Program Guidelines suite
In April 2019, the deaprtment completed a preliminary revision of the suite of Community Health Program Guidelines. The suite of guidelines includes:
- Community health integrated program guidelines: direction for the community health program
- Refugee and asylum seeker health services: guidelines for the community health program
- Child health services: guidelines for the community health program
- Care for people with chronic conditions: guidelines for the community health program
Further revision and updates will be made as actions in response to the Victorian Auditor General’s Office audit of the Community Health Program are progressively implemented.
Reviewed 11 July 2023