My Adjournment matter is to the Minister for Health and the action that I seek is that the Minister accompany me to meet with the CEO of Your Community Health, Mr Phillip Bain, at the site in Separation Street, Northcote – when it is safe to do so.

Minister, Your Community Health provides critical allied health, psychology, paediatric care and dental services across its three sites in Reservoir, Preston and Northcote.

In Northcote, Your Community Health has been a steadfast service for locals and a place where many in our community have received care over a long period of time. I even recall being taken there as a child by my mother and that sense of a welcoming, humble, caring community space has never left me.

The truth is, Minister, it is a facility that has the potential to care for even more locals – put simply it is in need of a revitalisation.

The site was previously set to incorporate the development of an LGBTIQ Health Centre with a commitment of $2 million from Federal Labor, but sadly the Federal Coalition did not match that commitment.

I was so pleased to hear earlier in the year that Your Community Health had declined an offer of amalgamation with the Eastern Suburbs based, EACH Health Services. 

As good a service as EACH may be, keeping its local identity is just too important for Your Community Health.

A review of the organisation found that it is independently financially sustainable and that an amalgamation was not in the interests of its members or the local community.

And off the back of this very positive step I want to see the service thrive.

I’ve spoken at length to the CEO about all the potential and possibility that this site holds to better service the health needs of our local area. We have spoken about the varying needs of children and families, elderly residents and vulnerable community members.

As the only community health provider servicing the area and with no public hospitals within the municipality, Your Community Health has also been particularly important in servicing the local community throughout the pandemic.

 Minister, as you know Your Community Health has been critical in providing outreach including in-home and on-location COVID-19 testing especially for at risk populations – including at our public housing estates.

And you would also be aware that Dental Health Services Victoria has identified Your Community Health as being compliant and ready to accommodate “Smile Squad” referrals as part of the Andrews Government’s landmark school dental care program.

I also know that from your previous portfolio, you would be aware that according to the interim findings of the Mental Health Royal Commission, the inner north is under-resourced when it comes to mental health services – particularly for young people.

Your Community Health is perfectly positioned to augment its services not only to assist our community through the pandemic, but to incorporate a range of services that cater to the physical and mental health needs of our growing suburbs.

I urge you join me to learn more about the strategic directions of this much loved facility and the opportunities that exist to see it reach its full potential.