Role
The Distribution Working Group (DWG) provides us and the Minister for Health and Aged Care with independent advice on:
- policies, programs, and tools that aim to distribute the Australian medical workforce in an equitable way – these include:
- health-related geographical classification systems such as Distribution Priority Areas (DPA) and GP catchment methodologies
- guidelines that contribute to distribution, such as the section 19AB legislative guidelines
- applications to change an area’s DPA classification
- other relevant issues that we or the minister identify.
A new DWG was formed in June 2023.
Previous DWGs met between 2017 and 2022. See their archived terms of reference.
Terms of reference
For more detail about the DWG’s roles and responsibilities, see the current terms of reference.
Members
The Assistant Secretary of our Distribution Branch chairs the group. It consists of 2 independent advisors and representatives from the:
- Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine
- Australian Medical Association
- Council of Presidents of Medical Colleges
- Lowitija Institute
- National Rural Health Alliance
- National Rural Health Commissioner
- Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators
- Royal Australian College of General Practitioners
- Rural Doctors Association of Australia
- Consumers Health Forum of Australia.
A Distribution Technical Advisory Group (DTAG) supports the DWG by providing more technical advice on:
- medical workforce distribution tools
- the methodology for determining distribution decisions
- policy options to improve access to doctors.
Meetings
The DWG aims to meet 3 times a year or as required.
Exceptional circumstances reviews and outcomes
The DWG:
- reviews requests to change an area’s DPA classification
- makes recommendations to the minister.
See how to request a review of a DPA classification.
We publish the outcomes of reviews and upload any changes into the Health Workforce Locator.
The most recent outcomes include:
State/territory |
GP catchment |
DPA status outcome |
Outcome summary |
---|---|---|---|
NSW |
Penrith |
Not Granted |
The DPA classification of Penrith was considered by the Distribution Working Group (DWG) in June 2023. The following factors were considered:
It is recommended DPA status is not granted as the catchment does not meet the requirements for exceptional circumstances. |
QLD |
Jimboomba |
Not Granted |
The DPA classification of Jimboomba was considered by the Distribution Working Group (DWG) in June 2023. The following factors were considered:
It is recommended DPA status is not granted as the catchment does not meet the requirements for exceptional circumstances. |
QLD |
Nambour |
Not Granted |
The DPA classification of Nambour was considered by the Distribution Working Group (DWG) in June 2023. The following factors were considered:
It is recommended DPA status is not granted as the catchment does not meet the requirements for exceptional circumstances. |
SA |
Salisbury |
Not Granted |
The DPA classification of Salisbury was considered by the Distribution Working Group (DWG) in June 2023. The following factors were considered:
It is recommended DPA status is not granted as the catchment does not meet the requirements for exceptional circumstances. |
VIC |
Casey-South |
Not Granted |
The DPA classification of Casey-South was considered by the Distribution Working Group (DWG) in June 2023. The following factors were considered:
It is recommended DPA status is not granted as the catchment does not meet the requirements for exceptional circumstances. |
VIC |
Lilydale-Yarra Valley |
Not Granted |
The DPA status of Lilydale-Yarra Valley was considered by the DWG in December 2022. The following factors were considered:
A change of DPA status is not supported as the catchment is well serviced in terms of GP access. |
VIC |
Mill Park-Epping |
Not Granted |
The DPA classification of Mill Park-Epping was considered by the Distribution Working Group (DWG) in June 2023. The following factors were considered:
It is recommended DPA status is not granted as the catchment does not meet the requirements for exceptional circumstances. |
VIC |
Pakenham |
Not Granted |
The DPA classification of Pakenham was considered by the Distribution Working Group (DWG) in June 2023. The following factors were considered:
It is recommended DPA status is not granted as the catchment does not meet the requirements for exceptional circumstances. |
WA |
Armadale |
Not Granted |
The DPA classification of Armadale was considered by the Distribution Working Group (DWG) in June 2023. The following factors were considered:
It is recommended DPA status is not granted as the catchment does not meet the requirements for exceptional circumstances. |
WA |
Gosnells |
Not Granted |
The DPA classification of Gosnells was considered by the Distribution Working Group (DWG) in June 2023. The following factors were considered:
It is recommended DPA status is not granted as the catchment does not meet the requirements for exceptional circumstances. |
WA |
Joondalup |
Not Granted |
The DPA classification of Joondalup was considered by the Distribution Working Group (DWG) in June 2023. The following factors were considered:
It is recommended DPA status is not granted as the catchment does not meet the requirements for exceptional circumstances. |
WA |
Swan |
Not Granted |
The DPA classification of Swan was considered by the Distribution Working Group (DWG) in June 2023. The following factors were considered:
It is recommended DPA status is not granted as the catchment does not meet the requirements for exceptional circumstances. |
See previous exceptional circumstances reviews and outcomes.
Contact
To contact us with general enquiries about the committee you can use our online form.