A consortium of 19 health services providing home and aged care has been recognised at the Victorian Public Healthcare Awards.
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But Community Interlink was already a winner in the eyes of Wodonga client Lynne Matusch.
When the consortium formed in 2015, it was thought to be an Australian-first, and involves the major health providers and hospitals in the North East and smaller regional providers like the Tallangatta and Indigo North health services.
Ms Matusch has had her level-four home care package delivered by Community Interlink for the majority of her four years living in Wodonga.
"Sarah [my case manager] comes once a month, but we talk on the phone a fair bit - she's another daughter to me; I keep adopting them," she said.
"She was responsible for organising $7000 worth of ramps at the back of my unit, and awnings - the rain was coming in on the ramps and making them slippery.
"I feel like I am part of the family.
"If I ring up and Sarah isn't there, I know who is on the phone."
Ms Matusch moved from Kiama in NSW to Wodonga to be closer to her three daughters.
"I get on so well with my grandchildren ... my children ask me when I'm going to grow up," she said.
"I have quite a few health issues; I had open-heart surgery and two years later I got cancer.
"It's been quite a difficult road to lose your independence, but because of Community Interlink, I'm still able to stay in the unit."
Home Care reforms at the beginning of 2017 moved government-funded packages from the hands of approved providers, to individual clients, leaving smaller operators to compete for clients with big players.
But the formation of Community Interlink, led by Goulburn Valley Health, meant the health services could maintain and increase their number of clients.
The number of home care packages provided through Community Interlink has grown from 204 to 339.
At the 15th Victorian Public Healthcare Awards, the consortium was awarded the Minister for Disability, Ageing and Carers Award for excellence in public sector aged care.
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Goulburn Valley Health chief executive Matt Sharp said with the services working together, the well-being of the shared community would only grow.
"The primary goal of the consortium is to build on a shared philosophy and commitment to supporting local communities through local health services and providing the best possible services we can to those in need," he said.
