Thousands more Victorians living with chronic illnesses will gain access to community-based healthcare under an expansion of the State Government’s Care Pathways for Chronic Disease program.
Health Minister Harriet Shing announced the program will be extended to 12 locations across Victoria, supported by a $20 million investment aimed at helping an additional 4,500 people manage long-term conditions including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, asthma and chronic respiratory illnesses.
The expansion comes as chronic disease continues to place pressure on the health system. According to the Victorian Government, around one in three hospital admissions is linked to chronic conditions, with these patients typically spending longer in hospital than other patients.
The program connects people with multidisciplinary healthcare teams, including chronic disease nurses, health coaches and allied health professionals, providing care closer to where they live. The Government says this approach can help reduce avoidable visits to emergency departments and hospital admissions by supporting patients to better manage their conditions.
Services will be rolled out progressively until February 2027, targeting areas identified as having higher levels of need. The regions include Loddon Mallee, Gippsland, Hume, Barwon, Grampians, South West Victoria, Bayside and metropolitan growth corridors across Melbourne.
The Government pointed to results from the Health@Home program operated by EACH, where 72 per cent of participants reported improved ability to manage their own care, as evidence supporting community-based treatment models.
Health policy experts have increasingly advocated for preventative and community-focused healthcare as Australia’s population ages and the number of people living with chronic conditions rises. Such programs are often viewed as a way to reduce demand on hospitals while improving patient outcomes, though their long-term impact depends on sustained funding, workforce availability and access across regional and metropolitan areas.
Ms Shing said providing care closer to home could improve health outcomes and make treatment more accessible.
“Improved access to treatment and care for people living with chronic disease delivers better patient outcomes when it’s local. It’s as simple as that,” she said.
She added that healthcare access should not depend on where people live or their financial circumstances.
Local MP Daniela De Martino said the expansion would make it easier for people living with chronic disease in affected communities to access ongoing support without travelling further afield for treatment.
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