The Hazelwood Health Study was established in response to the concerns of the local community about the impacts of the mine fire.
A Project Steering Committee made up of the leaders of each of the Research Stream areas provided overall strategic advice for the study. A smaller Project Management Group was responsible for monitoring the progress of the study and reported to the Project Steering Committee.
It was critical that the study received feedback from the local community regarding study operations, and that the study findings informed health and community services locally and more broadly. To do this, the study worked closely with the following two key groups:
The Latrobe Health Assembly (LHA)
The LHA is a community-led organisation that seeks to positively shape and facilitate new ways of working to improve health and wellness in Latrobe. The majority of LHA members are from the community, with a diverse representation from various locations, professions, demographics and connections to communities and groups. The LHA established a Hazelwood Health Study subcommittee specifically tasked to meet with the study on a regular basis to provide input on study directions and research findings and consider local implications. More information on the LHA is available here.
The Gippsland Primary Health Network (GPHN)
The GPHN is a not-for-profit organisation that works with communities, general practice, allied health, hospitals and other primary and community health providers to achieve improved whole of system health care. The GPHN has three Sub-regional Clinical Councils, including the Latrobe & Baw Baw Clinical Council, which meet quarterly to have input into the operations of the GPHN. The Hazelwood Health Study provided regular updates at each meeting of the Latrobe & Baw Baw Clinical Council and sought input from members regarding the clinical implications of study findings. More information on the GPHN is available here.
Scientific Reference Group
In addition to local community input, it was important that the study received expert feedback on the research program. The Scientific Reference Group involved scientific experts in the fields contributing to the study.
The governance structure is outlined in the diagram below:
