Major revamp for cobaw community health

More Macedon Ranges families will get easier access to the vital community health and family services they need – all under one roof – thanks to an Andrews Labor Government funding boost for Cobaw Community Health Services.

Minister for Health Jill Hennessy today joined Member for Macedon Mary-Anne Thomas to announce Cobaw Community Health Services will receive nearly $10 million through the first round of the Labor Government’s new Regional Health Infrastructure Fund. "The new Healthy Community Access Hub will bring together a range of health and family services conveniently under one roof, ensuring services are better connected, more efficient, and easier to access." Ms Hennessy said.

The $200 million fund – the largest of its kind in Victorian history – is rebuilding rural and regional health services to ensure all Victorians can access the high quality care and facilities they need, no matter where they live. Cobaw Community Health Services CEO, Margaret McDonald said, "The Healthy Community Access Hub will support the delivery of more efficient and effective services for people in Central Victoria resulting in improved health outcomes. It will meet the strong and growing community demand for accessible wrap-around services, addressing the changing needs of a regional population."

In Kyneton, we’re investing to build a new Healthy Community Access Hub, which will be a modern "one-stop-shop" for accessing a range of community health services.

The purpose-built hub will bring together primary health and community health services, private practitioners and counsellors and will feature a significant increase in multi-purpose consulting rooms. "Cobaw Community Health already provides a terrific service for our community. This new facility will mean room to grow and expand to meet future demand. We’re supporting Cobaw to support our community," Ms Thomas said.

It will also feature the latest advances in e-health technology making it easier for clients to create and change bookings and access care from remote areas of the region.

Construction is expected to commence in early 2018 and be completed by late 2019.