Health Needs Assessments (HNAs) are a key deliverable for all PHNs to the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care.
NWMPHN’s HNA is a comprehensive compilation of health and wellbeing data and analysis, plus contextual information gathered through interviews, workshops and surveys of community members, general practices, commissioned services, peak bodies, community health, acute health care and local government.
Our approach draws on the social determinants of health to provide a systematic way of analysing the differences in health status across the region. It considers the social context within which people live, their health and wellbeing outcomes as well as their experience of accessing health care services. View this poster (.pdf) to learn more about our approach.
NWMPHN uses this valuable information to help decide which health services are most urgently needed, and in which areas, allowing us to set regional priorities and better design and fund programs to support at risk people.
Other organisations are encouraged to use the HNA to support evidence-based decision-making, collaboration, investment and advocacy to improve community health and wellbeing.
