What is a community health service?

A community health service is committed to improving the health of its community. Health is broadly defined as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not simply the absence of disease or infirmity.

To achieve good health community health services strongly emphasise prevention, early intervention, rehabilitation and education, in addition to direct care.

Activities that a community health service may be involved in include:

• Delivery of services, such as podiatry, counselling and physiotherapy, both at offices and by outreach services
• Health promotion and education
• Case management, advocacy and intervention
• Creating collaborative relationships with industry, government, hospitals and other health services.

 
Community health services are an important part of the health sector - not an add-on or optional extra. They are vital in helping to create and maintain well-being and good health, particularly in those who are least able to pay. They are not about crises, but they are about long-term effort that reflects and implements the principles of empowerment, access for marginalised groups, community partnership, and client focused and integrated multi-discipinary services.