27 Apr
Original media release issued by the Victorian Department of Health
An evaluation by independent consulting firm Deloitte has found the Latrobe Health Innovation Zone, Latrobe
Health Assembly and Latrobe Health Advocate have positively impacted health and wellbeing outcomes in the
Latrobe Valley.
Over the last three years, Deloitte has undertaken a developmental evaluation of the Zone, Assembly and
Advocate to look at how they have impacted health and wellbeing in Latrobe Valley.
Local communities were involved in designing the evaluation framework and outcome measures, as well as
reviewing them to ensure they continued to be relevant over the three-year period.
The evaluation has highlighted positive change in community attitudes to health and wellbeing, a strong sense
of community pride and a desire to build on community strengths. It has provided recommendations for the next
steps in ensuring the Latrobe Health Innovation Zone is a success for people who live, work and study in
Latrobe Valley.
The Latrobe Health Innovation Zone is the first of its kind in Australia and has been designated as a place
where people can have a say in the planning and delivery of better health and wellbeing outcomes; they can be
a part of the decision making, design, planning and delivery of services and programs.
Zone partners comprising the Assembly, Advocate and Department of Families, Fairness and Housing have
accepted the recommendations and are working together with other service and program partners to deliver the
changes needed.
Designation of Latrobe City as a Health Innovation Zone, establishment the Latrobe Health Assembly and
appointment of the Latrobe Health Advocate are key recommendations of the Hazelwood Mine Fire Inquiry.
For a copy of the evaluation report, earlier interim reports and information about the Zone, Assembly and
Advocate, you can visit: www.healthassembly.org.au or www.lhadvocate.vic.gov.au or
https://www2.health.vic.gov.au
Visit WIN News Gippsland on Facebook for media coverage of the annoucement.
