Department of Health

Key messages

  • Short-term supports are for people who have been assessed as requiring short-term, community-based supports to help them recuperate.
  • Short-term supports are available for people being discharged from a public hospital.
  • Health services’ short-term supports include community nursing, personal care and home care.

Short-term supports facilitate a safe and timely discharge from hospital. The person returns home with an appropriate package of community-based supports. They are also linked up with ongoing long-term supports in the community, as required.

Eligibility for short-term supports

People being discharged from a public hospital (including emergency departments, acute services and subacute services) can access short-term supports. They need to be assessed as requiring short-term, community-based help to assist them to recuperate in the community, and to ensure a safe and timely discharge.

Services offered by short-term supports

Short-term supports include a range of community-based services according to the person's individually assessed needs. The most common services provided are:

  • community nursing
  • personal care
  • home care.

Services arranged are provided for the duration of the recuperative period and are generally of a short-term nature.

Directory

The directory of short-term supports shows which service has responsibility for service delivery to residents of particular areas.

Referrals and enquiries

  • SHORT-TERM SUPPORT PROVIDER CONTACT
    Albury-Wodonga Health 02 6051 7400
    Austin Health 03 9496 2211
    Barwon Health 1300 715 673
    Bass Coast Regional Health 03 5671 3135
    Benalla Health 03 5761 4500
    Bendigo Health 03 5454 9102
    Castlemaine Health 03 5471 3610
    Central Gippsland Health Service 03 5143 8155
    Ballarat Health 03 5320 3893
    Colac Area Health 03 5232 5236
    Eastern Health 03 9881 1815
    Bairnsdale Regional Health Service/ East Gippsland 03 5150 3416
    Echuca Regional Hospital 03 5485 5862
    Goulburn Valley Health 03 5832 3013 or 03 5832 3014
    North Richmond Community Health 03 9418 9954
    Star Health's Inner South East Post Acute Care Program Fax: 8520 5255
    Latrobe Regional Hospital 03 5173 8869 or 03 5173 8117
    Melbourne Health District Access Unit 03 8387 2333
    Monash Health 8572 5631
    Northern Health Fax: 9495 3226 & Email: TNH-PACReferrals@nh.org.au
    Mildura Base Hospital 0488 382 697
    Northeast Health Wangaratta 03 5722 5417
    Peninsula Health 03 9788 1700
    Portland District Health 03 5522 1192
    Seymour Health 03 5735 8060
    Stawell Regional Health 03 5358 8618
    Royal Children's Hospital Fax: 03 9345 6600
    Swan Hill District Hospital 03 5033 9381
    South West Healthcare Warrnambool 03 5563 1595
    Western Health 03 8345 0013
    Western District Health Service 03 5551 8504
    West Gippsland Healthcare Group 03 5624 0571
    Wimmera Health Care Group 03 5362 3419

Reviewed 03 January 2024

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