Health and medical information for consumers, quality assured by the Victorian government
A gateway to the strategies, policies, programs and services delivered by the Department of Health & Human Services.
Victorian government portal for older people, with information about government and community services and programs.
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A list of public hospitals and health services in Victoria.
The Victorian healthcare system focuses on providing patient-centered care that is timely, appropriate and effective.
Integration is the provision of well-connected, effective and efficient care that takes account of and is organised around a person’s health and social needs.
Victorian health services aim to meet or exceed quality and safety standards to ensure our health sector provides world-class care.
The Victorian Government is working to improve access to quality healthcare in rural Victoria.
Private hospitals, day procedure centres and mobile health services in Victoria must be registered and comply with regulations on patient safety and care
Victorian health service boards have well defined responsibilities and the department acknowledges board education as a crucial activity.
The Department of Health & Human Services manages Victorian health data collections by providing standards, specifications and quality processes.
The Victorian Government plans, develops policy, regulates and funds over 500 health services and organisations.
Patient fees chargeable for admitted and non-admitted services in Victoria's public healthcare services.
Information and resources to support public hospitals and health services to report their financial data to the department.
Victorian health service providers are adopting leading-edge systems and technologies to help ensure that our health system delivers world-class care.
Information about primary care, working with general practice and private providers including Emergency Response planning, Primary Care Partnerships and Health Condition Support Grants service.
Information about delivering care that crosses the boundaries between primary, community, acute health and social care, including the Bilateral Agreement on Coordinated Care, HealthLinks: Chronic Care, the Chronic Care Guide, and service coordination practice.
Information about Victoria’s community health services, including registration and governance, the Community Health Program, demand management, service improvement and services targeted at population groups at risk of poorer health outcomes.
Information about public dental care in Victoria, including eligibility and access, fees, waiting lists, and data reporting.
Information about the Victorian Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Service, including professional development information, resources, reporting data and the MCH framework.
We are reviewing the pricing and funding model for the Public Dental Program and the Community Health Program.
Information about public cemeteries, crematoria and cemetery trusts in Victoria for various stakeholders.
Victorian legislation ensures that medicines and poisons are used safely. Healthcare professionals must be aware of the relevant laws for their occupation.
In Victoria, the department has an important role in protecting the health of Victorians from the potential health effects of environmental hazards.
All Victorian food businesses must follow the food safety regulations for their class of food premises.
Victorian information about vaccination for children, adolescents and adults.
Guidelines and advice for health professionals about infectious diseases.
Evidence gathering, statistical data and evaluations are important tools for planning preventative health and wellbeing measures.
Screening programs include the national cervical, breast and bowel cancer screening programs, newborn bloodspot screening, prenatal screening and infant hearing screening.
Disease prevention and early detection targeting specific areas such as obesity, physical activity, sexual health and heart disease.
The department administers the Radiation Act 2005. Users and managers of radiation practices are licensed under this Act.
Anti-smoking laws and policies have contributed to a continuing decline of smoking rates across Victoria.
The department protects the public by safeguarding drinking water, facilitating the safe use of alternative water supplies and ensuring healthy swimming.
GPs and primary carers provide most mental health services. Specialist services are also available.
As one part of making suicide prevention a priority, all governments have committed to drafting a new national suicide prevention strategy for Australia: the National suicide prevention implementation strategy. This strategy will embody the collective aspiration of all governments that fewer lives are lost to suicide and will be supported by every health minister in Australia.
Victoria’s public mental health services are committed to high standards of practice and service.
Consumers and carers play a critical role in the delivery of mental health services in Victoria.
In Victoria the promotion of mental health and wellbeing is a priority.
Victoria is committed to providing world-leading standards of care for all people living with a mental illness.
The Mental Health Act 2014 supports advocacy, diversity, privacy and complaints processes.
Victoria's Chief Mental Health Nurse provides leadership in the mental health nursing sector
Reporting requirements for Victorian public mental health services and an overview of government-funded mental health research.
A career in mental health has rewards for everyone.
A hard copy of a publication can be ordered online by filling out this form - we do not ship outside of Australia. Some items are available in limited quantities only.
Victoria’s specialist alcohol and other drug treatment services cover a broad spectrum of community-based and residential treatment options.
This webpage links to more information from the Victorian Government about policy, research and legislation for the alcohol and other drug sector.
Standards and guidelines direct alcohol and other drug service providers to ensure safe, accessible and professional treatment services.
The Victorian alcohol and other drug treatment services workforce operates in a complex environment. The government is supporting the sector to meet these challenges.
The Alcohol & Other Drugs (AOD) sector is growing, with additional funding opening up diverse job opportunities across a range of programs and settings. With so many different jobs available, we’re after lots of different people. Do you have what it takes?
Drug policy and services newsletters, covering topics such as the National Ice Taskforce, the 10 year mental health plan, and sector engagement.
This section provides information about funding models for alcohol and other drug service providers and details about the reporting requirements.
Information about high-risk drug products that may be circulating in Victoria.
The Victorian Government supports older Victorians to live independently in the community through a range of support programs.
Supported residential services provide accommodation and support services for Victorians who need help with everyday activities. They are regulated by the Victorian Government.
Residential aged care is for older people who can no longer live at home. These services are funded and regulated by the Commonwealth Government and can be operated by not-for-profit, private or state government providers.
Assessment services help older people and their carers to identify care that best meets their needs and access Commonwealth Government services for older people.
The Home and Community Care Program for Younger People provides funding for services which support frail older people, younger people with disabilities and their carers.
The Victorian Government provides a range of programs to maximise older people’s health and wellbeing and social participation across all life stages.
A Victorian government resource providing information and advice on designing and caring for people with dementia in residential aged care settings.
A health alert advises the Victorian community of an issue that is urgent, poses an immediate threat to public health and requires an immediate response.
24 March 2020 - Legionnaires’ disease linked to the Brunswick area
View all health alerts
A health advisory is less urgent than an alert and provides advice to the health sector and Victorian public.
26 June 2020 - Gastroenteritis related to back yard chickens
22 May 2020 - Hepatitis A outbreak
15 May 2020 - Carbon monoxide and gas heater safety
12 May 2020 - Poisonous mushrooms growing in Melbourne
24 January 2020 - Health concerns related to Victorian bushfires (update to Advisory issued 17 January 2020)
31 October 2019 - Possible new transmission areas for Buruli ulcer in Victoria
13 September 2019 - E-cigarettes linked to severe lung illness
22 August 2019 - Novel Human Parechovirus (HPeV) Strain in Victoria
12 April 2019 - Shigellosis – management recommendations updated
25 March 2019 - Update: Syphilis cases continue to rise in Victoria
31 October 2018 - Hospitals required to notify anaphylaxis presentations
27 September 2018 - Update: Viral hepatitis training for Alcohol and Other Drug and Opioid Substitution Therapy workforces
9 August 2018 - Syphilis cases continue to rise in Victoria in both men and women
View all health advisories
A heat health alert is issued when forecast heatwave conditions are likely to impact human health.
Environmental health - Heat health alert status
Heat Health Surveillance System report
Better Health Channel - Survive the Heat
The department regulates food safety in Victoria, in partnership with and local government and Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ).
FSANZ food recalls
FSANZ media releases
Information from the Therapeutic Goods Administration about recalls of therapeutic goods already supplied in the market for which there are issues relating to safety, quality, efficacy (performance) or presentation.
The Chief Health Officer promotes and protects public health in Victoria by providing health information and alerts as well as strategic advice to the Victorian Government on matters relative to public health and wellbeing.
Current public health alerts and advisories issued to advise on existing threats to the health and wellbeing of Victorians.
The Office of the Chief Health Officer commissions or develops publications on matters relevant to the statutory role of Chief Health Officer.
The RSS file contains details of the latest alerts that are available and it helps you keep up to date without having to check the site itself.
Up-to-date travel information, help and advice, from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Health practitioners and laboratory services are required by law to notify the Department of certain infectious diseases.
Interactive reporting on infectious diseases and other conditions notifiable in Victoria.
The department runs strategic communications campaigns for the general public, the health sector, local communities and businesses to raise awareness about public health issues like communicable diseases, environmental health and food safety.