Regions are responsible for planning, funding and the delivery of health, housing and community services. Regions also develop strong partnerships with health and community agencies to collaboratively plan local services to ensure the Victorian community receives high quality services.
Most clients of the department will receive services from regional staff, and most funded health, housing and community services (of which there are more than 2500) will work directly with regional staff. Regions are the public face of the department, with almost 80% of the Department’s workforce located in regions. Regions deliver services from more than 500 locations across the state ranging from regional offices, housing offices, community residential units and large residential centres such as Kew Residential Services and the Colanda Centre.
Southern Metropolitan Region extends from inner urban suburbs such as Port Melbourne to the Mornington Peninsula, eastward across suburban and industrial areas through to Pakenham and numerous small towns on the metropolitan and rural fringe. The region's communities are diverse and include rapidly changing inner urban communities and outer suburbs with enormous growth. It has a population of approximately 1,126,223 which represents 23% of the Victorian population.
Eastern Metropolitan Region is one of the largest regions in terms of staff. This diverse region includes inner suburbs such as Kew and Hawthorn, large outer metropolitan suburbs such as Ringwood and Croydon and semi-rural townships such as Healesville and Yarra Glen. The region covers and area of 2,930 square kilometres. It has a population of approximately 974,374 which represents 20% of the Victorian population.
The North & West Metropolitan Region (N & WMR) comprises the municipalities (14) of Banyule, Brimbank, Darebin, Hobsons Bay, Hume, Maribyrnong, Melbourne, Melton, Moonee Valley, Moreland, Nillumbik, Whittlesea, Wyndham and Yarra.
Gippsland Region stretches along the east coast of the state and covers approximately 41,538 square kilometres. It has a population of approximately 240,114 which represents 5% of the Victorian population.
Grampians Region covers an area of 47,980 square kilometres and extends from Bacchus Marsh in the east to the South Australian border in the west, and north to south from Patchwollock to Lake Bolac. It has a population of approximately 208,226 which represents 4% of the Victorian population.
Hume Region covers north east Victoria and extends to the New South Wales border. It has a population of approximately 250,878 which represents 5% of the Victorian population.
Loddon-Mallee Region is located in the north west corner of Victoria and covers 58,965 square kilometres, approximately 26% of the state, making it the largest departmental region in terms of geographic area. It has a population of approximately 293,516 which represents 6% of the Victorian population.
Barwon-South Western Region extends from Lara to the South Australian border and covers approximately 29,637 square kilometres. It has a population of approximately 340,496 which represents 7% of the Victorian population.