Residents of Victoria receive significant public health funding, ranking fourth among Australian states in per capita expenditure. A recent study conducted by the University of Technology Sydney analysed national health expenditure data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare for the years 2019 to 2024. This research aimed to assess the average annual health spending per person across the country.
Victoria’s health spending stands at $11,749 per capita, which is notably 76% lower than the national average of $49,884 during the same period. The analysis revealed that Victoria’s average population over five years was approximately 5,618,800, with an average annual health expenditure of $66.02 billion. The peak spending year was 2021-2022, when the state allocated $70.18 billion to health services, while the year 2019-2020 saw the lowest expenditure at $58.83 billion.
Understanding the Funding Landscape
The findings highlight the complexity of health service demands in Victoria. A spokesperson from the University of Technology Sydney noted, “Victoria’s spending level reflects a large population served by a complex metropolitan hospital network. Demand remains high, especially for mental health services, elective surgery recovery, and ongoing chronic illness support following the pandemic period. Strategic workforce planning is key to easing pressure on hospital wait times.”
This analysis provides insight into the distribution of health funding across Australia. The state of New South Wales leads with an average total health spending per capita of $295,200, followed by Western Australia with $48,300 and Queensland at $28,571. The detailed rankings are as follows:
– **New South Wales:** $295,200
– **Western Australia:** $48,300
– **Queensland:** $28,571
– **Victoria:** $11,749
– **Australian Capital Territory:** $11,128
– **South Australia:** $2,137
– **Northern Territory:** $1,104
– **Tasmania:** $884
The research methodology involved a comprehensive analysis of national health expenditure data across all Australian states and territories from 2019 to 2024. Researchers compared five-year average annual spending figures against population data to calculate the per capita health spending, establishing a clear ranking based on investment per person.
The University of Technology Sydney, recognized as Australia’s top-ranked young university and among the Top 100 universities globally, conducted this study to inform policymakers and the public about health funding dynamics. UTS offers fully online postgraduate courses aimed at providing high-quality education that accommodates diverse career aspirations.
For further details and an extended dataset, interested parties can access the research from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare [here](https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/health-welfare-expenditure/health-expenditure-australia-2023-24/data) and the study conducted by UTS [here](https://studyonline.uts.edu.au/).
