Topics

Primary care

Primary care is health care people seek first in their community, such as GPs, pharmacies and allied health professionals. Discover how primary care is funded and our plan to strengthen it. Learn about after-hours care and why pharmacy care is more than medicines.

About primary care

Discover what primary care is and why it's so important for you, your family and our health system.

What we're doing

Find out how we're improving primary care through innovative new programs, strengthening Medicare and more.  

After-hours care

We fund after-hours care – for when treatment just can't wait but it's not serious enough for hospital.

Pharmacy care

Pharmacies sell medicines but they also provide a range of useful services you may not know about.

View all primary care information

Latest news

Latest news

Heart Health

National Cabinet Statement on a better future for the federation

See the below statement, released following the conclusion of National Cabinet on Friday 28 April 2023.

Release of the National Rural and Remote Nursing Generalist Framework 2023–2027

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Primary Health Networks

Australia’s 31 Primary Health Networks (PHNs) are independent organisations working to streamline health services – particularly for those at risk of poor health outcomes – and to better coordinate care so people receive the right care, in the right place, at the right time.

Learn more

healthdirect hotline

1800 022 222

Call this number to speak to a registered nurse about your health concerns. The hotline is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO)

NACCHO provides advice and guidance to the Australian Government on policy and budget matters. It also advocates for community-developed health solutions that improve quality of life and improved health for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Find out more

Latest resources

Latest resources

Evaluation of the Wound Management Pilot – Final Evaluation Report

Report
To improve implementation of evidence-based, best practice wound care, the Australian Government invested $2 million from 2019-2021 for the Wounds Management Pilot, designing and testing models through Primary Health Networks. The Nous Group Evaluation reports on the outcomes of the pilot.

Primary Health Network Program Annual Performance Report 2020-21

Report
The 2020-21 report looks at the performance and outcome of the PHN Program. The performance indicators measure each PHNs' progress towards achieving the results for the PHN Program.

PBS approved suppliers portal – How to submit an application to relocate (without a change of ownership) an approved pharmacy

Procedure
This guide provides instructions on how to navigate the PBS Approved Suppliers Portal, complete the online application form and submit an application to relocate (without change of ownership) an approved pharmacy to supply pharmaceutical benefits at particular premises.

Allied Health Industry Reference Group – Summary of outcomes – 14 March 2023

Meeting minutes
This publication provides key information from the fifth meeting of the Allied Health Industry Reference Group. This includes major topics that were covered, points of discussion, and actions that the Department has agreed to.
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