Victorian Government Announces Cuts to Community Health Promotion Funding
On Friday 14th April, Community Health Services in Victoria received calls from the Department of Health to advise of a ten per cent cut to Community Health Health Promotion funding. This cut was not foreshadowed by the department or government and will take effect from the next financial year.
AHPA believes these cuts are short-sighted and irresponsible. These cuts will directly impact a number of AHPA Members and the broader health promotion sector. Cutting ten per cent of funding will have direct impacts on the frontline and will result in job losses for staff and reductions in available program funding.
Well-resourced health promotion is critical to keeping Victorians healthy and ensuring the health system is sustainable into the future. Every dollar spent on prevention saves $14.
While this cut amounts to a bit over three million dollars - this is not a saving. Three million dollars not being spent on health promotion will cost society close to 50 million dollars.
What is AHPA doing?
-
Connected with the Community Health First campaign - made up of the 24 independent community health services in Victoria.
-
Developed a press release about the cuts, which was sent to print, online, radio and tv outlets across metro and regional Victoria. Read the media release here.
-
Attended a joint press conference on Sunday 16th April with Community Health Services on the steps of Parliament (pictured right).
-
Participated in interviews with ABC, The Age and Australian Associated Press.
-
Contacted the Minister for Health for a meeting about the cuts.
News articles:
-
The Age - ‘Services were double-ups’: Premier defends health promotion budget cuts
-
ABC News - Victorian community health organisations, hit by budget cuts, warn against 'short-sighted' changes
-
The Standard (Warrnambool) - Health groups hit out at millions in flagged cuts
-
Croakey Health Media - Victorian Government under heavy fire over cuts to community health funding
- Croakey Health Media - Cuts to health promotion in Victoria prompt a call to action from the sector
How you can take action
We need your help to raise awareness of this issue and ask government to reverse this change. Your voice is important, whether you work in community health promotion or not. Here is how you can help:
-
Visit our campaign page, send an email to your local MP or to the Health Minister. Let politicians know what these funding cuts mean to you and your community.
-
Encourage colleagues, friends and loved ones to also send a letter to politicians.
-
Tell us your story. If you work in an agency affected by the funding cuts, we would like to hear from you about how your service will be impacted. Contact the AHPA Victoria-Tasmania Branch via email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..