Petition cohealth in Kensington, Fitzroy and Collingwood

Issue:
This petition of residents in Victoria draws to the attention of the Legislative Assembly the cohealth medical sites at Kensington, Fitzroy and Collingwood that are slated to be closed in December due to ongoing funding constraints. We, the undersigned, call on the Victorian Government to take immediate action to safeguard the future of cohealth medical clinics, a not-for-profit community health service that provides vital care to some of the most vulnerable individuals and communities in Victoria. cohealth delivers essential services including: primary healthcare, mental health support, alcohol and drug services, homeless outreach, refugee and asylum seeker health programs and culturally appropriate care for diverse communities with a focus on equity, inclusion, and prevention. cohealth serves over 117,000 people every year—many of whom would otherwise fall through the cracks of the mainstream healthcare system. Ongoing funding decisions and proposed changes threaten the sustainability of cohealth’s medical programs and workforce. Without urgent government support and commitment to long-term funding, these closures will result in leaving thousands without access to critical healthcare or presenting to already overburdened emergency departments. Every Australian deserves quality healthcare now more than ever, in the wake of multiple global crisis, growing mental health crises, and increasing inequality, Australia must invest in community health. We stand with cohealth. We stand for health equity. And we call on the Government to do the same

Action:
The petitioners respectfully call on the Legislative Assembly to guarantee long-term, sustainable funding for cohealth, recognise and protect the role of community health in delivering equitable healthcare and reducing health disparities, recognise the current Medicare Benefits Schedule model and the mismatch in catering for the needs of community health practices that work with extremely complex and vulnerable patients.