Victorian Population Health Survey 2024
The 2024 Victorian Population Health Survey data collection finished in November 2024. Data analysis will be done in 2025.
There were 34,000 participants in the 2023 Victorian Population Health Survey. This data is currently being analysed. The Dashboard will be published in 2025.
The Department of Health conducts the Victorian Population Health Survey annually. The survey is the primary source of insights about the health and wellbeing of Victorian adults aged 18 and over, and what affects their health and wellbeing.
Each year, approximately 7,500 Victorians undertake the survey to share information on their health, wellbeing, lifestyle, and the social determinants of their health and wellbeing. This information is used to track changes over time and inform policymaking, service planning and the development of interventions to improve the health of Victorians.
The survey is expanded every 3 years to include approximately 34,000 people. This larger sample size allows us to report on minority populations including First Peoples, people who identify as LGBTIQA+, and Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) people. It also helps to provide estimates down to the local government area (LGA) level.
Information that is collected
Information is collected on:
- The prevalence of chronic diseases and conditions and how these change over time.
- Mental health and wellbeing, such as psychological distress, depression and anxiety, and life satisfaction.
- Lifestyle risk factors, such as tobacco smoking and vaping, alcohol consumption, diet, physical inactivity, and sun-protective behaviours.
- Biomedical risk factors, such as hypertension, hypercholesterolaemia, and body weight status.
- Other health risk factors, such as psychological distress, food insecurity, experiences of racism and discrimination, and loneliness.
- The social determinants of health, such as socioeconomic status, civic and social trust, social exclusion, and work and unemployment.
- Protective factors, such as connection to culture, and social and emotional support.
- Health literacy, beliefs, and attitudes, including trust in Victoria’s health system.
- Use of healthcare services.
- Unmet healthcare need – healthcare services sought but not received.
How the information is collected
We collect information by computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CATI).
Adults who live in private dwellings across Victoria are randomly selected and invited to participate. Participation is entirely voluntary, and the confidentiality and identity of all survey participants is protected by law under the Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014 (Vic). The Department of Health's Human Research Ethics Committee has approved the methodology and questionnaire for the survey.
The data are weighted to the Victorian population to reflect the population distribution by age, gender, educational attainment, and geographic location.
Interviews are also conducted in other languages commonly spoken in Victoria to ensure that individuals from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds are represented.
How we use the information
The Victorian Population Health Survey (VPHS) is conducted every year in accordance with the Victorian Public Health and Wellbeing Act (2008):
- To provide members of the public with access to ‘reliable information’ in appropriate forms to facilitate a good understanding of public health issues' (Part 2, Section 8[2.a]).
- To inform the development of Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing plans (Part 3, Section 26) and the biennial Chief Health Officer's report (Part 3, Section 21c)
- To report on the health and determinants of health of Victoria’s First Peoples, Victorians who identify as LGBTIQA+, culturally and linguistically diverse Victorians, and vulnerable Victorians.
- To provide data for key indicators of the DH Priority Outcomes framework and the Victorian Public Health and Wellbeing Outcomes framework to inform policymaking and planning.
- To monitor changes over time and identify any new and emerging health concerns.
For more information, call the Department's hotline on 1800 658 830.
Victorian Population Health Survey
-
The Victorian Agency of Health Information website contains information and documents about the 2022 population .
-
Information and documents relating to the 2020 population .
-
Information and documents relating to the 2019 population .
-
Information and documents relating to the 2018 population .
-
The Victorian Population Health Survey has been conducted each year since 2001 and is based on a random sample of adults aged 18 years and over.
The Survey is administered using computer-assisted telephone interviews. In 2017, the sample was expanded to approximately 34,000 respondents to allow for the reporting of analysed data at the local government area level.
The findings from the Victorian Population Health Survey 2017 are presented as dashboards for each of the 79 councils in Victoria, their corresponding Health Area and Division, as well as for the state of Victoria.
Indicators
The indicators presented as dashboards are:
- Smoking prevalence
- Fruit and vegetable consumption
- Intake of sugar sweetened beverages
- Consumption of take-away or snack food
- Obesity
- Physical activity
- Alcohol consumption
- Mental health and wellbeing
- Life satisfaction
- Self-reported health status
- Health checks
- Bowel and breast cancer screening
- Selected chronic diseases including type 2 diabetes
- Dental health
Download dashboards
Family violence in Victoria: findings from the Victorian Population Health Survey
-
Information and documents relating to the 2016 population survey.
-
Information and documents relating to the 2015 population survey.
-
Previous reports of the Victorian Population Health Survey, presented high-quality information on the health of Victorians. Information in each report is presented on health and lifestyle, including physical activity, smoking, alcohol consumption, intake of fruit and vegetables, selected health screening, adult obesity, asthma and diabetes prevalence, psychological distress and social networks.
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
Regions
2009
Regions
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
Challenges to healthy eating: food insecurity in
2015
Reviewed 24 November 2024