The Victorian Health Services Performance Monitoring Framework articulates how the Department of Health, as the steward of Victoria's public health system, oversees the performance of health services and works with them to ensure safe, high quality, accessible and sustainable health care for Victorian patients and communities.
The Performance Monitoring Framework 2025-26 places greater emphasis on core government priorities:
- balanced budgets
- safe (including culturally safe) services
- workforce sustainability and timely access to emergency care
- planned surgery.
Key updates include:
Focusing on core priorities
- Health service performance assessments are now centred on delivery against core government priorities: balanced budgets, safe (including culturally safe) services, and timely access to emergency care and planned surgery.
Risk-based alignment and support based on assigned performance tier
- The Framework adopts a risk-based approach, assigning performance tiers and tailoring support based on both outcomes and underlying risks.
- Four performance tiers are defined: Enhanced Autonomy, Standard Oversight, Performance Support, and Mandated Intensive Support, each with specific expectations, oversight, and support mechanisms.
Transparency and accountability
- Clear criteria and processes for performance tier changes, escalation, and de-escalation.
- Defined exit criteria for tier changes, ensuring health services understand expectations and outcomes.
- Robust accountability mechanisms, including departmental and Ministerial interventions where required.
Continuous improvement and collaboration
- Health services are expected to drive their own improvement, supported by departmental knowledge exchange, peer learning, and access to expert advice.
- Initiatives such as the Timely Emergency Care Collaborative and Planned Surgery Recovery and Reform program support system-wide improvement.
Effective engagement and reporting
- Performance meetings are tailored to each health service’s tier, with increased frequency and focus for those requiring additional support or on escalated performance tier.
- Agendas are centred on strategic issues and improvement plans, with key performance measures discussed by exception.
- Specific events (breaches) must be reported immediately, with clear processes for notification and escalation.
Business rules
The Victorian Health Services Performance Monitoring Framework Business Rules 2025-26 document complements the Performance Monitoring Framework by outlining the business rules for each performance measure contained within Part B of the Statement of Priorities and the Victorian Health Services Performance Monitor (Monitor) report.
2023-24 Framework and Business rules
Reviewed 23 October 2025