Ninety Mile Consulting (NMC) is proud to share our latest thought-leadership paper — Health Networks: From Silos to Systems — an evidence-based exploration of what truly makes health networks succeed.
Across Victoria, 76 separate health services have long operated independently, each navigating workforce shortages, rising demand, and funding constraints in isolation. The launch of Local Health Service Networks (LHSNs) on 1 July 2025 marks a once-in-a-generation opportunity to shift from fragmentation to connection — building systems that work together, not apart.
But while the policy intent is clear, the real question is:
what separates networks that embrace the care opportunities from those that simply add another layer of fragmentation and inequity?
Learning from Australia’s Health Networks
To support a current network client, NMC met with leaders from 15 health networks across Australia, spanning four States.
These weren’t abstract policy conversations; they were candid discussions with CEOs, executives and management about what actually works, what doesn’t, and why.
Several consistent themes emerged:
- Transparency builds trust. Communities stay on board when change is communicated honestly — as Limestone Coast’s “no reduction to quality access” commitment proved.
- Funding settings shape culture. Albury Wodonga’s cross-border experience revealed how flexible funding and workforce mobility encourage collaboration, not competition.
- Community partnership matters. West Gippsland’s success shows that co-design isn’t consultation — it’s empowerment.
These insights are more than anecdotes, they provide a roadmap for networks now building their first clinical service and workforce plans across Victoria.
Turning Strategy into Practice
In practical terms, our findings indicate the keys to success include predictable governance rhythms, visible clinical pathways, shared workforce banks, and local navigation supports that make care “closer to home”.
These networks prove that success isn’t about structures — it’s about systems that move in rhythm, guided by collaboration, community and commitment.
Why It Matters Now
Victoria’s LHSNs are in their infancy, and the decisions made in these early years will define outcomes for decades. The shift from silos to systems can feel daunting, but the evidence is overwhelmingly hopeful: when communities are partners, when data is shared, and when workforce and governance align, regional health thrives.
Read the Full Report
Health Networks: From Silos to Systems distils lessons from across Australia into actionable insights for Victorian and regional health leaders.
It’s for anyone shaping the future of local healthcare — from executives and planners to clinicians and community partners.
NMC helps regional, rural and metro health services design systems that work — not just on paper, but in the hands of their community.
Together, we can move from silos to systems — building connected, sustainable networks for all Victorians.
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