Arabic version: الخدمات الصحية الإقليمية في فيكتوريا تطلب تمويلاً انتخابياً
According to ABC News, regional Victorians and health providers are calling for better access and funding before the November state election, arguing that distance, homelessness, language barriers and limited specialist services deepen health inequality.
Victorian Alliance of Rural and Regional Community Health chair Sean Duffy said people in remote Victoria live between five and seven years less than people in Melbourne. He said rural and regional residents face disadvantages in emergency care and treatment for chronic conditions, while specialist support can be near impossible to access. Mr Duffy called for a separate funding model and said less than 1 per cent of Victoria’s total health budget is spent on community health.
The Council to Homeless Persons said homelessness further worsens health outcomes. Chief executive Deborah Di Natale said keeping appointments can be difficult without a phone or reliable transport, and health care may not be prioritised when people are seeking shelter and food. The 2021 Census recorded approximately 30,000 Victorians without a home. The council wants political parties to commit to a Victorian homelessness strategy.
Bendigo Community Health Services said a Central Victoria trial helping people sleeping rough access mental and physical health care had saved at least four lives in its initial months. Chief executive Mandy Hutchinson said people sleeping rough were getting to appointments, but the service was using its own resources to improve a system she said was failing.
In Shepparton, Ethnic Council of Shepparton and District case manager Abdullah Naveed said migrants and refugees can struggle to navigate health care because of low literacy and language barriers. In Mildura, Kai Coff said he could not find local gender-affirming care and now uses telehealth with a Queensland GP. Labor has committed to halve surgery waitlists, while Shadow Health Minister Georgie Crozier said the coalition would offer incentives of up to $10,000 for health professionals to work in regional Victoria.
