1997 Awards for Innovation and Excellence in Primary Health Care - Management Initiatives: Organisational Change and Organisation Design

Abstract

Brief Description of the Initiative: The Inner South Community Health Service was created in 1993 as a result of the voluntary amalgamation of three successful community health centres - Prahran, South-Port and St Kilda. The amalgamation process was used as an opportunity to develop a large multi-site service responsive to each of its local communities and well positioned to meet effectively the challenges of rapidly changing political and health sector environments. The organisation design and change process was developed and implemented using a collaborative approach that was self-directed and self-managed; changes were both radical and developmental. Throughout the process client services were maintained and opportunities for including new programs were pursued. The organisation design was underpinned by two key principles - client focus and integration.