The committee has been formed to work with state and federal health officials to develop an appropriate level of health services, and to identify specific projects that would improve or complement present health services.
Deputy chair Lourene Liebenberg said the committee met last week and discussed developing a strategy to identify health needs, which would include a stocktake of what services presently exist and analysis of what health providers should be aiming to deliver.
“It was a positive meeting that included a broad range of community members, plus representatives from Murrumbidgee Local Health District (state government) and Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network (federal government),” Mrs Liebenberg said.
“We want to identify a vision for health in Deniliquin.
“We know people are going out of town for various health services, and want to work towards recognising what can be appropriately provided locally, as well as expectations around what specialised services our community needs to obtain at regional centres or in capital cities.
“Community engagement is a crucial component of this partnership, and getting community input into service expectations will be an important process for our committee.
A small sub-committee has been formed to discuss ways of obtaining community feedback, and health authorities are preparing information for the committee around existing services.
“As a community we need to make some decisions around our vision for health in Deniliquin,” Mrs Liebenberg said.
“It will be important to understand the level of services that can realistically be provided, so the committee can work with MLHD, in particular, to ensure this appropriate level is delivered.”
Anyone interested in sharing their health story can do so via https://murrumbidgeephn.snapforms.com.au/form/working-together-for-better-health-in-deniliquin.