Wollondilly Health Alliance
The Wollondilly Health Alliance (WHA) is a partnership established in 2014 to develop new and innovative ways to connect health services and improve health care in the region.
Wollondilly Shire Council, South Western Sydney Primary Health Network and South Western Sydney Local Health District are the key members of the Alliance, with other health service providers, consumers and carers also playing an important role.
Funding
Originally funded by the NSW Ministry of Health on a time limited basis, all three key partners have continued funding the Alliance given its significant value for the local community.
Governance structure
Executive Sponsors
Meetings are held bimonthly with key agencies’ CEs or their delegated authorities.
Operational Committee
Meetings are held bimonthly with representations from:
- Key partners
- GPs
- NGOs
- Aged Care agencies
- Aboriginal Health
Working Groups
Three working groups meet monthly:
- Prevention and Promotion
- Care/Service Delivery
- Health in Planning
Prioritisation process
The WHA engaged a consultant during 2014 to develop a health needs assessment for the Wollondilly area. Approximately 500 community members were consulted through a survey about service satisfaction and needs. The needs analysis was complemented by an analysis of patient demographics and health status, as well as additional expert consultation. This process generated an evidence-based list of priorities from which a work plan was developed.
Workshops are now run every six months, where members of all WHA committees review the listed priorities.
Current priorities
WHA’s current priorities include:
- health services planning aligned to predicted population increase
- preventative health
- better sharing of patient health information
- improving access to community health services
- increasing community awareness about local health services and treatment options
- attracting and retaining health professionals
The Alliance has supported a wide range of projects including:
Examples of projects | Aims | Methods |
---|---|---|
Telemonitoring | To use technology to support patients to manage their care needs. |
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Dilly Wanderer | To provide access to a range of lifestyle activities and programs to more remote locations in the region. | A mobile community engagement and information service which provides:
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Healthy Towns | To support and promote healthy eating, active lifestyles and wellbeing with a localised approach. |
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Wollondilly Wellbeing Network | To promote mental health using the ‘Five Ways to Wellbeing’ framework. |
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Telehealth Clinics | To enable patients to connect to specialists who are not located in the region through video cameras and monitors. | Telehealth Clinics in Wollondilly:
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Diabetes | To prevent the ‘at risk’ population from developing diabetes, and people with diabetes type 2 from developing complications. |
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Secure Messaging | To increase the uptake and routine use of secure messaging delivery and sharing (including referrals, reports, results and care plans) across Wollondilly primary healthcare providers. |
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Key achievements
The Wollondilly Health Alliance’s achievements to date include:
- increasing the number of engaged and empowered people active in their own care
- establishing effective ways to deliver local services
- reducing the need for hospital presentation
- enhancing community’s knowledge and participation in preventative health
- increasing inter community connections and wellbeing
For further information please visit the Wollondilly Health Alliance webpage.