Since mid 2024, AMA Victoria has endeavoured to keep members informed about developments regarding the Victorian Government’s Health Services Plan (HSP). The HSP is a long-term structural reform initiative designed to improve integration, coordination, and sustainability across Victoria’s public health system. It aims to deliver more equitable access to safe, high-quality care by creating new regional governance arrangements, streamlining clinical pathways, and planning services according to local need and capability. That said, we are mindful that many members view these reforms with caution, particularly regarding how changes to service structures and workforce arrangements might affect their roles and expectations- including the prospect of working across multiple sites within a network.

Throughout, AMA Victoria has strongly advocated for direct workforce consultation, emphasising the importance of meaningful engagement between the government, Department, health workers, unions, and representative associations during the plan’s implementation.

On 15 April, AMA Victoria attended a departmental briefing on the HSP. During the briefing, the Department recognised the critical role of unions and the broader health workforce in successfully implementing the HSP and committed to providing regular briefings and updates.

The briefing included a recap of the timelines including establishment of the Expert Advisory Committee (EAC) and the release of the Health Service Plan in in August 2024. It also included an overview of the main components of the HSP, including the establishment of Local Health Service Networks (LHSNs), the introduction of the Victorian Role Delineation Framework, clinical service planning, and continued engagement with the community and workforce.

The LHSNs are scheduled to come into effect from 1 July 2025. In preparation, design workshops have been held with health service CEOs and chairs, and we are now at the stage that community and workforce consultations are beginning.

LHSNs represent a significant shift, encouraging health services within each region to collaborate rather than operate independently. Each network will be required to develop comprehensive strategies addressing seven overarching priorities identified in the Health Services Plan. Recognising that LHSNs are in their establishment phase, it has been agreed that the initial focus for the networks will be four priorities: equitable access to care, quality and safety, workforce support, and efficient clinical and non-clinical support services. Other priorities, such as integration and research, will be addressed in later phases.

The Victorian Role Delineation Framework, a central recommendation of the HSP, will introduce consistent language to define the services hospitals can provide locally versus those requiring referral or travel. The framework will categorise hospitals by peer groups and, as part of an ongoing program, assign capability levels (1-6) across specialties. It is expected to be published in June, accompanied by a self-assessment guide for health services.

Networks will then begin developing Clinical Service Plans (CSPs) from mid-2025, each taking a 15 year outlook. These plans will be developed in two parts: Part A for admitted care (e.g. surgical, maternity) and Part B for non-admitted care (e.g. aged care, primary care), with mental health planning occurring concurrently.

The Department reaffirmed its commitment to workforce and community engagement, noting consultations are already underway at a local level. A voluntary statewide workforce survey opened on 22 April and will close on 8 June. This survey, aggregated at the network level for the first time, will explore workforce demographics, as well as workforce views on improving access, equity and flow and healthcare quality and safety. The survey also explores barriers and opportunities to support the workforce and provides the workforce with the opportunity to share their views on opportunities to reduce waste and inefficiencies at network level (which aligns with the focus of AMA Victoria’s GROSS initiative).

The survey provides a baseline set of data at network level and will be shared with each LHSN as a key input in the development of their Network strategy and clinical service planning.

Separate to the survey, in implementing any workforce changes, the Department emphasised its legal obligations to consult with the workforce about significant employment-related changes and assured continued transparency and consistency in consultations with health services and their workforces.

AMA Victoria will continue to keep members informed and engaged as the HSP progresses. We remain committed to ensuring that medical practitioners’ voices are heard, and that any changes support safe, sustainable, and high-quality clinical care across the state.