According to Prof Helen Keleher, head of Monash University's Department of Health Science a healthy community may help people change. Whilst we know that somewhere like Caroline Springs has got a really lovely environment - they've actually created that - we don't know how that affects people's health, she said.

Greater Dandenong scored one of the poorest on the report card. It had the highest percentage of people eating no vegetables each day, with the lowest rates of people seeking mental health help and women having pap smears. Prof Keleher explained that communities made up of financially disadvantaged residents with diverse ethnic mixes scored lower in health and wellbeing questions. The last figures I saw on Dandenong showed their population was born in 156 different countries -- that is amazingCompared with Queenscliff or Torquay, it's easy to deliver prevention service through community health and GPs to a pretty much monocultural, Anglo population, she said. More studies to assess the connection was needed she said.

Country residents have scored much higher rates of health and wellbeing than city dwellers the report adds. Victorian Health Minister Daniel Andrews said survey results were released to local councils during the week to help develop public health and lifestyle programs. We want Victorians eating better and exercising more so we will use this information to develop new public health programs to prevent chronic disease and support a healthy, active society, Mr Andrews said. The Victorian Population Health Survey will be undertaken at a local government level every three years, with the next survey beginning in early 2011.