Redlands Coast Chamber of Commerce
A MAJOR new community health initiative is taking shape in the Redlands, with planning now underway for a region-first Health Forum 2026 led by the Redlands Coast Chamber of Commerce in collaboration with local stakeholders and informed by real, community-sourced data.
The concept has been building momentum for several months and has now shifted into Stage 2: collecting on-the-ground insights.
Earlier this year, the Chamber convened local NDIS providers to discuss recent policy changes, giving them a rare opportunity to raise concerns directly with Federal Member for Bowman Henry Pike.
That session was followed by a roundtable with local health professionals exploring the mounting pressures
facing the region’s health system.
While health forums have been held in the region before, organisers say this event represents a “new concept and a uniquely fresh approach” that has not been attempted previously.
One major development emerging from the roundtable was the announcement of a brand-new pilot program set to launch next year, spearheaded by one of the attending providers.
Further details will be released in coming months, but organisers say it highlights the type of innovation that genuine collaboration can deliver.
With strong backing from local stakeholders, planning is now moving into its broadest phase yet – collecting insights from the entire community and every corner of the health sector to ensure no voice is left out.
A community-wide survey has now gone live, with links available across social media.
Responses will help shape the forum’s agenda by identifying key issues and priorities, workforce challenges, service gaps, barriers faced by patients, families and providers, and recommendations for government and decision-makers.
The initiative is drawing input from across the full health ecosystem, including GPs, nurses, allied health professionals, hospitals, specialists, mental health services, NDIS and disability providers.
The survey link is available on the Chamber’s social media pages.
