Background

The CHIC Initiative represents a joint approach to establishing partnerships in the primary health care sector to improve the health of Queenslanders and increase the capacity of the health system over the next five years. 

The CHIC Initiative will establish local collaborations in primary health care aimed at enhancing service coordination and delivery through:

• shared planning and service delivery
• shared assessment tools;
• common management protocols;
• agreed roles in patient support and education; and
• local community health promotion action.

These formal partnerships will be known as Primary Health Care Partnership Councils (Partnership Councils) and approximately 20 will be established within the geographical boundaries of the Queensland Health, Health Service Districts. 

Partnership Councils

The Partnership Councils will focus on chronic and complex care, integrated health promotion and illness prevention, early childhood health, community mental health and drug and alcohol services. 

Partnership Councils will consist of stakeholders such as general practitioners, community nursing services, Aboriginal Medical Services, Divisions of General Practice, relevant community and hospital services, and consumer representatives.

Partnership Councils will be supported and guided under a joint governance structure which includes representation from key primary health care service provision agencies, at both the Area CHIC Partnership and State-wide CHIC Partnership level.

Funding

Queensland Health is investing approximately $34 million over five (5) years, commencing 2006/07, to implement the Partnership Councils and promote innovation in primary health care service delivery.  $12.5 million of this funding is part of the State Government's contribution to the Australian Better Health Initiative (ABHI). 

Funding will be provided for the first three years to encourage and enable the Partnerships Councils to work collaboratively to achieve specific outcome-related objectives.   

Firstly, ‘partnering funding’ will be allocated for establishment, coordination and support of each Partnership Council.  Decisions around the location of this secretariat funding, the auspicing organisation, the election of an honorary chair person and the extent of support required by the Partnership Council will be made via consensus of those Partnership Council members.   

Secondly, ‘service delivery and innovation funding’ will be available to Partnership Councils based on the merit of a jointly developed implementation plan submitted to the Area CHIC Partnership.  The implementation plans will be assessed for funding by the Area CHIC Partnership against an agreed set of criteria.  These criteria are likely to include considerations for innovation, partnership, priority, feasibility and capacity to impact on the chosen health priority area. 

Related documents

For further information please visit the CHIC website (www.chicpartnerships.com.au)