By Alesha Capone
Werribee residents have the longest life expectancy of all Wyndham’s suburbs, while Hoppers Crossing north and Truganina residents have the lowest, according to new research.
The Public Health Information Development Unit (PHIDU) at Torrens University has collated the median age of death in all of Australia’s suburbs and towns, from between 2014 and 2018.
Within suburban Melbourne, Ashburton – which is located in the south-east – recorded the highest median age, at 89 years old.
Melbourne, where the CBD includes a high homeless population, recorded the lowest median age of 59 years.
Within Wyndham, Werribee recorded a median life expectancy of 80 years.
Mount Cottrell, which is shared between the Wyndham and Melton municipalities, had a median life expectancy of 76 years.
Laverton, which falls between both the Wyndham and Hobsons Bay municipalities, recorded a median life expectancy of 75 years.
Hoppers Crossing south and Werribee South were not far behind, with a median life expectancy of 74 years.
Wyndham Vale’s median life expectancy was 73 years, Point Cook 71 years and Tarneit 70.5 years.
In contrast, Hoppers Crossing north and Truganina had a median life expectancy of just 68 years.
Across the wider western suburbs, Footscray had a median life expectancy of 83 years.
Altona and Altona Meadows’ median life expectancy was 82 years, Williamstown 80 years, Caroline Springs 77.5 years and Melton 76 years.
In December, a new research facility was officially opened at HeartWest in Hoppers Crossing.
Run by researchers and clinicians from Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, the centre is trialling a variety of disease management programs to reduce rates of diabetes, obesity and heart disease in the west.
According to a statement from the centre, more people are dying of heart attacks in Melbourne’s west than anywhere else in the metropolitan area.
Wyndham also has one of the highest rates of diabetes in the state and 35 per cent of the municipality’s population are classified as obese.
Baker Institute Director Tom Marwick said the primary goal of the new Clinical Trial and Research Centre was to find better ways to help residents live healthier, longer lives.
“We want to harness new technology and the brain power of our clinicians and researchers to prevent disease or complications before people end up in hospital,” Professor Marwick said.
