Our strategy to empower communities to achieve better health and wellbeing and an improved quality of life is unchanged. Over time, this has seen us build deep and trusting relationships with local communities, reaching those who are uncomfortable accessing mainstream health care, connecting them into the health system and supporting them on their wellbeing journeys.

As we put the emergency phase of the pandemic behind us, our support for the public health system involved efforts to improve conditions for health and equity in our local communities. We partnered with governments, research institutes, hospitals, community health, community organisations, schools and child care centres to improve access to services and tackle some of the increasing health issues surrounding food security, affordable medication, mental health, women’s health, family violence, and homelessness.

Continuing to improve health and wellbeing for individuals, families and local communities, IPC Health recognises that health care and wellbeing includes physical, mental and social health. We stepped up our efforts to identify social needs in our local communities and leveraged our voice, our resources and connections to influence policies, systems and outcomes to support good health.

Significant opportunities arose this past year. Not only did we secure extensions and new funding for services like Head to Health, Brimbank Melton Children’s Health and Wellbeing Hub, Wyndham Child and Family Hub, Care Finder Service and the student-led dental clinic, but we also strengthened and formed new alliances with esteemed partners such as the Victorian Government’s Department of Health, Western Health, Royal Children’s Hospital and Murdoch Children’s Research Institute. Our collaboration with research entities has empowered us to establish foundational data sets for our programs, and the growth and the expansion of IPC Health services means we can reach more people in need.

We employ local people living in the communities we serve. Our staff have very diverse backgrounds, yet our values and purpose resonate with each of us that works at IPC Health. This is what brings us together and sets us apart from other organisations. Our resilience and success come from our core values and our determination to make a true impact for those most in need – we are passionate, we are creative, and we are making a difference.

The staff celebration event at Grazeland in June 2023 was a big thank you to all our staff and recognition of all our achievements for the last few years. We spent an afternoon together catching up and having fun.

As we continue reflecting, some notable achievements stand out for the 2022–2023 financial year: our 25^th Incorporation anniversary; the establishment of the student-led dental clinic at our Wyndham Vale campus; the amplification of mental health services through collaboration and partnerships with North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network and the State Department of Health; our Graduate Program for allied health students and innovative initiatives like the Chop Out Convos app and our Diabetes Wellbeing Hub. These milestones aren’t merely organisational accomplishments but symbolise our unwavering commitment to health and community wellbeing.

We have not only enhanced community ties but have also strengthened our core purpose. We take pride in being more than just a provider; we are listeners, partners, and passionate advocates for our clients. We do our utmost to connect people with the right care, at the right time in a culturally safe place that is convenient to them.

A special mention and thanks for their many years of service to our Board Directors George Kogios who retired in March 2023 (Chair since February 2019) and John Hedditch who retired in November 2022 after completing nine years with IPC Health. Both George and John contributed to the strengthening of IPC Health foundations, leveraging the organisation’s ability to grow and adapt to the changing landscape of health care.

We welcomed new Board Directors Kylie Maher and Mike Clarke in June 2023 whose skillsets reflect those retiring and areas that relate to current issues such as cyber readiness and digital health.

The Board has influenced the organisation’s work through the four Board Committees. IPC Health is on track to deliver to its 2025 Strategy and has identified growth areas while continuing to investigate additional funding streams through the Surplus for Purpose strategy.

The Executive and Leadership teams welcomed Jana Vihm, our new General Manager of People, Governance, and Community, who will assist in achieving the IPC Health 2025 Strategy and the continuation of our work as OneTeam IPC Health.

Looking to the future, we’re passionate about further addressing rising community needs, especially in challenging economic conditions. The demand for services continues to be a major challenge. There are so many people that need access to services and with the population of the western region expanding rapidly, along with the cost of living, demand for community health services is, and will remain, high.

We will continue to provide affordable health and wellbeing services to those most in need and help people in our communities struggling to access and pay for health care. We will continue to advocate for improved policies that help people live longer, better lives and we will continue to promote the great work achieved by community health.

Finally, we extend our deepest gratitude to everyone who has shaped IPC Health this year, from our Board, staff and volunteers, our Executive Leadership and Leadership teams to our funders, partners, clients and collaborators. Your contributions have been instrumental to our success, we couldn’t have done it without you, and we look forward to forging ahead together.