History of Latrobe Community Health Service
Latrobe Community Health Service Inc (LCHS) was formed in February 1995 with the amalgamation of four community health centres in the Latrobe Valley, Gippsland: Churchill, Moe/Narracan, Morwell and Traralgon.
Due
to the impending transfer of the local public hospital, Latrobe
Regional Hospital (LRH) to a private operator, non-acute services were
transferred. These were alcohol and drug services in October 1996,
public dental services in August 1997 and a new $600,000 public dental
clinic was officially opened in Moe in the same year. District nursing
services in Moe and Traralgon commenced in June 1998.
Also,
LCHS successfully tendered for the Gippsland Aged Care Assessment
Service which transferred in August 1997 and the Victims Assistance
Program, which commenced in December 1997 and was provided by LCHS until
October 2004.
The Latrobe Valley Palliative Care Services
merged with LCHS in February 1998 and in April 1998 the Government
announced it would provide $1.5m for refurbishments at the Moe Centre
(completed late 1999). The refurbishments included a five bay Ambulance
Station, an after hours medical service, and a new day centre (for the
Planned Activity Group program).
The closing of the Moe campus
of LRH saw the commencement of the Moe After Hours Medical Service in
August 1998 as referred to in the above paragraph. This service was
initially provided in the former administration building of the LRH Moe
campus and then relocated to the newly completed refurbished Moe Centre
in December 1999.
In June 1999 LCHS, on behalf of 19 agencies
in Central West Gippsland, submitted the Primary Health and Community
Support (PHACS) Demonstration Project application. With the changing of
government, the name altered to Primary Care Partnerships (PCP) and LCHS
as Lead Agency was awarded the project.
In late 1999, LCHS
was approached by the Department of Human Services (DHS) to provide
interim management for Co Care Gippsland (CCG), a regional brokerage
service for people with respite and complex care need. This arrangement
continued until 2001 when DHS advised LCHS it would manage CCG on an
ongoing basis. 34.6 EFT staff transferred with CCG.
In December 2000, Creative House, a psychiatric disability support service, was transferred from Latrobe Regional Hospital.
Following
a successful tender, LCHS commenced provision of a regional assessment
and coordination service for the Department of Veterans Affairs during
January 2001.
In
April 2009, LCHS changed its status from an incorporated association to
a company limited by guarantee. This change in status enabled LCHS to
become a registered community health centre.
In conjunction with the change in status LCHS found it timely to refresh the logo and branding. The new logo represents the professional holistic helping and leadership role that LCHS provides to communities across Gippsland.
A new uniform was also launched to enhance the
service's professional image and to assist the community to identify
LCHS staff.