Primary care delivery and funding
Primary care funding is broad and diverse. It involves:
- federal, state and territory governments
- private health insurance
- accident compensation schemes
- payments by consumers.
The Australian Government has the main role in funding primary care.
Primary care can be provided in many ways, but it's often delivered by small private businesses such as GP clinics, pharmacies and allied health businesses. It may also be coordinated by Primary Health Networks (PHNs).
Ensuring people in rural and remote areas have access to primary care can be challenging. To address these challenges, we fund workforce programs to encourage primary care workers in these areas. Learn more about the rural health workforce.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander primary care
We fund health providers to deliver culturally appropriate primary care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This includes Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHS).
You can find more information about ACCHS on the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation website, including a map to help search for an ACCHS near you.
Learn more about primary care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Primary care data and statistics
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) collects and publishes data on primary care. See the AIHW primary health care overview.
Other primary care research
We fund the Primary Health Care Research initiative under the Medical Research Future Fund, which will provide $100 million over 10 years from 2022–23. Our focus is to support research projects that make access to high-quality primary care fairer.
Learn more about what we’re doing about primary care.