SA Health Guide to Planning

The Department of Health and Wellbeing supports the delivery of  health services to the South Australian population both now and into the future.

These services are designed to improve health outcomes that matter to consumers.

A strategic, innovative, evidence-informed and collaborative approach to improving or developing health services, is required to achieve this aim.

The SA Health Planning Framework 2021 (PDF 657KB) has been developed as a resource to strengthen and align the process of planning across the system and define the governance, roles and responsibilities in planning.

The SA Health Planning Framework 2021 was developed from strategic directions identified in the SA Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2020 — 2025 (PDF 3.83MB), the guiding document to position the SA Health system for the future health needs of the South Australian population.

The SA Health Guide to Planning (PDF 503KB) supports the SA Health Planning Framework 2021, by exploring in greater detail the following:

  • why we plan
  • the planning environment
  • the core components of the SA Health planning approach
  • factors which should be considered when undertaking health system or health service planning
  • the connection between planning, commissioning, workforce and infrastructure planning.

The Guide provides a framework for health service planning in SA. It will support SA Health planners, service providers and system partners in planning for public sector health services.

The Guide is not intended to provide a step-by step manual on how to plan, and should be read in conjunction with the SA Health Planning Framework 2021.