Buloke Shire Council has confirmed that its transition out of the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) has progressed with the announcement of four well known service providers being appointed by the Commonwealth Government to deliver contracted independent support services for the Buloke Local Government Area.

The appointment of services has been allocated in four regions, due to the geographical size of the Buloke area. Existing client services have been distributed between the providers, with a preference system by location to aid the distribution of services.

East Wimmera Health Service has been appointed to provide client services that will cover the South West and Central areas.

Inglewood and District Health Service has been appointed to provide client services for the South East and Central areas.

Annecto has been appointed to deliver services in the Northern and Central areas.

Mallee Track Community Health appointed to provide the meals service only for the Northern area. 

Region Areas

The notional splits of the Buloke region area as follows:

• Northern Buloke: townships of Berriwillock, Culgoa, Nandaly, Sea Lake and surrounds
• Central Buloke: townships of Birchip, Nullawil and surrounds
• South East Buloke: townships of Charlton, Wycheproof and surrounds
• South West Buloke: townships of Donald, Watchem and surrounds.

Mayor, Cr Alan Getley, has welcomed the news saying, “Council is pleased with the announcement of four service providers across Buloke Shire. The organisations are trusted, with existing established links with our communities. 

“Buloke is a large geographical area, so to have the reassurance of several providers to offer services into the future is tremendous.”

Council will transition services to the new providers by January 1, 2024, with all clients to be contacted directly by Council staff to discuss their new providers, the process and to obtain consent for the transition of their current services.

Community Summit

Council is finalising the details of a Community Summit to be held in mid-October that will give clients and their families, as well as community members and prospective employees and volunteers, access to each of the four service providers to work through any questions they may have.

All enquiries regarding the transition of the Commonwealth Home Support Program from Buloke Shire Council can be directed to Council’s Manager Community Development, Jenna Allan on 1300 520 520 or jallan@buloke.vic.gov.au.

From EWHS

East Wimmera Health Service (EWHS) is pleased to announce the acceptance of Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) services as a result of the Buloke Shire exit.

EWHS is a trusted and well-established local health care provider already working with consumers within the Buloke Shire communities to enhance and encourage their ability to maintain independence and live well at home. These additional home support services will complement existing EWHS services and positively contribute to early intervention with health care and ageing well.

EWHS new CHSP services include:

• Domestic Assistance including general house cleaning and laundry.
• Home Maintenance including Garden Maintenance and Minor Home Maintenance and Repairs.
• Personal Care including assistance with bathing, eating, dressing, grooming.
• Delivered Meals including meals prepared and delivered to your home.

EWHS is working with Buloke Shire to start delivering these new services by January 1, 2024. If you would like to receive your home care services from EWHS, please contact our Community Health Admin Team on 03 5477 2222.

The CHSP program supports older people (aged 65 years or older, or 50 years or older for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people) to get help with everyday tasks in their home. The program helps people to maintain independence and live safely in their own home. 

This article appeared in The Buloke Times, 26 September 2023.