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.

Strengthening Medicare reforms

We are committed to improving primary health care for all Australians. The 2023–24 Budget provided a historic $6.1 billion investment to lay the foundations for a stronger Medicare.

Learn more

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.

Find out more

Stay up to date

Subscribe to Health updates for primary care

Subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date with the latest primary care information and news.

Previous newsletters

View previous issues of the Health updates for primary care.

healthdirect helpline

1800 022 222

Call this number to speak to a registered nurse about your health concerns. It can help if you're not sure if you should see a doctor or manage your condition at home. The healthdirect helpline 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

Resources

Resources

PCEP Final Report – Infographic

The Primary Care Enhancement Program (PCEP) infographic presents a summary of the evaluation outcomes of the PCEP between July 2022 and June 2024 across 4 pilot Primary Health Networks

PCEP Final Report – Executive Summary – Easy Read

Easy Read translation of the Executive Summary of the Primary Care Enhancement Program (PCEP) final report. This presents the key findings of the PCEP between July 2022 and January 2024 across 4 pilot Primary Health Networks (PHNs).