In an Australian first, the Department of Health has established a Victorian Aged Care Response Centre and a health services hub network to unify the efforts of the public and private health systems to ensure COVID-19 outbreaks at aged care facilities in the State are managed with the best available resourcing.
Announcing the unique move, the Department said the Centre was coordinating the response to COVID-19 outbreaks in aged care centres and had developed the Victorian Health Services Coordination Hub to enhance surveillance of outbreaks in the aged care sector.
“This model, which reaches across State and Federal responsibilities to unite priorities, was rapidly developed in the first three weeks of the Centre’s operations,” the Department said.
Executive Officer of the Centre, Joe Buffone said the hub network streamlined and coordinated aged care resources across metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria.
“Nine health service hubs have been established throughout Victoria, with the four metropolitan hubs being most in need,” Mr Buffone said.
“In each hub, the coordinator works with facilities to assess the needs of aged care centres in their area and determines whether there are workforce shortages or other issues they may need support with.”
He said that if required, the coordinator could then triage resources or other support within their hub to ensure facilities most at need received support.
“The establishment of these hubs allows the private and public health providers working within each hub to align with the available Commonwealth resources in a more streamlined and coordinated way,” Mr Buffone said.
“The Victorian Aged Care Response Centre acts as the central hub, providing a coordination point for the health services to escalate issues or seek additional support.”
The joint Government Centre has brought together more than 60 PS staff from 21 Agencies.
