Federal Assistant Health and Aged Care Minister Ged Kearney uses a SiSU Health Station, the primary data source for the index. Photo: Supplied
Nicholls has been determined as Victoria’s most at-risk federal electorate, according to the Wesfarmers Health Index.
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The index assesses the public health landscape for Australians 16 and over, analysing cardiometabolic risk factors such as obesity, high blood pressure, daily smoking and diabetes.
Nicholls scored an index of 50, putting it at the bottom of the list for electorates in Victoria.
It ranked first in the country for the rate of high blood pressure and 10th in the highest obesity rate category.
According to SiSU health data, the incidence of high blood pressure in Nicholls is 28.9 per cent, with obesity impacting 35.5 per cent of the population.
The rate of daily smoking is 10.1 per cent and known diabetes is 6.6 per cent.
In Australia as a whole, 29 per cent of people have high blood pressure, 26 per cent have obesity, 13 per cent are daily smokers and six per cent have known diabetes.
AUSDRISK, the Australian Type 2 Diabetes Risk Assessment Tool, estimates 42.4 per cent of residents aged 25 to 74 currently without diabetes are at high risk of developing the condition over the next five years.
Australia’s overall index score is 92, putting Nicholls 42 points behind.
The data from the index was obtained through 502,000 SiSU health checks in the 2024 financial year, covering 312,000 Australians.
A minimum of 600 individual users from each electorate was required for the data to be included.
Federal Assistant Health and Aged Care Minister Ged Kearney believes the index findings show critical health challenges.
“Accessible and actionable health data is key to driving positive change,” she said.
“The health issues highlighted in this report are multi-faceted, affecting millions of Australians.”
Rochester Sports Museum volunteer Anne Chirnside undertaking the Shane Warne Legacy Heart Test in July. Photo: Aidan Briggs
Photo by
Aidan Briggs
The Shane Warne Legacy Heart Test is supported by SiSU Health, and the use and impact of the test was included as a case study in the Wesfarmers Health Index.
A heart testing machine was stationed at Rochester Sports Museum from April 30 until the end of August, with hundreds of residents taking the test and following up on concerning results.
The machine will return next year for users to compare their results.
Wesfarmers Health managing director Emily Amos hopes information found by the index can help inform solutions.
“Our health system is at an inflection point with demand for health services growing at a faster rate than our ability to supply services, because of our ageing population and people who are living with more chronic disease,” she said.
“By producing this index – the most comprehensive real-time data source on cardiometabolic health in Australia – we are also raising awareness and hope to support an effective public health response.”
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