2. Apologies
Item |
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Actions/Outcomes |
3. |
Minutes of Last Meeting |
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Accepted
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4. |
Business Arising |
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4.1 |
GP and Community Health Forum follow-up |
JM to include items on next agenda |
4.2 |
ATO tax ruling update |
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4.3 |
Commonwealth Policy Issues
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4.4 |
Community Transport |
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Given the low numbers present at the meeting, and the urgency of discussion on the PHC Strategy discussion paper, it was decided to defer all these items to the next meeting. |
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4.5 |
Towards a National Primary Health Care Strategy: Discussion Paper. Submissions due 27 Feb 2009 |
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General: |
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Meredith had circulated a draft for comment, based on the discussion at the December meeting. She had also provided some information on the contents of submissions from network member organisations, and asked if the Network wished to include more specific responses to some issues. |
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Meredith also referred to a paper from the Victorian Premiers Department, published around July 2008, and the submission being developed by DHS Gippsland |
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The network supported the draft response with some additions/clarifications: |
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GPV comments |
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Bill Newton provided a copy of the GPV response to the AGPN draft response to the Discussion paper. Points include:
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- The distinction between ‘regional organisation’ potentially for purchasing/planning, and local organisation for service delivery needs to be clear. GPV does not support the role of GP Divisions as regional organisations.
- Concern about competitive tendering for purchasing and/or service delivery roles, rather than building on existing strengths – particularly relevant in Victoria.
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Other comments: |
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Additional comment 1: strengthen the comments on Superclinics to emphasise the strengths of Victorian CHSs as they exist already. |
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Additional comment 2: Heading is confusing – change to discuss issues of collocation. |
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Additional comment 5: refer to importance of community involvement as accountability mechanism. |
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It was agreed that with these changes the response should be submitted on behalf of the Network. |
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JM to provide details of the DPC paper
Meredith to finalise submission in line with comments provided. JM to submit before 27 Feb. |
4.6 |
Preventive Health Taskforce Report: Submissions due 2 Jan 2009 |
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Meredith prepared Network submission in line with the discussion at the previous meeting. Submitted by deadline of 2 Jan. Copy has been circulated to members for information. |
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5. |
New Business |
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6. |
Standing Items |
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6.1 |
Care in your community (CiYC) |
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No discussion
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6.2 |
VPCHN (the Network) membership
No discussion
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6.3 |
VPCHN conference |
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It was agreed that the proposed conference on 20 March was no longer practicable. Need to discuss further, including issues discussed under item 7: Review of Network. |
Discuss at future meeting |
6.4 |
Australian Journal of Primary Health
No discussion
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6.5 |
National Network
No discussion |
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7. |
Review of Network |
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Mark and Jenny believed that it was timely to review the role and functioning of the Network in light of:
- It is 2 years since the review facilitated by Heather Wellington
- DHS is no longer funding the core activities of the Network - regular meetings for information sharing and improving coordination, forums, conferences etc.
- AIPC is keen to continue to support the Network however it would not provide resources for activities such as conferences etc without additional funds.
- VHA has become much more effective in representing and developing primary health issues on behalf of CHSs over the last few years
- More conferences and forums relevant to primary health are now offered by other organisations including VHA.
Attendance has not always been good. Members are busy with ‘core’ activities.
Discussion points:
- Members value to opportunity to hear the perspective of other member organisations. Not a substitute for peaks and provides an opportunity to strategically understand where others are coming from. There is no alternative currently available for this.
- It is also a venue for broader information eg. Members reporting on conferences, visits to Federal Government Departments, politicians etc.
- Opportunity to be stronger together than as separate peaks. Peak bodies alone will only look at their won territory.
- Opportunity to put forward joint proposals/positions.
- The Leadership Forums were very successful, well attended by a broad range of people, interesting and different. Jenny commented that a cost increase by the Museum and loss of funding from DHS were the major reasons for them not continuing.
- DHS does not appear to accept the Network as a legitimate voice for state-wide primary and community health issues, even though there is no alternative voice with this broad representation. Eg. PCP chairs do not have the same state-wide perspective.
- For the MAV, primary health has no dedicated staff or funding, although relevant across most areas. This limits the opportunities for them to benefit and contribute to the VPCHN although it seems to be valuable.
- AIPC, RDNS and VAADA see Network as unique and valuable opportunity for information sharing.
- The research project did not seem to engage Network members.
- Membership needs to be reviewed/broadened.
- How should the Victorian Network interact with the National Network?
Suggestions for follow up and further discussion:
- Each meeting could have a time for each organisation to report issues of relevance to others
- Need to be opportunistic in looking for opportunities for submissions for funding for activities, conferences etc
- Secretariat support could be provided by member organisations on a rotating basis or by one organisation on a non-charging basis – VHA has previously offered this.
- Could consider resubmitting to DHS. There may be new opportunities for this.
- Can the leadership forums be revived at a different venue? Members wanted to investigate this further.
To be discussed again at next meeting. Jenny to prepare some background on the leadership Forums and a document to assist review discussion. |
Item to be re-agended for next meeting
Jenny to prepare information on leadership forums for next meeting.
Jenny to provide paper summarising discussion and assisting review of Network. |
8. |
Next Meeting |
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Thursday 12 March 2009, 10.30am-12.30 pm
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