Public health and wellbeing planning

Good health and wellbeing are important for everyone. We all contribute to making Victoria a great place to live and governments have primary legislative responsibility for leading the way in creating environments in which people can be healthy and well.

In Victoria, the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 gives state and local government-specific responsibilities to plan for and contribute to protecting and improving health and wellbeing. The Act requires a State public health and wellbeing plan and municipal public health and wellbeing plans to be prepared sequentially every four years. These plans inform each other and provide the basis for an integrated planning approach in our state.

Public health and wellbeing plan 2019–2023

The Victorian public health and wellbeing plan 2019–2023 (the plan) continues the Victorian Government’s vision for the public health and wellbeing of Victorians:

A Victoria free of the avoidable burden of disease and injury so that all Victorians can enjoy the highest attainable standards of health, wellbeing and participation at every age.

The plan provides continuity for the priorities of the previous plan, while recognising two leading threats to health and wellbeing globally: the health impacts of climate change and antimicrobial resistance (the ability to effectively treat infections in our community).

The plan gives additional focus to four priorities (focus areas) designed to drive coordinated action where we know we can make the greatest gains.

• Tackling climate change and its impact on health
• Reducing injury
• Preventing all forms of violence
• Increasing healthy eating
• Decreasing the risk of drug-resistant infections in the community
• Improving mental wellbeing
• Increasing active living
• Improving sexual and reproductive health
• Reducing harmful alcohol and drug use
• Reducing tobacco-related harm

The plan recognises key links between a number of these priority areas, including recognition that many actions to increase active living and healthy eating can contribute to reducing climate change.

Using the guidance

Links are provided below to each of the focus areas.

Under each focus area there are links to:

• Actions in early childhood settings and schools
• Actions in local government
• Actions in health and human services
• Actions in workplaces.

Download the Victorian public health and wellbeing plan 2019–2023

Health.Vic website 

VIC PCP Submission to the Victorian Public Health & Wellbeing Consultation

AIHW: Indicators of socioeconomic inequalities in cardiovascular disease, diabetes and chronic kidney disease

A 2019 report from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare shows that people who are socioeconomically disadvantaged have, on average, greater levels of cardiovascular disease (CVD), diabetes and chronic kidney disease (CKD).

ABS: National Health Survey 2017-18 First Results

Victorian Public Health & Wellbeing Plan: Action plan update

An overview of the major initiatives across the Victorian Government and key government agencies.

Victorian Population Health Survey: Selected results for the EMR

Liveability Indicators: Creating Liveable Cities in Australia

This report examines seven domains of a city’s liveability that also promote the health and wellbeing of Australians – walkability, public transport, public open spaces, housing affordability, employment and the food and alcohol environments.

DHHS Advice for Public health and Wellbeing Planning: 2017-2021

This document will assist councils and funded prevention and health promotion organisations with health and wellbeing planning and implementation for the 2017-21 cycle. It outlines Victorian policy directions, supplements the Guide to municipal public health and wellbeing planning for councils, and provides information on the requirements and expectations of funded prevention and health promotion organisations. This shared advice for councils and funded agencies emphasises the importance of collaboration to improve the health and wellbeing of local populations.

Delivering place-based primary prevention in Victorian communities

This paper is intended to provide a starting point for conversations around how Victoria can best deliver place-based primary prevention to improve health outcomes in local communities. It is anticipated that it will be used as an accompaniment to face-to-face meetings to help set the scene and structure discussions with stakeholders across Victoria’s prevention and population health sector.

Victorian Public Health and Wellbeing Outcomes Framework Data Dictionary

Over 30 data sources are identified to monitor health and wellbeing outcomes for all Victorians and to assess inequalities for specific populations and locations.

Core Indicator Set for Inner East Catchment Planning

Core indicators for integrated planning in local government, community health and women’s health in the Inner East.

VicHealth Indicators 2015 Report

Report from the VicHealth community wellbeing survey

Collaborative Planning Framework for Health & Wellbeing 2016

A guide to integrated planning in local government, community health and women’s health in Melbourne’s Inner East.

Victorian Public Health and Wellbeing Plan 2015-2019

The Victorian Public Health and Wellbeing Plan 2015-2019 outlines the government’s key priorities over those four years to improve the health and wellbeing of Victorians.

Victorian Population Health Survey 2014 Snapshot by LGA

Department of Health and Human Services table of modifiable risk factors contributing to chronic disease in Victoria snapshot by LGA and region.

Victorian Population Health Survey 2014

Department of Health and Human Services reports from the 2014 Victorian Population Health Survey.

Victorian Public Health and Wellbeing Outcomes Framework

The Victorian Government Department of Health and Human Services approach to monitoring and reporting progress in our collective efforts to achieve better health and wellbeing.