Population Health

Who we are 

Ovens Murray Population Health is dedicated to enhancing the health and wellbeing of our local communities. As part of the Ovens and Murray Public Health Unit, we collaborate with local health services, primary and community health organisations, state government agencies, and local governments. Together, we strive to promote health, prevent diseases, and support initiatives that ensure the people of our region lead healthy lives. 

What we do 

Ovens Murray Population Health supports Victoria’s public health vision: to make Victorians the healthiest people in the world. We achieve this by fostering partnerships to plan and promote initiatives that improve health outcomes and reduce health disparities within our communities. Specifically, this includes:  

• Facilitating implementation of statewide programs, priorities, and policy at a local level while ensuring these inform and are informed by local priorities and responses,  

• Strengthening local prevention capacity and networks to drive coordinated and collective impact with sufficient scale and reach,  

• Promoting health and wellbeing outcomes that matter to people, communities, and the environment. 

The Ovens Murray population health focus is across two areas: system coordination of the prevention sector and facilitating joint planning and progress across priority health issues for the region. 

Why it matters

The Ovens Murray community has shown remarkable dedication and undertaken numerous initiatives to improve health outcomes, fostering a collaborative spirit and driving positive change. These ongoing efforts have yielded tangible results and laid a solid foundation for continued progress in enhancing the overall health and wellbeing of the Ovens Murray community. The public health unit aims to draw on the strengths of the Ovens Murray region to create sustainable change and wide-ranging improved health outcomes for the community. Through our coordinated efforts, we contribute to a system that supports the wellbeing of current and future generations in the Ovens Murray region. 

Our plans 

Developed under the governance of the Primary Care & Population Health Engagement Committee (PC&PHEC), this plan guides our efforts in population health, health promotion, and prevention outcomes for the catchment area. View the Ovens and Murray Catchment Plan 2023 here

Additionally, the Ovens and Murray Health Needs Assessment 2023 provides an overview of health and wellbeing within our region, covering Alpine, Indigo, Towong, Wangaratta, and Wodonga LGAs. This assessment informs our strategies to address challenges unique to regional, rural, and remote communities, ensuring equitable access to health services and preventative care. View the Ovens and Murray Health Needs Assessment 2023 here