About Us
SCHS takes a holistic approach to the needs of clients and the community with an emphasis on continuous quality improvement and excellence in service delivery based on the principles of collaborative primary care.
About SCHS
Sunraysia Community Health Services (SCHS) takes a holistic approach to the needs of clients and the community with an emphasis on continuous quality improvement and excellence in service delivery based on the principles of collaborative primary care.
SCHS is a publicly funded health service that has been operating since 1975 and currently provides more than 90 programs and support services to our community.
SCHS is located at 137 Thirteenth Street Mildura and also delivers services such as HECHT Adult Activity Centre (Johns Street), Daybreak (non-residential rehabilitation program) HomeBase (Youth Services and Social Enterprise) and The Family and Child Hub (Pine Avenue, Mildura) as well as in-home care.
Our Values
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- Compassion – we treat people with empathy, respect and dignity and we care about our clients, our people and our community.
- Justice – we promote equity, peace and a genuine respect for people in our community.
- Excellence – we are prepared for change and strive for continuous learning and quality improvement.
- Accountability – we commit to responsible and open decision-making, taking responsibility for our decisions and actions, being reflective and open to feedback.
- Collaboration – we work as a team and actively communicate and build constructive relationships to achieve positive outcomes.
Our Mission
At Sunraysia Community Health Services, our mission is to provide accessible, holistic, and quality healthcare services that promote well-being and enhance the lives of individuals and families in the Sunraysia region. We are committed to collaborating with our community, fostering innovation, and advocating for equitable health outcomes.
Our Vision
Together, we envision a healthier, empowered, and connected community, where every individual thrives.
History
The Shire of Mildura, through its representative Councillors H.W. Smith and RC Stirrat, attended a meeting at Mildura Base Hospital on 14 September 1974, to hear submissions to the government’s Committee of Enquiry into Hospitals and Health Services. The Shire submitted that Merbein and District were poorly serviced in primary medical and nursing care.
Sir Lance Townsend, Chairman of the Enquiry, suggested that Merbein and District should investigate the formation of a Community Health Centre to serve the community. The Shire convened a public meeting in Merbein on 31 October 1974, and a steering committee was formed to develop a submission to the Commonwealth government’s Hospitals and Health Services Commission, for a grant to establish a Community Health Centre in Merbein.
On 25 February 1975, the steering committee announced that Merbein’s application had been successful. A nine-member provisional Committee of Management was elected, and Councillor Smith was appointed as our inaugural President (Chairperson) of the Committee of Management (Board).
The new Merbein Community Health Centre was registered on 8 April 1975, and a former Presbyterian Manse was purchased as the site for the new Centre, at 36 Box Street, Merbein, for the sum of $32,370.
The Centre commenced business on 15 August 1975, when Dr. Shetty hired rooms for his GP clinic on a fee-for-service basis. Dr. Shetty was recruited from Broken Hill, by the Rotary Club of Merbein. Our first full-time salaried employee was Miss S.V. Pahl, who commenced as a receptionist/clerk on 8 September 1975.
Mr F.C. Skinner was appointed as our first Manager (CEO) on 18 November 1975.
The first annual report of the Merbein Community Health Centre, for the year ending 30 June 1976, reported interesting statistics by today’s standards. Total income, including grants, was $36,329, which included salary expenses of $18,924, and total medical and surgical supplies of $169! During our first year of business, some of our purchases included a typewriter, an adding machine, two filing cabinets, five office desks, a dressing trolley, a drug refrigerator, and a 1976 Ford Cortina station wagon “to carry wheelchairs, commodes and other bulky items that District Nurses are often required to deliver.”
In 1989, we adopted the new name of Sunraysia Community Health Services, as we achieved rapid growth in the number of health services we were delivering across the region.
In 1999, our Board of Directors lobbied the government of the day to commit land at Thirteenth Street, Mildura, for the development of community services.
In 2010, Stage 1 of the Redevelopment Master Plan was completed, with some of our services being delivered from new facilities at 137 Thirteenth Street, Mildura.
In 2013, the Commonwealth government entered into a joint agreement with us to complete Stage 2 of the Redevelopment Master Plan. The Commonwealth funded $15.26M and SCHS contributed $2M towards the total project cost.
In 40 years, we have grown from three employees to 150 employees, increased the number of health programs we deliver from five to 55 and have grown our turnover from $36,000 to $13M. It has been an exciting journey!