Services provided by Population Health within WACHS Goldfields include the following:

Community health

Community health centres are located in Kalgoorlie,Boudler, Kambalda, Coolgardie, Leonora, Laverton, Leinster, Menzies, Norseman and Esperance. Community health teams in these facilities deliver a wide range of primary health care services. The primary health care programs provided address child health, school and youth health, immunisations, chronic disease and prevention.

In Menzies, Coolgardie and Kambalda, community nurses provide outpatient and nurse led emergency services as required, in addition to primary health programs.

Allied health services

There are two allied health teams in the region, one based in Kalgoorlie-Boulder and one in Esperance. These teams work from across the different WACHS sites to provide a broad range of services to all age groups across the continuum of care, that is, inpatients, outpatients, rehabilitation and in the community setting including Child Development services.

Both allied health teams also provide regular outreach services to smaller sites across the region.

Allied health services include:

• Audiology
• Child Development Services
• Dietetics
• Occupational Therapy
• Physiotherapy
• Podiatry
• Social Work
• Speech Pathology

Public health and health promotion

The Public Health Unit, based in Kalgoorlie, coordinates and manages communicable disease prevention and control, sexual health, regional immunisation coordination, the trachoma program and pandemic disaster planning across the region. Support for infection control programs is also provided. The Public Health Unit facilitates and supports general practitioners, hospitals, community health teams, local government and other agencies in delivering public health services.

Health promotion is an integral part of all services provided by Population Health. Health promotion officers are based in Kalgoorlie and support the activities of other sectors within WACHS Goldfields. The Health Promotion Officers have regional roles and work with other government and non-government agencies and communities to develop community specific programs in collaboration with other agencies. Health Promotion Officers provide resources, education, and training to individuals, groups, internal staff and external agencies.

Population health service delivery models

Services are delivered to community members in community health centres, health clinics, hospitals, schools, homes and a variety of other community settings. Services are delivered using a variety of strategies to engage with individuals and groups. Where appropriate, multidisciplinary, trans-disciplinary and community development approaches are used.