Public Health Priorities

LPHUs were established in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic to manage local cases and outbreaks of COVID-19.

Nine Local Public Health Units (LPHUs) were established across Victoria, each hosted by a health service.

Victoria’s Local Public Health Units (LPHUs) work with the Department of Health (the department) to keep their local communities healthy, safe and well. They use local knowledge, community-based relationships and direct engagement to effectively tailor and deliver public health initiatives and respond to incidents and issues within their local area.

From July 2022 LPHUs began undertaking additional public health responsibilities for various other notifiable conditions.

LPHUs administer programs for disease prevention and population health. This includes responding to COVID-19 and other infectious disease case investigations, outbreaks and public health programs that impact their region.

LPHUs work closely with their local health services, primary and community health services, other state government agencies and local government and local communities. This community work includes follow on from the Primary Care Partnerships (PCP) Program.

Priorities

The BSWPHU will focus on four priorities across the key pillars of health protection, prevention and population health and emgergency management:

1: A CONNECTED, LEARNING PUBLIC HEALTH ECOSYSTEM

The BSW public health ecosystem will be networked, impactful and responsive.

2: ACCESSIBLE PUBLIC HEALTH TOOLS AND EXPERTISE

BSW public health stakeholders and partners are supported to achieve the best possible health outcomes for communities.

3: HEALTH EQUITY

Health equity is central to the region’s approach to public health.

4: HEALTH OUTCOMES FOR FIRST NATIONS PEOPLE

Public health approaches are self-determined and achieve tangible improvements in health outcomes for First Nations people.