Community
12 December, 2025
Record patient numbers for WRAD
RECENT figures have shown that more people are turning to WRAD Health for their healthcare needs, with a 12 per cent increase in patient numbers in 2024-25.
WRAD Health saw 17,528 patient consults for the financial year, presenting with a range of health issues.
The service also completed more than 800 episodes of care for people presenting with alcohol and other drug concerns.
CEO Mark Powell and chair Helen Taylor told the WRAD Health annual meeting that demand for services, including bulk-billed general practice care, was continuing to grow.
They said people attended WRAD Health for a wide range of health issues, including chronic diseases such as mental illness, cardiovascular, respiratory, substance use and diabetes.
“While WRAD Health is a co-located medical service with alcohol and other drug support, substance use is not a high reason for consulting our doctors,” they added.
“Our GP practice remained vital in supporting complex needs. As a bulk-billing practice, WRAD Health provides an accessible service for a large number of people on concession cards.”
In terms of mental illness, depression was by far the most common issue, followed by anxiety.
In AOD services, alcohol remained the main of substance of concern with up to 57 per cent of people listing it as their primary drug of concern.
This was followed by methamphetamines and cannabis.
Nearly 40 per cent of people presenting with AOD issues also had co-morbid mental health concerns.
Clients identifying as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islanders ranged from six to 13 per cent per month.
More women than men attend the service, with most coming from the Warrnambool region.
WRAD Health expanded its outreach programs during the year to spread services further across south-west Victoria.
Mr Powell and Ms Taylor said healthcare was a human right.
“Distance, poverty or stigma shouldn’t deny anyone the right to healthcare,” they said.
WRAD Health finished the financial year with a $237,332 surplus, boosted by the growth of fee-for-service income which increased by $138,332.
