A new report names the country’s 45 healthiest local government areas. See the full list.
In a totally unsurprising result, life insurance company AIA Australia and market research analysts Bastion Insights have come up with a list of Australia’s 45 healthiest local government areas, and, surprise surprise, they tend to be the most well off economically.
The report, which used adjusted health outcome statistics, risk factors and mortality data to compile the list, found New South Wales had the highest representation with 13 so-called “vitality zones”, followed by South Australia and Western Australia with nine each, Victoria with eight, and Tasmania and Queensland with three each.
The Northern Territory is apparently vitality zone-free.
Residents in the healthiest LGAs live up to eight years longer than the national average (75.2), living to 83.4 years, with Victorians in the right areas living up to 85.1 years, followed by NSW (84.8), SA (82.7), Tasmania (82.2), WA (81.7) and Queensland (80.7).
The healthiest LGAs’ residents are 30% less likely to report living with a long-term lung condition, 30% less likely to report living with diabetes and are 14% less likely to report having kidney or heart disease.
They are also 43% less likely to die from a preventable death than the national average, including 64% fewer deaths from diabetes, 53% fewer deaths from respiratory issues and 48% fewer deaths from circulatory system issues.
According to AIA and Bastion the eight things the “vitality zones” have in common are:
• Health literacy;
• Economic stability;
• Socioeconomic advantage;
• Educational attainment;
• Access to well developed public transport systems;
• Green spaces and recreational areas;
• Cultural and demographic diversity; and,
• Community engagement and cohesion.
In terms of mental health, the report found that residents of the healthiest LGAs feel more grateful, happier, and report thriving more than the national average. They experience the least amount of stress, the highest monthly level of adequate sleep, feel lonely a lot less than the national average.
The 45 healthiest zones in the country, according to the report are:
• New South Wales: Georges River, Hornsby, Hunters Hill, Ku-ring-gai, Lane Cove, Mosman, North Sydney, Northern Beaches, The Hills Shire, Willoughby, Woollahra, Blue Mountains and Waverley;
• South Australia: Adelaide, Adelaide Hills, Burnside, Holdfast Bay, Mitcham, Port Adelaide Enfield, Unley, Elliston, and Wakefield.
• Western Australia: Cambridge, Canning, Claremont, Cottesloe, Gosnells, Mosman Park, Nedlands, Perth, and Murray.
• Victoria: Bayside, Boroondara, Manningham, Monash, Nillumbik, Queenscliffe, Stonnington, and Whitehorse.
• Tasmania: Glenorchy, Hobart, and Launceston.
• Queensland: Brisbane, Gympie, and Noosa.
Read the full report here.
