A key partnership decision was to outsource the service desk to Cirrus Networks. The outsourcing has benefited Chorus users by providing 24-hour support from a large team. Partnering on the day-to-day ICT workload has enabled Chorus to focus on project outcomes and deliver efficiencies back into the business. It has also allowed us to focus on a long-term view of the business.
After the merger of three organisations, a key mandate was to get everyone onto one Chorus email domain and login. Cirrus worked over weekends to ensure we met the milestone on time. Cirrus replaced all our equipment, with more than 500 items including desktops, monitors, and laptops over a short space of two months.
Another key partner is Alchemy Technology, who delivered a new mobile application where support workers can manage time, attendance, mileage and customer records.
Both Alchemy and with Cirrus helped us to deliver the major milestone of merging one customer management system from the previous three systems, which has enabled more efficient rostering and scheduling across Chorus.
We also partnered with Telstra and Optus who kept the underlying network working and running smoothly.
The WA Primary Health Alliance is the umbrella organisation for primary health networks in WA. We enjoy a positive relationship with WAPHA, particularly in the community mental health space, and more recently through our innovative Out and About program. In July the WA Primary Health Alliance funded Chorus to implement the Social Connectedness two-year pilot project in the Mandurah area, helping older people to become and remain connected to society by overcoming barriers to accessing community services.
The Partners in Recovery (PIR) program was an innovative and dynamic national mental health initiative funded by the commonwealth Government that provided flexible support for people with severe and persistent mental illness. PIR facilitated the recovery of people with complex needs by connecting the participants with services and supports from multiple sectors including health, housing, income support, disability and employment and by working with them in a more collaborative, coordinated and integrated way. The PIR program ceased on 30 June 2019.
Chorus was both a lead and host agency within the PIR program. Chorus as a lead agency collaborated with AVIVO, Forrest Personnel and Lamp to provide PIR services to participants in the Wheatbelt and South West WA. Chorus also supported the local South West Mental Health Carers and Consumers Advisory Group in the South West Region to create a network of Carers and Consumers Advisory Group organisations in conjunction with Western Australia Country Health Services (WACHS). Chorus as a Host Agency provided PIR services directly to participants in Perth South and in Bunbury. Disability Services – Department of communities was also an active member of our consortium.
Success stories:
