A collaborative arrangement to deliver immunisation services across Baw Baw, Cardinia and Casey municipalities is expected to deliver significant cost savings and operational efficiencies for residents.
Baw Baw Shire Council recently joined a partnership between Cardinia Shire Council and City of Casey who engaged Kernow Environmental Health and Immunisation to deliver immunisation services to residents.
While Baw Baw already contracted Kernow to deliver its immunisation services acting director of strategy and organisational performance Elise Harrison said council was always looking for smarter, more streamlined ways to deliver services to the community.
She said the new partnership with the larger councils of Casey and Cardinia was expected to deliver significant cost savings and operational efficiencies for residents.
"By sharing resources, we can reduce duplicated administrative processes and expand our ability to offer services such as immunisation catch-up sessions.
Ms Harrison said Kernow met all required deliverables under the previous contract, which concluded on January 31.
She said council considered a report at a confidential meeting on August 7, 2024, but due to the commercial nature the report was managed in a confidential setting.
The types of immunisation services provided by each council include public immunisation sessions (primarily for birth to four-year-olds), secondary school immunisation programs, flu vaccination programs, and immunisation assessment and catch-up programs.
Council also offers immunisation assessment and catch-up programs for individuals under 20 years of age, refugees, and other humanitarian entrants. It is estimated that more than 23,000 vaccines will be administered across the three councils in the 2025 program.
Mayor Danny Goss said council was pleased to partner with its neighbours in Casey and Cardinia to deliver a shared immunisation service to their growing communities.
"Kernow has been our trusted immunisation service provider for over 10 years delivering thousands of vital immunisations to babies, children and adults across Baw Baw Shire.
"Now we look forward to working with them in a new way, with improved efficiency and shared resources, to continue delivering this high-quality immunisation service for our residents," he said.
Cardinia Shire Council mayor Jack Kowarzik said he was pleased to see the service expanding to support a wider group of residents in the growing region.
"Partnering up with our neighbouring councils allows us to take a holistic approach in delivering free immunisation services to as many residents as possible.
"For our Cardinia Shire community, we offer multiple sessions throughout the year across various sites locally, to ensure people have convenient access to the service no matter where they live," he said.
City of Casey mayor Stefan Koomen said it was terrific to have local councils working together to deliver an invaluable service to communities in a cost-effective way.
Kernow Environmental Health and Immunisation general manager Wesley Old said Kernow was pleased to be continuing long-term partnerships with City of Casey, Cardinia Shire Council and, now, Baw Baw Shire Council in a shared service to deliver immunisation services across the three municipalities.
"The shared service enables our team to work with each council simultaneously, increasing our capacity to deliver essential immunisations to the community. Since 2023, Kernow has maintained a strong working relationship with each council and built consistent, cost-effective ways to improve overall public health outcomes," Wesley said.