In the Northern Territory, healthcare has never been as simple as building a clinic and opening the doors
With communities spread across vast distances and roads often cut off during the wet, healthcare services need to be flexible, responsive and built around people’s lives.
That’s why the Albanese Labor Government has focused on delivering healthcare that works for the Territory.
I recently visited Medicare Urgent Care Clinics across the Top End with the Member for Solomon Luke Gosling and met with frontline staff and patients.
What we heard was clear.
The clinics are doing exactly what they were designed to do.
People walk in, receive urgent care, and leave without a bill. Families are getting treatment sooner, while emergency departments are seeing less pressure.
It’s why we’re making Medicare Urgent Care Clinics permanent.
More than 100,000 Territorians have accessed care through these clinics - proof that investing in local services works.
And for Territorians going to see a GP, the NT is now the highest bulk-billing state or territory in the country.
Today, nearly nine out of ten GP visits are fully bulk billed, making healthcare more accessible and affordable.
But healthcare is about more than just seeing a doctor. As a pharmacist, I know affordable medicines are just as important.
That’s why we’ve capped the cost of PBS medicines at $25 and $7.70 for concession card holders.
That’s real cost-of-living relief.
We know healthcare in the Territory looks different to healthcare in a major city.
This is especially true for Aboriginal communities, as care close to home means staying on country near family.
That understanding has shaped the delivery of the Territory's nine Medicare Urgent Care Clinics, bringing free urgent care closer to home for communities from Alice Springs to Alyangula and right across the Territory.
At the same time, we’ve invested in upgrading essential health infrastructure, making sure Territory services are equipped to deliver high-quality care.
But buildings and infrastructure alone don't deliver healthcare. People do.
That's why we're investing across the health system to grow the Territory's workforce.
In February, the first students began at Charles Darwin University’s medical school, backed by a $24.6 million investment from the Albanese Government.
By 2030, the school will train 200 students each year.
But healthcare is about more than just physical health.
Mental health is just as important.
One in five Australians experience mental health challenges each year, making access to mental health care just as important.
As Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, I know that support works best when it is close to home.
That’s why Labor is delivering free mental health support across the Territory.
Through Medicare Mental Health Centres and headspace, Territorians can access free support without needing a referral or appointment.
The Darwin Medicare Mental Health Centre alone has already delivered more than 22,500 sessions.
Behind each session is a person - a loved one, friend, colleague or teammate - getting support when they need it.
For many, that early support can be life changing.
This is especially true for new and expectant parents. While welcoming a child is one of life's most joyful moments, it can also bring significant stress and uncertainty.
That's why we've delivered the Territory's first Perinatal Mental Health Centre, giving new and expectant parents access to specialist support when they need it most.
Together, these investments deliver a system of quality care that works for the Territory - through Medicare Urgent Care Clinics, record levels of bulk billing, cheaper medicines, stronger health infrastructure, a growing health workforce, and free mental health support when people need it most.
Because no matter where you live, healthcare should be there when you need it.