History
The West Belconnen community has been developing a health co-operative and health and wellbeing centre, on Canberra’s northern fringe, since 2004. The energy for this co-operative came from the community following persistent concerns raised by residents about the lack of affordable GPs and health services in a disadvantaged outer metropolitan area of Canberra close to the ACT-NSW border.
Active community members convened an initial public meeting in September 2004 resulting in the formation of a steering group to investigate community needs and possible solutions. The Charnwood Community Health Community (later the West Belconnen Community Health Committee) identified a primary target area of six suburbs with 22,000 people, and no practising GPs at the time.
The committee initially assessed community needs and interest in a co-operative through a survey of 8000 homes.
The committee then tested various health delivery models and the viability of the preferred model (a co-operative) through a Feasibility Study and Business Plan prepared with the help of a professional practice management consultant and a $15,000 ACT government grant.
Following the positive feasibility report and some initial funding commitments, the Committee went through a lengthy process of establishing the co-operative under the ACT Co-operatives Act 2002. West Belconnen Health Co-operative Ltd was formed in November 2006.
The set up of the centre was achieved through a partnership between the community, governments (Australian and ACT) and businesses. Viability is achieved through bulk-billed Medicare rebates, fee-for other services and rental income from co-located services.