| The area serviced by the Western Melbourne Division of General Practice is totally within the Western Health Services Area and the Western Melbourne Region of the Department of Human Services. The area is recognised as one of the poorest urban areas in Australia.
The Division is largely bounded by the Tullamarine and Westgate freeways, and stretches from the western edges of the Melbourne CBD to Melton. It has small pockets of affluence but is largely characterised by low socioeconomic population, a declining manufacturing industry base, higher than average unemployment levels, and a highly diverse population.
The population is multi-cultural with approximately 40% of the residents born overseas and an estimated 70% from Diverse Community and Language Backgrounds (DCALB). The western fringe is a growth corridor of mediumpriced, medium-density housing with an under-developed health infrastructure.
The GPs in the Division reflect the community diversity with 60% fluent in a language other than English. Therefore the development of the Division's programs has reflected the needs of this diverse community.
The programs included in the second year of the Divisions Outcomes Based Funding Business Plan maintain the positive mix designed to strengthen the Division's organisation and management capacity, address needs identified in the GP Needs Survey and Community Consultation, and address the current and emerging needs of the GPs and their patients. |
