More than 400 people in Victoria’s Gippsland region have received assistance accessing digital health services through a partnership between Gippsland PHN and Neighbourhood Houses Gippsland.
The initiative, initially developed to promote the Australian Government’s 1800MEDICARE app, expanded to help residents overcome barriers to accessing digital health and other government services.
Staff and volunteers across 20 Neighbourhood Houses and community centres provided more than 250 hours of personalised assistance to 416 people.
Support included recovering myGov accounts, completing Digital ID verification, linking Medicare to online accounts, resetting passwords and restoring access to email accounts.
Common barriers included outdated email addresses, difficulties verifying identities, privacy and security concerns and uncertainty about changes to digital health platforms.
Gippsland PHN chief executive officer Amanda Proposch said the initiative highlighted the importance of digital inclusion as more healthcare services moved online.
“As health care tools evolve, local support in a familiar environment can make a real difference when it comes to helping people overcome barriers and giving them the confidence to access digital health services,” Ms Proposch said.
“The success of this initiative highlights the important role community organisations can play in improving access to health care options for our communities.”
Participants reported a better understanding of available digital health services and greater confidence accessing their health information online.
One participant said the one-on-one assistance had helped them set up their digital health services and learn how to access their own health information.
Another said they would not have been able to download the 1800MEDICARE app without assistance.
The initiative also helped residents understand when to seek hospital care and when other healthcare options were available.
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