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August 28, 2020
ACT Minister of Health Rachel Stephen-Smith, ACT Greens Leader and Minister for Mental Health Shane Rattenbury, and Shadow Minister for Health Vicki Dunne will present their policies and ideas at an Election Forum about community-based health care in the ACT at the University of Canberra this Friday.
Each candidate will have the opportunity to present their party’s positions and approaches to key issues in community-based health care to relevant community stakeholders.
Presented in partnership by the University of Canberra, the Capital Health Network and the Health Care Consumers’ Association of the ACT, the Forum will focus on four key areas in community based health care including access, integration, prevention and mental health.
“We hear a lot about health plans and policies for our hospitals and of course Public Health in the context of the pandemic, but we tend to hear less about health prevention, mental health, service integration and access to services in the community,” said Executive Dean of the Faculty of Health Professor Michelle Lincoln.
“These are issues that impact most citizens living in our communities. The treatment and management of chronic diseases like cardiovascular disease, diabetes and arthritis, early intervention for childhood developmental delays and prevention of obesity, mental health issues and sporting injuries occurs via community-based health care and should all be areas of focus for the ACT Government.”
Capital Health Network CEO Megan Cahill said the Election Forum offers an opportunity for primary health care professionals, peak bodies and consumer groups to ask pertinent questions of the three key parties.
“At the Forum we are focusing on the four key areas of access, integration, prevention and mental health. We are looking forward to hearing the position and approach of each party about these key issues in community-based health care in Canberra,” said Ms Cahill.
Executive Director of the Health Care Consumers’ Association Darlene Cox said they are interested in improving the range of services available.
“Hospitals are an important part of our public health system and dominate much of our focus and funding but most of the health care consumers access is based in the community,” said Ms Cox.
“We are interested in improving the range of services that are based in community settings, providing care away from busy hospitals and closer to home.”
WHAT: ACT Election Forum – community-based health care
WHEN: Friday 28 August, 2-3.30pm
WHERE: Ann Harding Conference Centre, 24 University Drive, University of Canberra
Watch a recording of the forum
- Hosted by Genevieve Jacobs, you can watch a recording of the forum here.
- After the forum, HCCA provided a useful summary of the items that the full panel gave agreement to and the variety of responses on a wide range of important health-related questions.
- Questions were submitted prior to and during the forum. However, due to time constraints, not all questions were able to be asked. Therefore, we provided ACT Labor, Canberra Liberals and the ACT Greens with an opportunity to provide written answers to these questions. You can read their responses below: