Delivering more Medicare Urgent Care Clinics in regional South Australia

The Albanese Government is delivering on its commitment for a further 50 Medicare Urgent Care Clinics, with tender processes underway to identify providers to operate the new Victor Harbor and Whyalla clinics.

A tender process led by the Country South Australia Primary Health Network has commenced to identify providers to operate the new Medicare Urgent Care Clinics in regional South Australia.

This tender process will be open to general practices, community health centres and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services.

The new Victor Harbor and Whyalla Medicare Urgent Care Clinics will be open extended hours, seven days a week, with no appointment needed, and patients will be fully bulk billed.

The clinics are intended to take pressure off the South Coast District Hospital and the Whyalla Hospital.

These two clinics will give more regional Australians access to high quality and free walk-in urgent health care.

Ninety Medicare Urgent Care Clinics have opened across Australia, which have already seen more than 1.8 million presentations since the first sites opened in June 2023, including over 107,000 presentations to South Australian Medicare Urgent Care Clinics.

With around 1 in 4 visits treating a young person under 15, South Australian Medicare Urgent Care Clinics are giving families timely health care and peace of mind.

Quotes attributable to Minister Butler:

“Adding two more Medicare Urgent Care Clinics to regional South Australia will mean more Australians have access to urgent care closer to home.

“These clinics are a cornerstone of the government’s commitment to strengthening Medicare—making healthcare more accessible, more affordable, and easier to navigate for everyone.

“All South Australians need to visit one of the Medicare Urgent Care Clincs is their Medicare card, not their credit card.”

Quotes attributable to Senator Grogan:

“Communities need to access healthcare close to home and close to work, regardless of whether they are in a big city or in our regions.

“Ensuring Whyalla and Victor Harbor have access to free, quality healthcare is fundamental to supporting the sustainability of these regional precincts.”

Quotes attributable to Senator Walker:

“Growing up on the Fleurieu, it wasn’t always easy to get the urgent care needed. The Albanese Government’s commitment to deliver a Medicare Urgent Care Clinic will be life changing for the local communities around Victor Harbor and Whyalla.

“The clinic will fill a critical gap so people can get the urgent health care they need fully bulk billed and closer to home.”