Key strategic objectives in the proposed reform of the South Australian health system include:
· Implementing a population health approach to service planning, funding and delivery; and
· Building promotion, prevention and treatment solutions in partnership that take into account the broader determinants of health and wellbeing.

To achieving these strategic objectives, service provider organisations are required to develop Health Improvements Plans that described an agreed programme of health improvement activities that are intended to reduce health inequalities and address priority population health needs. A population health based approach to service planning has been adopted and a methodology developed to support this process by providing access to information for assessing population health status, which is a key indicator of service demand.

This methodology produces three measures of population health status, including estimated prevalence of risk factors, diagnosed and undiagnosed conditions for different population types. The distribution of these populations can be mapped to indicate areas that are predicted to have a higher likelihood of finding "at-risk" populations. This information is useful in designing early intervention and prevention programmes that are customised to meet the specific needs of those populations considered to be at most risk.