Western NSW Local Health District

About our District

The Western NSW Local Health District (WNSWLHD) is one of the largest Local Health Districts in New South Wales covering an area of 246,676 square kilometres, similar to the size of Britain.

We deliver innovative health services to an estimated resident population of approximately 276,000 people. WNSWLHD is diverse in the health care it delivers boasting the largest rural mental health service in Australia, three major rural referral hospitals at Orange, Dubbo and Bathurst, 50 community health centres which provide access to a wide range of multidisciplinary primary, and community health services, 38 inpatient facilities including 25 Multipurpose Services (MPSs) and District Health Services at Mudgee, Cowra, Parkes and Forbes.

There are more than 30,786 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in the Local Health District, representing 11.1% of the total population. This is significantly higher than the NSW average of 2.1%. The smaller more remote communities of Brewarrina, Walgett, Coonamble and Bourke have the highest proportion of Aboriginal people. People of a non-English speaking background, make up 2.8% of the population, compared to 15% for NSW.

Our region has some of the most vulnerable population in NSW and even Australia who generally have a lower socio-economic status, shorter life expectancy, and poorer health than other people living in NSW. More people also have at least one of the risk factors that contribute to poorer health including smoking, harmful use of alcohol, obesity and lack of physical activity.

Mental health is an important service that is provided by WNSWLHD both at a local and state-wide level. We are committed to improving our mental health services to ensure contemporary models of care are provided closer to the client's place of residence.