Australia joins global federation for community health

October 18, 2013 (Melbourne, Australia)

Community Health Australia (CHA) has announced the launch of the International Federation of Community Health Centres (IFCHC) at a gathering of public health sector delegates in Melbourne.

“I am delighted to host the Australian launch of this international federation for the advancement of community health,” CHA Chief Executive Trevor Carr said.

“The IFCHC constitution requires a national body in each member country to hold that nation’s membership. Community Health Australia is now the Australian member of the IFCHC, and we are delighted to join our colleagues in Europe, Canada and the USA in developing the community health model around the world.”

The Australian announcement followed official launches by the National Association for Community Health Centers (USA), the European Forum for Primary Care and the Canadian Association of Community Health Centres.

Video footage from these launches in Chicago, Istanbul and Saskatoon was played at the launch in Melbourne.

“We are very excited about the potential for Community Health Australia to build the capacity and visibility of the community health sector, both nationally and with our global partners,” Mr Carr said.

CHA will be member-led, ensuring that its identity, role and purpose, membership eligibility criteria and governance are relevant to the community health sector.

“This is a great opportunity for us to promote what we consider to be a world-leading model of primary and community health,” Mr Carr said.

“The model here in Victoria, Australia – with its maturity, diversity and clear community connections – is one of the great strengths of our healthcare system.”