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Our Community:
Health is generally considered to be determined by a combination of human biology, lifestyle and environmental factors, as well as the availability and access to health care. Since illness and injury in the community is potentially preventable, it is a major challenge to develop approaches that get the right balance between treatment and prevention when allocating resources and deciding priorities.
  • LECHC serves a population of 38,775                                         (ABS 1996 census, ABS projects that the population in 2001 will be 42,609.)
  • With an area spanning Lakes Entrance - Bairnsdale and districts, and the Swifts Creek - Omeo area. 
  • LECHC services are delivered to in excess of 10,280 individuals across most of East Gippsland.

Major features of that population include:
 

  • Higher than state average 10-14 year olds and over 60 year olds.
  • Aged population in East Gippsland  represents 21.3%            (state average in 1996 was15.8%) 

The growing demand on the health system therefore can be seen to be predominantly in the area of Aged Care. The major health related needs of the population are reflected by both socio-demographic (income, education, age, ethnicity, etc) and epidemiological (illness and injury) features.

Distinguishing socio-demographic features include:
 

  • Youth unemployment at 26.5%
  • Early school leaving at 43.1% for boys and 24.6% for girls
  • Two thirds of the individual income earning population earn less than $400 per week
  • Individuals receiving benefits equal 26% of the income earning population 
  • East Gippsland's population includes 4 times the state percentage of Koori people

Distinguishing epidemiological features include:
 

  • Higher than state and national rates of cardio-vascular related deaths
  • Significantly higher rates of death in males compared to state and national figures 
  • 30% higher than expected rates of death due to cancer for people aged 15-64yrs, compared to other non metropolitan areas
  • 60% higher than expected death rates from accident, poisoning and violence compared to other non metropolitan areas 
  • Nearly twice the rate of suicides in males 15-24 years 
  • The second highest rate across the state of death from chronic respiratory diseases
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people continue to experience much poorer health than the general population with higher death rates for almost every specific cause of death.

LECHC, in conjunction with other agencies forming the East Gippsland Primary Care Partnership, has recognised the following priority population groups for Health Promotion for the next five years:
 

  • Aged Population
  • Youth
  • Koori Men 3O-5O years