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Planning Tools

Developing a Plan

Developing a plan is a structured process that requires consideration of purpose, audience, latest evidence, consumer involvement and future need. The following processes are used in developing plans across Sydney Local Health District.

Governance
  • Establish a steering committee or service development working party.
  • Ensure executive representation and appropriate stakeholder representation.
  • Establish roles and responsibilities of committee/working party.
  • Create a Terms of Reference.
  • Establish a planning time frame, meeting frequency and dates.

Scope
  • Is a scoping document required (involves timeline or gantt chart).
  • What type of plan is required – for example strategic plan, enabling plan, facility plan, clinical service plan, operational plan or project plan.
  • Determine goals, objectives, broad outcomes and evaluation measures.
  • Align issues with State priorities.
  • Determine if Ministry of Health or other peer organisation should be included.

Literature
  • Review a wide variety of literature sources for example:
    • Legislative requirements and overarching policy – for example Ministry and District Plans.
    • Previous plans, recommendations and implementation status.
    • International, National, State and Local District plans and reports.
    • Clinical Guidelines from Pillar Organisations – for example Clinical Excellence Commission.

Consultation
  • Determine appropriate stakeholders and communication plan (Includes timing and approach).
  • Determine consultation methods – for example interviews, meetings focus groups, forums, virtual or site visits, email or surveys. Consider a variety of methods to suit stakeholders needs.
  • Develop questions for consultation.
Data
  • Quantitative Data: Analyse relevant data sources that meet strategic goals for example geographic, demographic, epidemiological and utilisation data.
  • Consider if historical data is required (contact Performance Unit or access STARS).
  • Determine time periods, inclusions and exclusions. Consider different data visualisation methods. Refer data to service managers to ensure data is robust.
  • Qualitative Data: Gather information for example focus groups, forum feedback or survey data.
Analyse Data
  • Analyse data against best practice guidelines, standards or models of care.
  • Refer data to source to ensure data is robust and accurate and reflective of the service.
  • Consider if forecasted data is required for example population projections, activity projections (contact Planning Unit for assistance).
  • For Planning Staff: refer to expert opinion to inform forecasted changes; use Ministry tools for example FlowInfo and HealthApp; liaise with Ministry of Health for major service planning to ensure methodology is robust.
  • Consider costing: Capital costs can usually be broadly estimated within a service plan or alternatively the plan may recommend that a capital planning process be undertaken. 
Develop Strategies
  • Strategies are to be developed in collaboration with identified working party members and is based on data, key policies and strategic direction.
  • Present and discuss findings to Steering Committee or Working Group.
  • Set priorities – high, medium and low.
  • Include evaluation criteria, for example, measurable outcomes linked to the Service Agreement.
  • Include timeframes for implementation and review.
Draft and final plans
  • Develop a draft plan with date and version reference.
  • Send draft plan to the Steering Committee or Working Group for initial comment.
  • Send revised draft plan to stakeholders for final comments.
  • Submit final plan (if applicable) for design, print, digital publication and implementation.

District Information

Sydney Local Health District (the District) is bounded by Western Sydney LHD and South Western Sydney LHD to the west, South Eastern Sydney LHD to the south and east and Northern Sydney LHD across the Parramatta River. It encompasses a land area of 126 square kilometres with a population density of approximately 5500 residents per square kilometre (See District Area Map). This population will continue to grow and densify as urban development and infill continues across the District.

The Department of Planning and Environment (DPE 2022) population forecasts project the Sydney Local Health District catchment to grow to 819,540 in 2036 (an increase of 17 per cent). It is forecast that by 2036 there will be 65 per cent more people aged 70 years and over, a total of 42,976 extra older persons. Table 1 provides the projected Sydney Local Health District population by local government area (LGA) from 2021-2036.

*Department of Planning and Environment 2022, Population Projections high series

 

2021

2026

2031

2036

CAGR 2021/36

Growth rate 2021-2036

Ashfield (A)

47,135

48,111

49,387

50,509

0.5%

7.2%

Burwood (A)

41,256

47,306

53,517

59,258

2.4%

43.6%

Canada Bay (A)

96,823

101,906

105,208

111,941

1.0%

15.6%

Canterbury (C)

163,552

170,814

181,414

190,297

1.0%

16.4%

Leichhardt (A)

61,643

62,402

63,946

67,445

0.6%

9.4%

Marrickville (A)

91,152

92,452

94,741

97,915

0.5%

7.4%

Strathfield (A)

47,763

53,973

56,356

60,212

1.6%

26.1%

Sydney (C) (SLHD)

148,457

155,769

168,567

181,963

1.4%

22.6%

Total SLHD

697,781

732,733

773,137

819,540

1.1%

17.4%

Other NSW*

7,473,777

7,887,199

8,377,363

8,832,961

1.1%

18.2%

Aboriginal people make up 1 per cent of the District’s population. Around 26 per cent of residents of Sydney Local Health District were born in a non-English speaking country. The most common non-English languages are Chinese, Arabic, Greek, Korean, Italian and Vietnamese.

A feature of the District’s social diversity is our proud lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer and asexual (LGBTIQA+) community. A number of our suburbs have the highest proportions of same-sex couples in Australia. There is evidence that LGBTIQA+ communities experience high levels of health disparities including higher rates of poor mental health and higher smoking rates.

Overall, people living in Sydney Local Health District are in good health, with higher average life expectancy than the NSW average, although this advantage is not evenly distributed. The population is socio-economically diverse, with pockets of both extreme advantage and extreme disadvantage. Approximately a third of Canterbury-Bankstown residents receive less than $400 per week personal income. Mean taxable income is lowest in the Canterbury-Bankstown LGA, which has a higher socio-economic index of disadvantage than the rest of NSW.

The District is also characterised by a large population of people who are homeless – over 6000 people (44 per cent) of the NSW boarding houses are located in the District. There are more than 28,000 people living with a disability and over 53,000 unpaid carers living in Sydney Local Health District.

In 2021, 6.8 per cent of District residents reported they had a long-term health condition.

In 2022/23 there were 147,097 residents reporting living with a mental health problem, which is forecast to increase to 170,478 by 2035/36 (an increase of 15.9 per cent). The District has a strong and active mental health service, supporting around 4200 people at any point in time.

In 2020/21 there were a total of 180,474 admissions to our four acute Sydney Local Health District general facilities, with 160,413 emergency department presentations.

More Information

Contact us at SLHD-Planning@health.nsw.gov.au to access our suburb and postcode area listing and hospital roles in Sydney Local Health District.

Census and Data

Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS)

Population and census information and projections, including examples of important surveys such as the National Health Survey, The National ATSI Survey, the National Disability Survey.

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW)

Important health care publications including Australia's Health, hospital statistics, BEACH (General practice data).

NSW Cancer Council

Data in relation to cancer incidence, morbidity, mortality and future projections.

NSW Health

A range of important data and information is available from NSW Health. For example NSW Midwives Data Collection, NSW Health Population Projections, Chief Health Officers' Report, NSW Health Promotion Surveys, Aboriginal Health Impact Statement guidelines, Process of Facility Planning, inpatient data, emergency department data.

Sydney Local Health District Public Health Observatory

A range of publications and reports relevant to Sydney Local Health District. A partnership with the University of Sydney.

HealthStats NSW

 A 'one-stop-shop' public website bringing together data from many sources to produce statistical information about the health of the NSW population. Users can view and download data and select indicators to produce tailored reports that provide insights into a wide range of health determinants and outcomes.  Information can be found on the health status of the NSW population, health inequalities and the determinants of health, the major causes of diseases and injury, and current health challenges, trends in health and comparisons between age groups and geographic locations.

In Sydney Local Health District, we acknowledge that we are living and working on Gadigal, Wangal and Bediagal land, part of the EORA Nation. We pay our respect to all elders past, present and emerging. Our vision is to have the healthiest Aboriginal community in Australia.

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