10 Year Impact Series: 2018-19 Population Health Highlights
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October 29, 2025
2018-19 was a stand-out year for South Eastern Melbourne Primary Health network (SEMPHN), with practical ideas delivering important ways to help our community across south east Melbourne live healthier lives.
Some of these ideas included:
- Early detection: a mobile clinic brought breast screening to 1,000 women who might otherwise have missed out.
- Immunisation push: more than 1,500 free flu and whooping cough vaccines reached people at highest risk.
- Community coverage: Greater Dandenong recorded 95.77% herd immunity for children aged 12-15 months.
- Smarter after-hours care: one program averted more than 10,000 hospital admissions, saving $5.5 million, representing a 353% return on investment (ROI).
- A second after-hours project prevented 12,000 emergency department visits, saving $6.2 million – a 379% ROI.
- Cultural safety: 60 health professionals completed training accredited by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners to strengthen care for First Nations people.
These results show how targeted investment, frontline partnerships and data-driven planning turn resources into measurable impact.
Latest news
Throughout July and August, all Australians aged 50 will receive a letter about reducing their dementia risk. Some patients may bring the letter or a dementia risk assessment report to appointments to ask questions or seek support.
The purpose of this activity is to ensure patients with a mental health diagnosis (particularly high-risk mental health patients, e.g. bipolar disorder and a Mental Health Treatment Plan) that require phone (level C or D) and/or videoconference longer appointments (level C, D or E) are identified and proactively offered MyMedicare registration supporting continuity of care and improved outcomes.
Are you a First Nations carer supporting a loved one affected by alcohol, other drugs, or mental health challenges? Join Windana’s free monthly First Peoples’ Carers Program, funded by SEMPHN, and connect with others in a safe and supportive space.
