Who is this for?

Disability support workers and anyone providing services to people living with a disability in Victoria.

Further information

National Disability Services (NDS) is committed to working with disability service providers and workers to provide good quality, safe and effective support for people with disabilities.

This includes building the awareness, knowledge, and capabilities to address known health risks such as COVID-19 and other infectious diseases across disability support settings. It also includes supporting the delivery of information to individuals and families or carers regarding emerging or existing health matters for improved health and wellbeing outcomes. 

In an effort to support early intervention and build capability through knowledge-sharing, we have put together the following directory of key local contacts. The information in this page strives to facilitate cross-sectorial linkages between local health and disability services across different regions in Victoria so that disability service providers can identify health needs of people with disabilities early and link with appropriate health services in a timely manner.

In particular, we are including links to relevant Local Public Health Units (LPHUs) and Disability Liaison Officers.

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Local Public Health Units

Local Public Health Units use local knowledge, community-based relationships and direct engagement to effectively tailor and deliver public health initiatives and respond to incidents and issues within their local area. LPHUs were established in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic to manage local cases and outbreaks of COVID-19. From July 2022 LPHUs have begun undertaking additional public health responsibilities for various other notifiable conditions.

LPHUs administer programs for disease prevention and population health. This includes responding to COVID-19 and other infectious disease case investigations, outbreaks and public health programs that impact their region.

You can find your relevant LPHU points of contact below:

Grampians

Ararat Rural City, Central Goldfields Shire, City of Ballarat, Hepburn Shire, Hindmarsh Shire, Horsham Rural City, Moorabool Shire, Northern Grampians Shire, Pyrenees Shire, West Wimmera Shire, Yarriambiack Shire.

Local Public Health Unit Contact: phu@gh.org.au and 1300 988 908

Ways to get involved: Attend their weekly Regional Public Health Briefings and/or subscribe to their monthly newsletter.

Loddon-Mallee

Campaspe Shire, City of Greater Bendigo, Loddon Shire, Macedon Ranges Shire, Mount Alexander Shire, Buloke Shire, Gannawarra Shire, Mildura Rural City, Swan Hill Rural City

Local Public Health Unit Contact: LMPHU@bendigohealth.org.au Barwon Borough of Queenscliffe, City of Greater Geelong, City of Warrnambool, Colac-Otway Shire Council, Corangamite Shire, Golden Plains Shire, Glenelg Shire, Moyne Shire, Southern Grampians, Surf Coast Shire Council

Local Public Health Unit Contact: Sara Bonnici - 03 4215 4000

Ways to get involved: Subscribe to their quarterly newsletter through their website.

Barwon

Borough of Queenscliffe, City of Greater Geelong, City of Warrnambool, Colac-Otway Shire Council, Corangamite Shire, Golden Plains Shire, Glenelg Shire, Moyne Shire, Southern Grampians, Surf Coast Shire Council

Local Public Health Unit Contact: Sara Bonnici - 03 4215 4000

Ways to get involved: Subscribe to their quarterly newsletter through their website.

Goulburn Valley

Benalla Rural City, City of Greater Shepparton, Mansfield Shire. Mitchell Shire, Moira Shire, Murrindindi Shire, Strathbogie Shire

Local Public Health Unit Contact: PHU@gvhealth.org.au

Gippsland

Bass Coast Shire, Baw Baw Shire, City of Latrobe, East Gippsland Shire, South Gippsland Shire, Wellington Shire

Local Public Health Unit Contact: Amelia Evison Amelia.Evison@lrh.com.au

Ovens-Murray

Alpine Shire, City of Wodonga, Indigo Shire, Towong Shire, Wangarratta Rural City

Local Public Health Unit Contact: phu.communications@awh.org.au

Ways to get involved: Subscribe to their newsletter by writing to phu.communications@awh.org.au

North-East Melbourne

City of Banyule, City of Boroondara, City of Darebin, City of Hume, City of Knox, City of Manningham, City of Maroondah, City of Whitehorse, City of Whittlesea, City of Yarra, Yarra Ranges Shire, Nillumbik Shire

Local Public Health Unit Contact: Nicole Chatterton (engagement.nephu@austin.org.au)

Ways to get involved: Attend their health forums and subscribe to their mailing by writing to engagement.nephu@austin.org.au

South-East Melbourne

Cardinia Shire, City of Bayside, City of Casey, City of Frankston, City of Glein Eira, City of Greater Dandenong, City of Kingston, City of Monash, City of Port Phillip, City of Stonnington, Mornington Peninsula Shire

Local Public Health Unit Contact: CommunityEngagement@monashhealth.org

Ways to get involved: Subscribe to their newsletter.

Western Melbourne

City of Brimbank, City of Hobson Bay, City of Maribyrnong, City of Melbourne, City of Melton, City of Monee Valley, Citty of Merri-bek, City of Wyndham, Melbourne Airport

Local Public Health Unit Contact: Godefa G'her (Godefa.Gher@wh.org.au)

Ways to get involved: Join their network action group.

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Disability Liasion Officers

The Disability Liaison Officer program was established during the COVID-19 pandemic to improve access to healthcare for people with a disability. This included access to COVID-19 vaccination, testing and support. Over time the program has supported people with disability to access other healthcare needs. Most people seek help for essential health needs, such as:

• help with barriers to booking appointments
• arranging reasonable adjustments
• mobility/physical support
• communication assistance
• psychosocial support

Disability Liaison Officers (DLOs) are also driving longer-term health service and system improvements projects in line with the Inclusive Victoria: State disability plan (2022-2026).

They also support delivery of disability action plans and develop disability competency in health services. Disability Liaison Officers (DLOs) are based in health services across metropolitan and regional Victoria. You can contact a DLO by emailing DLOcoordinator@dhhs.vic.gov.au or through the following health services:

• Albury Wodonga Health
• Alfred Health
• Austin Health
• Bairnsdale Regional Health Service  (coordinating the Gippsland region)
• Barwon Health
• Bendigo Health (including Mildura)
• Colac Area Health
• Eastern Health
• Goulburn Valley Health
• Grampians Health
• Kyabram District Health Service
• Monash Health
• Northeast Health Wangaratta  
• Northern Health
• Peninsula Health
• Royal Melbourne Hospital
• Royal Children’s Hospital
• Peter McCallum Cancer Centre
• Royal Women’s Hospital
• South West Health Care
• St Vincent’s Health
• Royal Victorian Ear and Eye Hospital
• Western Health

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