Performance monitoring and reporting promotes transparency, good governance and effective management. It delineates the roles and responsibilities of agencies and is government's key accountability mechanism. Monitoring and reporting cycles require fair, relevant and consistent measures to effectively scrutinise performance.

DHHS collects data from various sources—such as feedback from staff and clients, clinical activity and local intelligence—to paint a picture of day-to-day performance at community health services.

Timely access to primary care services—such as the CHP—is important for Victoria's priority populations, as early intervention may prevent people's conditions from worsening. This can also reduce pressure on the health services providing acute care.

DHHS provides community health services with set CHP funding on an annual basis. With limited resources available, it is important for community health services to manage access and demand at the local level. Similarly, DHHS must monitor the state's access and demand issues to effectively oversee the CHP.

DHHS's strategic management of the CHP is important to ensure the program has the resources required to meet its overarching objective. It is also important that DHHS can measure the contribution the CHP makes to long-term health strategies.

In this part of the report, we evaluate whether the CHP supports DHHS's strategic direction and fulfils its overarching objective of delivering effective healthcare to Victoria's priority populations. We also assessed the CHP's evidence base and examined whether its funding model is sound, regularly reviewed and strategically aligned.

Primary care is a fundamental pillar of Victoria's health system—it includes services such as general practice, pharmaceutical services, allied health and community nursing. Well-coordinated primary care should improve the health and wellbeing of Victorian communities, enable the effective treatment of people with chronic diseases, and enhance outcomes for disadvantaged Victorians.

Primary care is an integral part of Victoria's health system—it includes services such as general practice, pharmaceutical services, allied health, and community nursing. In Victoria, the state and Commonwealth governments both fund the provision of primary care.

The Victorian Auditor-General's Office provides independent assurance to Parliament and the Victorian community on the financial integrity and performance of the state.

Under the Audit Act 1994, we are required to prepare and table an annual plan before 30 June each year that describes our proposed work program for the coming financial year.

To provide assurance to the Parliament of Victoria and the Victorian community, the Victorian Auditor-General's Office conducts performance audits and financial audits.

The following are a representative selection of the comments that were made in response to our survey questions and during CPP forums during site visits and CPP interviews.

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