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Monash University Department of Rural and Indigenous Health

Mt Buller Community Health Service Opening

The first alpine resort with year-round health services!

Mt Buller residents and visitors now have better access to health services with the opening of an extended community health service.

The service commenced operation in November 2008 and was officially opened on Monday by Bill Sykes (MLA, Benalla).

It is provided by the Mansfield District Hospital in collaboration with Alpine Resorts Management Board (ARMB) and operates out of the existing Medical Centre on Summit Road.

It is currently open Mondays and Thursdays from November to May.

The medical centre operates seven days a week with general practitioners and staff from Mansfield during the winter ski season.

With this innovative program, Mt Buller is the first alpine resort to have access to year-round health services.

It is a two-year pilot project funded by a $100,000 grant from the Department of Human Services (DHS). The need for a year-round service was identified after much community consultation and in partnership with the Monash University School of Rural Health.

ARMB and Monash implemented the "Transforming Rural Urgent Care Systems (TrUCS)" program, a community development program designed to identify health care needs for rural populations.

This led to the establishment of a steering committee, health reference group and the appointment of a community development officer, Cathy Chivers.

After three years of collaborative consultations with local stakeholders, residents, health service providers and the DHS, the Mt Buller Community Health Service is now operational.

DHS Rural and Regional Health Services branch senior nursing advisor, Elise Sullivan, attended the launch and praised the involvement of so many stakeholders.

"It is evident with such positive collaboration this service will be successful and will continue to grow," Ms Sullivan said.

ARMB chief executive officer, Phil Nunn, said as Mt Buller continues to grow, it is essential that it is able to support the varying needs of residents and staff through the provision of an adequate and reliable health service.

A highlight of the service to date has been the provision of snakebite education.

Attended by over 80 participants, these sessions offer the community the chance to practice the emergency management of snakebites.

For further information contact Mansfield District Hospital on (03) 5775 8800.

—Mansfield Courier, 1 April 2009

Video of the Opening

The footage of the Mt Buller Community Health Service opening is approximately 30 minutes long and has been broken into 3 x 10 minute sections.

Part 1



Part 2



Part 3
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