Gippsland Primary Health Network (PHN) has published the Gippsland PHN Health Needs Assessment 2025-2028.
The Health Needs Assessment (HNA) is an important resource that helps guide Gippsland PHN’s work in funding services, strengthening the health system, and improving coordination. By gathering the latest data and insights, it identifies key priorities in Gippsland’s health system and supports planning for the future.
These priorities shape Gippsland PHN’s work to enhance access, communication, and support for primary care services, ensuring resources are directed where they are needed most.
Data has been gathered from community members, health professionals, and those who use health services across the region through surveys, interviews, and workshops.
Individuals and organisations with diverse perspectives were engaged, including Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities, people experiencing disadvantage, those in rural and remote areas, individuals with a disability, people from multicultural backgrounds, and LGBTIQA+ individuals. This ensured the process was inclusive and reflected the broad needs of the entire population.
This extensive community engagement helped identify 10 key priority areas that reflect the most pressing needs and challenges of the region:
- Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health and Wellbeing
- Healthy Ageing (People Aged 65+)
- Alcohol and Other Drugs
- Mental Health and Wellbeing, Including Suicide Prevention
- Health Workforce
- Connected Care
- Growing Up Healthy (0-25 years)
- Chronic Conditions
- Family Violence
- Access to Primary Healthcare for Marginalised Communities
The key priority areas have been condensed into concise chapter summaries, offering a clear snapshot of the information from the comprehensive full document. Some key insights from the summaries include:
- Approximately 20% of people in Gippsland report a current mental health condition; the highest prevalence was 39% for 16–24-year-olds.
- 65% of people with an alcohol and other drug diagnosis also had a mental health diagnosis in GP data.
- Childhood vaccination in Gippsland has decreased between 2018-19 and 2023-24.
- In the year ending March 2024, East Gippsland had the highest rate of family violence incidents in Victoria, followed by Latrobe with the second highest rate in the state.
- Diabetes is the leading cause of preventable hospital admissions for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people
- The rate of death from accidental falls in Gippsland is significantly higher than the Australian average (15.34 versus 8.3 per 100,00 population)
- All of Gippsland has a need for additional health workforce
- Four out of six Gippsland Local Government Areas have high rates of people categorised as overweight and/or obese compared to the Australian average
- Rates of use of Gippsland specialist homelessness services is more than double the national average
Chief Executive Officer at Gippsland PHN, Amanda Proposch, shared that the HNA is a critical piece of work for the organisation.
“The HNA provides a comprehensive snapshot of local health data to guide our work. Grounded in community insights and extensive research, it ensures we remain responsive to evolving health needs and priorities.
“Health is a dynamic and ever-changing landscape, and this document will continue to be updated to reflect emerging challenges and opportunities. Our commitment is to listen, collaborate, and drive meaningful improvements in health outcomes for our region,” said Ms Proposch.
Insights and information from this document will also be published as Health Insights Papers throughout 2025 to highlight key data and focus on important topics. These papers will be posted on Gippsland PHN’s website and social channels.
To access the full HNA document and the supporting chapter summaries for key priority areas, visit: https://gphn.org.au/what-we-do/health-planning-research-and-evaluation/health-needs-assessment-2/
