Our region
Our region encompasses urban, peri-urban and regional communities with a range of health and community needs. It stretches from coastal Cocoroc in the south, to the regional areas around Lancefield in the north, and as far west as Bacchus Marsh.
Our community includes more than 1.6 million residents. Many thousands of others regularly visit the region to work or study, or for recreation.
Services in our region
Our health community is equally as diverse: a multitude of services, providers, health organisations and distinct communities each contribute to our many overlapping local health systems.
We have thousands of primary health care providers working across
- more than 570 practices
- 12 community health services
- 12 major hospitals
- 15 private overnight hospitals
- 375 pharmacies and 3 super-clinics
- more than 140 aged care facilities
- more than 120 mental health and alcohol and drug service providers.
Find out more about our region’s local services or view the latest health data for our region.
One of our main activities is identifying our community’s key health needs and issues. While assessment of need is an ongoing process, every three years we work with our partners to publish a comprehensive Health Needs Assessment for our region. That data and analysis informs how we plan our work to meet local health needs. This helps to ensure shared understanding about health priorities and a common agenda for action in our region.
We support all local government areas in our catchment, shown in the map below.
Our region-wide programs and activities include the following.
For general practice and health providers:
- helping primary health professionals navigate local health systems through HealthPathways Melbourne
- training and education for health professionals
- workforce and practice support
- Health Care Homes readiness
- improving health systems
For community and health providers:
- CAREinMIND ™ 24/7 wellbeing support line
- improving support for carers
- improving consumer and carer participation
- supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health
- eliminating blood-borne viruses
Our areas of particular focus in local government areas are as follows.
In Brimbank we are focusing on:
- alcohol and other drugs
- prevention and management of chronic conditions
- refugee and asylum seeker health
- suicide prevention
- youth mental health.
In Hume we are focusing on:
- alcohol and other drugs
- children and families
- prevention and management of chronic conditions
- refugee and asylum seeker health.
In Macedon Ranges we are focusing on:
- suicide prevention.
In the City of Melbourne we are focusing on:
- people experiencing homelessness
- prevention and management of chronic conditions
- youth mental health.
In Melton we are focusing on:
- alcohol and other drugs
- children and families
- refugee and asylum seeker health
- suicide prevention
- youth mental health.
In Moonee Valley we are focusing on:
- prevention and management of chronic conditions.
In Merri-bek we are focusing on:
- prevention and management of chronic conditions
- refugee health.
In Maribyrnong we are focusing on:
- youth mental health.
In Wyndham we are focusing on:
- alcohol and other drugs
- children and families
- prevention and management of chronic conditions
- refugee health.
In Yarra we are focusing on:
- prevention and management of chronic conditions
- youth mental health.
