Our in-depth Health Needs Assessment report is full of unique data and insights to support you in your health and service planning activities. At SEMPHN, we also use the report in population health planning activities and to design and commission appropriate programs and services to help people live healthier lives.  

Health Needs Assessments consider the social context, people’s health and wellbeing outcomes and their experience of accessing health services. The report provides data at Local Government Area (LGA) level or equivalent, and benchmarks against the Victorian average. 

Key findings in this year’s Health Needs Assessment    

Chronic conditions 

Chronic conditions are the leading cause of illness, disability and death in Australia. Within our catchment, Mornington Peninsula and Frankston have higher rates of people with two chronic conditions compared to Victoria.  

Our Care Coordination Support Service is provided to people living in Frankston and Greater Dandenong with health conditions such as diabetes, asthma, arthritis, heart or lung disease, cancer, and back issues. Given chronic conditions often require after-hours care, this personalised support assists residents in between visits to their GP with a goal to keep them well and out of hospital. 

Older Australians 

In south east Melbourne, more than 10,000 people aged 65 and over are living with Dementia. Of those, it is estimated that only one in four access primary care. In 2023, SEMPHN launched Dementia Pathways,  an online directory to help those living with dementia, their family and carers  navigate dementia support services, education and training. 

There are higher numbers of people living with Dementia in Mornington Peninsula, Casey, Kingston, Greater Dandenong and Frankston. Our Dementia Rehabilitation Program is offered across these local government areas to provide free personalised in-home care that promotes independence and quality of life for those living with Dementia. 

Mental health 

Around  130,000 people across the south east Melbourne  experience a mental health condition – which is nearly one in 10 residents.  

We fund more than 14 primary mental health care programs and services across south eastern Melbourne to support people with mild, moderate and severe mental ill-health. Learn about SEMPHN-funded mental health services and programs or call our Access & Referral team.     

Alcohol and Other Drugs   

Across south east Melbourne, there are higher rates of risky drinking and illicit drug use compared to the Victorian average.  

The  Wayfinder alcohol and other drug support program provides access to counselling, case management, group sessions, and social support. The service seeks to lessen the likelihood of relapse by tailoring treatment  to individual needs and provides an expanded range of treatment options based on changing needs for more intensive or less intensive treatment over time. 

Workforce  

Almost 70% of practices in south east Melbourne had at least one nurse employed in their care team compared to 63.5% nationally.This represents the  5,200 primary care, community and Residential Aged Care Home RACH nurses who delivered primary care services in our catchment. 

Recognising the invaluable role practice nurses play in holistic treatment, we provide an online community for both practice nurses and managers to collaborate, problem solve and upskill in priority areas. We also host face-to-face events to bring practice staff together. 

Digital health 

We know that digital health technologies improve the availability and accessibility of health care services for the community.  Across the catchment, uptake of digital health technologies was substantially lower in non-accredited general practices than those that were accredited. 

We are committed to offering more opportunities to help practices build their digital capability and maturity, which will also assist with implementation of MyMedicare. This includes clinically compliant software, POLAR, Florence (nee Nellie), telehealth (videocalls), secure messaging and referral, Provider Connect Australia, and My Health Record. Given that approximately 25% of all general practices do not have RACGP accreditation, we will ensure a focus on supporting practices to become accredited, or re-accredited if lapsed, and use that as a lever to improve digital health maturity. 

We encourage you to download the 2023 Needs Assessment to help you understand the unique needs of the south east Melbourne community and to support your health planning.   

SEMPHN looks forward to using these insights and partnering with you to continue to help people in south east Melbourne live their healthiest lives.