Key messages
- The 2022–23 Victorian Budget committed a $698 million package to deliver more hospital services within patients’ homes, through home-based and virtual care. This was in addition to the $120.9 million over 3 years that was announced in the 2020–21 Victorian Budget.
- The funding will be allocated to health services based on applications submitted via their Health Service Partnership, in recognition of the benefits of health services working together in achieving transformation.
For over 25 years, Victorian health services have delivered a range of services in the home. Over 350,000 admitted bed days involving a range of clinical services are delivered in the home every year, enabling Victorians to enjoy more convenient and patient-centred care.
Local and global evaluations of home-based hospital services clearly show the benefits of this type of care, including better outcomes for patients, and significantly higher patient and carer satisfaction.
Better at Home initiative
Better at Home helps deliver more healthcare within patients’ homes where appropriate and preferred by the patient, through home-based and virtual care.
The initiative was first announced in the 2020–21 Victorian , with a commitment to provide $120.9 million in funding over 3 years.
The 2022–23 Victorian Budget committed a further $698 to expand the program to help more than 15,000 Victorians access home-based care each year, in addition to telehealth check-ups.
Better at Home funding supports the delivery of more acute, rehabilitation, geriatric evaluation and management, health independence program and specialist clinic services in the home.
The funding will be allocated to health services based on applications submitted via their Health Service Partnership, in recognition of the benefits of health services working together in achieving transformation.
For information on accessing Better at Home services, please contact your local health service. To find out more about the Better at Home initiative, please email BetterAtHome@health.vic.gov.au
Consumer resources
Home-based and virtual hospital care – Better Health
Announcements
- Hololens expanding virtual care in regional Victoria – April
- Delivering better care at home – April
- Delivering world class care for Victorians at home – May
- More support to recover at home – November
Webinar series
- Experiences and learnings in delivering the COVID+ Pathway – The North West Melbourne
- Hospital in the Home in a Rural Community, Kate Beach, Colac Area
- From Less to More – Transformational Growth of an Adult HITH service, Helen Richards, Monash
- Patient Watch – Building the Hospital Without Walls, Don Campbell, Northern
- Home Based Cancer Care framework and toolkit, Robyn Wilson, Grampians Public Health
- Home-based and community care models for mild and moderate COVID
- Home-based and community care models for mild and moderate COVID – transcript
- Innovations in COVID care delivery – Northern Health
- Innovations in COVID care delivery – Northern Health Experience – transcript
Reviewed 27 July 2023