Committees and groups

Distribution Working Group

The Distribution Working Group (DWG) provides us with independent expert advice on policies and programs that aim to improve access to medical services.

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:
  • exceptional circumstance review 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 Workforce Distribution Branch chairs the group. It consists of 1 independent advisor and representatives from the:

  • Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine
  • Australian Medical Association
  • 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/TerritoryGP catchmentDPA status outcomeOutcome summary
NSWCampbelltownNot Granted 

The DPA classification of Campbelltown (NSW) was considered by the Distribution Working Group (DWG) in September 2025. The following factors were considered: 

  • Assessment against current DPA benchmark and health service data indicate high levels of GP service in this catchment
  • The catchment experienced moderate levels of population growth over the 4 years to 2023-24, with a projected average annual population growth comparable to the national average
  • GP FTE per 1,000 residents is well above the national average   
  • The catchment experiences moderate-high levels of socio-economic disadvantage (which is considered as part of the DPA update and is reflected in the catchment’s benchmark levels). 

The Minister has not granted DPA status for this GP catchment. The catchment is not considered to meet the requirements for exceptional circumstances. 

NSW Mount Druitt  Not Granted

The DPA classification of Mount Druitt (NSW) was considered by the Distribution Working Group (DWG) in September 2025. The following factors were considered: 

  • Assessment against current DPA benchmark and health service data indicate very high levels of GP service in this catchment
  • The catchment experienced low levels of population growth over the 4 years to 2023-24, with a projected average annual population growth well below the national average
  • GP FTE per 1,000 residents is well above the national average   
  • The catchment experiences high levels of socio-economic disadvantage (which is considered as part of the DPA update and is reflected in the catchment’s benchmark levels). 

The Minister has not granted DPA status for this GP catchment. The catchment is not considered to meet the requirements for exceptional circumstances. 

VICLilydale-Yarra Valley Not Granted 

The DPA classification of Lilydale-Yarra Valley (VIC) was considered by the Distribution Working Group (DWG) in September 2025. The following factors were considered: 

  • Assessment against current DPA benchmark and health service data indicate high levels of GP service in this catchment
  • The catchment experienced low levels of population growth over the 4 years to 2023-24, with a projected average annual population growth well below the national average
  • GP FTE per 1,000 residents is slightly below the national average and consistent with community demographic needs
  • The catchment experiences low levels of socio-economic disadvantage (which is considered as part of the DPA update and is reflected in the catchment’s benchmark levels). 

The Minister has not granted DPA status for this GP catchment. The catchment is not considered to meet the requirements for exceptional circumstances.

VICMill Park-Epping Not Granted

The DPA classification of Mill Park-Epping (VIC) was considered by the Distribution Working Group (DWG) in September 2025. The following factors were considered: 

  • Assessment against current DPA benchmark and health service data indicate above average levels of GP service in this catchment
  • The catchment experienced moderate levels of population growth over the 4 years to 2023-24, with a projected average annual population growth slightly above the national average
  • GP FTE per 1,000 residents is slightly below the national average
  • The catchment experiences moderate levels of socio-economic disadvantage (which is considered as part of the DPA update and is reflected in the catchment’s benchmark levels). 

The Minister has not granted DPA status for this GP catchment. The catchment is not considered to meet the requirements for exceptional circumstances.

VICTullamarine-Broadmeadows Not Granted

The DPA classification of Tullamarine-Broadmeadows (VIC) was considered by the Distribution Working Group (DWG) in September 2025. The following factors were considered: 

  • Assessment against current DPA benchmark and health service data indicate above average levels of GP service in this catchment
  • The catchment experienced moderate levels of population growth over the 4 years to 2023-24. Projected average annual population growth is above the national average but consistent with the capital city average
  • GP FTE per 1,000 residents is slightly below the national average
  • The catchment experiences high levels of socio-economic disadvantage (which is considered as part of the DPA update and is reflected in the catchment’s benchmark levels). 

The Minister has not granted DPA status for this GP catchment. The catchment is not considered to 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.

Distribution Working Group secretariat

DWG members, Rural Workforce Agencies (RWAs) and Public Health Networks can use this email to contact the secretariat.
DistributionWorkingGroup@health.gov.au
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