Population Health and Strategic Direction

This report aims to give an overview of the health and well being of children and youth who live in the Western Sydney Area Health Service. The report contains information on the health of people under the age of twenty-five years, who live in the Local Government Areas, which made up the former Western Sydney Area Health Service. These Local Government Areas (LGAs) are Auburn, Baulkham Hills, Blacktown, Holroyd and Parramatta. Each LGA has its own unique population blend and range of health issues, and as a result the data presented is often quite disparate between the LGAs. Selected topics have been presented to give a 'snapshot' of health within the LGA. Because of the disparities between the LGAs the data for Western Sydney as a whole should be interpreted with caution. Where appropriate and possible, comparisons have been made to NSW as a whole. This report is intended for use by health professionals and agencies, to assist in the planning and development of health and other services, aimed at improving the health of children and youth in Western Sydney.

In addition, this report aims to highlight the data available for use by those professionals involved in planning and evaluation of services and health programs, by identifying health issues requiring particular attention. The report identifies populations at higher risk, not only of illness, but a range of life events, which have been identified as predictors of longer term illness, disability and disadvantage.