The Central Highlands General Practice Network is one of 103 such Divisions/ Networks around Australia. This Network commenced formal operations in November 1993 and established its offices in January 1994. The Network is managed by a Board of Governance made up of elected GPs and members from the private sector. The Network is located to the north, north-west and west of Melbourne and includes an area of approximately 6000 square kilometres.
The Network includes two large suburban satellite towns (Sunbury and Melton), a number of provincial centres and towns (Castlemaine, Seymour, Kilmore, Broadford, Gisborne, Woodend, Mt Macedon, Trentham, Riddells Creek, Romsey, Lancefield, Daylesford, Kyneton, Wallan and Wandong), as well as smaller rural communities.
The industries in the Network have traditionally included mixed farming, light industrial and service industries. Many of the residents in the southern and western areas of the Network commute to the Melbourne metropolitan area for employment. The area is well served by major highways including the Hume, Calder and Western Highways.
Profile of Network Area
| Population | 179,800 (2001 ABS census) |
| Number of GPs | 241 (full, part-time and includes GP registrars) |
| Number of Practices |
41 |
| Nature | A mixture of rural, provincial and outer-urban towns |
| Hospitals | Five Public Hospitals |
| Community Health |
Seven Community Health Centres |
| Pharmacies | 37 |
| Health Status |
Trends in Mortality above State or National rates include Heart Disease, Diabetes Mellitus, Suicide, Stroke, Some Cancers, Chronic Bronchitis, Emphysema, Asthma, Neuroses, and Dementia. High patient load with complexity of rural management |
| Socio-Economic Status | Generally matches state & national averages but is up to 1% lower in certain areas. |