Strengthening relationships with our community and partners is a strategic priority for SMHS.

We are committed to:

• engaging with the community to better define and deliver the services required to meet their health and wellbeing needs
• optimising existing partnerships and exploring new opportunities for innovative alliances both within and outside of health care.

SMHS community snapshot

Diabetes, heart disease and a range of cancers are the major causes of illness for the SMHS population. Socioeconomically disadvantaged people, the Aboriginal community and other vulnerable populations often have higher levels of disease risk factors and use preventative health services less than those who experience socio-economic advantage.

The leading causes of death for the SMHS population are heart disease, various cancers, and stroke.

Get an insight into the health and wellbeing of members of the SMHS community through the following data:

• The SMHS catchment has an estimated population of 657,827 people, or 25 per cent of WA’s population. Aboriginal people account for 1.3 per cent of the SMHS population base.
• Life expectancy of males in the SMHS catchment is 82.5 years, compared to females 86.3 years.
• 7,661 deaths due to chronic conditions could potentially have been prevented.
• 17.5 per cent of adults have high blood pressure, and 18.2 per cent of adults have high cholesterol.
• More than 45 per cent of hospitalisations due to chronic conditions in SMHS could potentially have been prevented.
• 9.3 per cent of the adult population continue to smoke. 23.2 per cent consumer alcohol at levels deemed high-risk of long term harm.
• Over 40 per cent of the adult population is overweight.
• 43 per cent of adults and 20.7 per cent of children do not undertake sufficient physical activity.

Read the 2019/20 SMHS annual report (PDF 8.5MB) to learn more about the community SMHS serves.

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