Who are our health providers?

Our health workforce

Health professionals in our region

General practitioners (GPs) are considered the cornerstone of health care in the primary health care setting. A large number and range of other health professionals and services support GPs in providing primary health care services in our region. 

Where are they?

There is substantial variation in the primary health care workforce across our region. In general there are lower numbers of clinicians in rural areas, for example there are low numbers of GPs in Uralla, Walcha, Liverpool Plains and Dungog as shown in the table below. Some clinician groups are also poorly represented in metropolitan or urban parts of the region, when compared to NSW as a whole.

 * Source: Health Workforce Australia 2014

Aboriginal Medical Services

Aboriginal Medical Services are found in the following locations in our region (click on name to visit the organisation's website, if available):

• Pat Dixon Medical Centre, Armidale (not currently operational)
• Tobwabba Aboriginal Medical Service, Forster
• Armajun Aboriginal Health Service, Inverell & Glen Innes
• Pius X Aboriginal Corporation, Moree
• Awabakal Newcastle Aboriginal Cooperative, Newcastle
• Walhallow Aboriginal Corporation, Quirindi
• Tamworth Aboriginal Medical Service, Tamworth
• Biripi Aboriginal Corporation, Taree (2 locations)
• Yerin Aboriginal Health Services, Wyong

Workforce matters

Workforce is a key component of health planning. It is impacted locally by the national and state economies, as well as by regional and local plans and developments. Challenges facing the primary health care workforce include:

• Ageing workforce
• Changing hours of work for younger GPs
• Reliance on international medical graduates in areas of shortage
• Impact on small hospitals where GPs often provide VMO (visiting medical officer) and procedural services.

More information

More information about this and other population health topics is available on our Resources page. 

Links to other information from a number of our key data sources can be found on the Other information about health in our region page.

For any other information or enquiries please contact the Health Planning and Performance Team by email: healthplanning@hneccphn.com.au