New data reveals lifespans by suburb

Fancy a long life? New data has revealed the Geelong suburbs with the highest and lowest median ages of death — and the startling gap between the best and worst. SEARCH YOUR SUBURB

New data has revealed the Geelong suburbs with the highest and lowest median ages of death — and the startling gap between the best and worst.

According to new data released by the Public Health Information Development Unit (PHIDU) at Torrens University, the lifespan of regional Victorians varies by 21 years depending on the suburb a person lives in, with pockets of Geelong boasting some of the longest median lifespans.

In regional Victoria, Grovedale had the second highest median age of death at 86 years, while the combined Bellarine Peninsula suburbs of Ocean Grove, Barwon Heads and Queenscliff came in third with a median age of death of 85.

Residents in Melbourne’s Ashburton topped the state for life expectancy with a median age of death of 89 years, while Yackandandah locals had the highest median in regional Victoria at 86.5 years.

Corio-Norlane residents had the lowest median lifespan in the Geelong region, with a median age at death of 75.

The figures also detailed potential years of life lost due to premature death.

Some Geelong suburbs were among the lowest scores for potential years of life lost due to premature death, compared to the national average, in regional Victoria.

Lower scores indicate fewer years of life lost before the age of 75.

Some Geelong suburbs fared well in this category compared to the national figures, with Highton/Newtown 38 per cent below the average and Leopold 34 per cent below.

Grovedale, Barwon Heads, Ocean Grove and Queenscliff are high on the list for life expectancy. Elderly participants of the Bellarine Community Health Social Support Program from left: John Dowling, Cass Perry, Ian Little and Norm Wild playing bocce to stay active. Picture: Glenn Ferguson

The data also revealed Victorian women live longer on average compared to their male counterparts, with the lifespan of females in regional Victorian six years longer compared to males.

Ocean Grove resident Norman Wild, who is aged in his early 80s, said there was plenty of ways for older people to stay active on the coast and that he cycles, does weights and walks every day to stay active.

Fellow Ocean Grove resident John Dowling, who is a participant of the Bellarine Community Health Social Support Program, said he worked in his garden each day, as well as doing housework and going out with mates.

The support program provides a wide range of activities to help elderly people maintain meaningful activities, enjoy social contact and participate in their community.

Professor John Glover from PHIDU highlighted that population health areas are not all the same, with various factors influencing residents’ lifespan.

This means there can be no ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach when analysing the data.

“Variations in the median age at death between suburbs are impacted by many factors including socio-economic disadvantage, as influenced by unemployment, education, housing and income,” Prof Glover said.

“Events like road traffic accidents among young people lower the median age, and the location of residential aged care facilities raise the median age.

“Regardless of variations between areas, I expect the data will place those areas with lower lifespans under the spotlight, and hope that social and health policymakers, agencies and providers will be informed by these data, investigate the causes and further consider the needs of people in these areas.”

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Originally published as New data reveals lifespans by suburb