Local Health Service Networks

Background

In 2023, an independent Expert Advisory Committee was established to consider how to improve access and equity of our health services for all Victorians. The Committee consulted with health service and sector leaders and found that although we have a world-class health services system with a committed and excellent workforce, like health systems across the world, it is under increasing strain and there is a need to deliver better, more connected care.

Overall, the Committee found that the system was often disconnected and hard to navigate, access to services was inequitable, and resources were sometimes insufficiently focused on patient care due to duplication and administrative inefficiencies. To provide solutions, the Committee developed the Health Services Plan.

The Plan recommended more collaboration and connection between services by creating Local Health Service Networks.

What is a Local Health Service Network?

The Local Health Service Networks will group health services within a geographical region and will be responsible for delivering better care, as close to home as possible.

The Networks will enable health services to work better together to deliver more accessible, higher quality care for Victorians. This may include coordinating clinical services and attracting and retaining the right workforce.

Consultation in early 2025 will help to finalise the details of how the Networks will prioritise work as well as their governance arrangements. The Networks will aim to deliver:

• A system that is easier to navigate, with more consistent pathways between hospitals
• Better and more consistent support for our precious health workforce
• Less duplication of administration, so that our hospitals can focus on what they do best - caring for patients

Each health service will keep its name, local leadership, identity and connection to its community – while working together in a Network to provide greater access to services, closer to home.

Networks will deliver stronger referral pathways that enable specialties to share expertise across the region. In addition, to support better access to high complexity care and expertise, each Network will establish a formal relationship with a tertiary, a women’s and a children’s hospital so that patients can more easily and quickly access specialist care when they need it.

Final Network groupings were determined following extensive consultation with health services, guided by principles drawn from the Health Services Plan.

Local Health Service Network Groupings

The final Network groupings were announced on Friday 10 January 2025 and can be found below. There will be 12 Networks across the state that will come into effect from July 2025.

Barwon Local Health Service Network

Health services: Barwon Health, Colac Area Health, Great Ocean Road Health, Hesse Rural Health Service.

Bayside Local Health Service Network

Health services: Alfred Health, Bass Coast Health, Calvary Health Care Bethlehem, Gippsland Southern Health Service, Kooweerup Regional Health Service and Peninsula Health.

East Metro and Murrindindi Local Health Service Network

Health services: Alexandra District Health, Eastern Health, St Vincent’s Health, Yea and District Memorial Hospital.

Gippsland Local Health Service Network

Health services: Bairnsdale Regional Health Service, Central Gippsland Health Service, Latrobe Regional Hospital, Omeo District Health, Orbost Regional Health, South Gippsland Hospital, West Gippsland Healthcare Group, Yarram & District Health Service.

Grampians Local Health Service Network

Health services: Beaufort & Skipton Health Service, Central Highlands Rural Health, East Grampians Health Service, East Wimmera Health Service, Grampians Health, Maryborough District Health Service, Rural Northwest Health, West Wimmera Health Service.

Hume Local Health Service Network

Health services: Albury Wodonga Health, Alpine Health, Beechworth Health Service, Benalla Health, Corryong Health, Goulburn Valley Health, Kyabram District Health Service, Mansfield District Hospital, NCN Health, Northeast Health Wangaratta, Tallangatta Health Service, Yarrawonga Health.

Loddon Mallee Local Health Service Network

Health services: Bendigo Health, Boort District Health, Cohuna District Hospital, Dhelkaya Health, Echuca Regional Health, Heathcote Health, Inglewood and Districts Health Service, Kerang District Health, Kyneton Hospital, Mallee Track Health and Community Service, Mildura Base Public Hospital, Robinvale District Health Services, Rochester & Elmore District Health Service, Swan Hill District Health.

North Metro and Mitchell Local Health Service Network

Health services: Austin Health, Mercy Hospital for Women, Northern Health, and Seymour District Health.

Parkville Local Health Service Network

Health services: Dental Health Services Victoria, Parkville Youth Mental Health and Wellbeing Service, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Royal Children’s Hospital, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, Royal Women’s Hospital.

South Metro Local Health Service Network

Health services: Monash Health.

South West Local Health Service Network

Health services: Casterton Memorial Hospital, Heywood Rural Health, Moyne Health Services, Portland District Health, South West Healthcare, Terang and Mortlake Health Service, Timboon and District Healthcare Service, Western District Health Service.

West Metro Local Health Service Network

Health services: Werribee Mercy Hospital and Western Health.

Next steps

Local Health Service Networks will commence operation from 1 July 2025.

To support implementation, a range of consultation activities are being undertaken.

Consultation with health service and sector leaders on Network priorities and governance arrangements will commence in early 2025.

Following this, the Department of Health and health services will consult with workforce and communities ahead of Network establishment in July 2025. This will ensure they can share insights into the barriers and opportunities that matter to them most. Further details will be provided on this page, and consultation opportunities will be promoted by health services.

Consultation activities are also being undertaken for other recommendations of the Health Services Plan.