The WCMICS region

WCMICS works collaboratively with our partner health services to promote coordinated service planning, system integration, and improvement of cancer services across 10 local government areas (LGAs).

  • Melton
  • Brimbank
  • Wyndham
  • Moonee Valley
  • Maribyrong
  • Hobsons Bay
  • Melbourne
  • Yarra​​
  • Hume
  • Merri-Bek

Nearly 20% of Victoria’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population live in the Western and Central Melbourne LGAs. These LGAs include the lands of the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung, Bunurong/Boonwurrung, and Wathaurong/Wadawurrung people, who are the traditional custodians.

The region is densely populated, with approximately 25% of the Victorian population living within its boundaries, and it contains the top 3 growth areas in Victoria (Melton, Wyndham, and Melbourne).

Cancer in our region

Cancer is a leading cause of disease burden across Melbourne’s Western and Central region. The most common cancers for patients living in the WCMICS LGAs are skin (melanoma and non-melanoma), prostate, breast, lung and colorectal.

On average, WCMICS member health services treat patients with a new cancer diagnosis who are younger (by approximately 2 years) than those in the rest of Victoria. Around 55% of cancer patients seen in WCMICS hospitals were male.

Around 17% the state’s cancer-related admissions are to a WCMICS hospital.