Request a review of a DPA classification

About the DPA classification

We use health workforce classification systems to help improve access to medical services in areas experiencing health workforce shortages.

The DPA classification system does this by:

identifying areas experiencing general practitioner (GP) service shortages
directing location-restricted doctors to these areas.

For example, to be eligible for Medicare, international medical graduates who want to work in Australia as a GP must work in practices located in a DPA.

When you can request a review

Medical practices can request a review of their catchment's DPA classification if:

there are exceptional circumstances affecting access to GP services across their GP catchment
the last annual DPA update did not consider these circumstances.

If approved, practices in that GP catchment can access several workforce programs until the next scheduled DPA update. This includes programs that support access to a broader pool of doctors to recruit from, such as:

Who can request a review

GP practices must consult with their local Rural Workforce Agency (RWA) about the situation in their catchment. The RWA can then apply for a review on behalf of the practice for their GP catchment. We will not accept applications received directly from practices or individuals.

To Be eligible for a DPA review, the practice must be in a Modified Monash (MM) Model MM 1 outer-metropolitan location.

MM 1 inner-metropolitan locations are not eligible for DPA status. MM 2 to 7 areas are automatically DPA.

Check your area’s geographical classification on the Health Workforce Locator map.

How we consider review requests

When we receive a request from an RWA, we do an initial assessment. This assessment considers:

information provided by the applicant practice (or practices)
information from the RWA on the workforce situation in the catchment
information from the Primary Health Network (if provided)
GP service and health workforce distribution data
Australian Bureau of Statistics population and demographic data.

We make a recommendation to the minister, who decides the outcome of the review.

We advise the RWA of the outcome, who will then advise the practice (or practices).

Exceptional circumstances framework

The below principles will be considered when the catchment meets the requirements listed at when you can request a review.

Changes to health services, workforce, or health system

When major unexpected changes to the health workforce have led to a substantial decrease in health services to the community.

This may include:

changes in service arrangements
doctors retiring without a replacement
hospital or other practice closures.

Patient demographics or changes

When areas have a patient demographic that:

has had an unexpected sharp increase in numbers, resulting in the catchment being underserviced
needs specialised services.

The review process also considers changes in a catchment's:

socio-economic status
proportion of senior people
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population.

Absence of services

When areas have:

demonstrated difficulties in recruiting or retaining doctors
difficulties that are measurably worse than similar communities.

Outcomes of reviews

We publish review outcomes, including a summary of the assessment, to ensure transparency.

We update the Health Workforce Locator map every year to incorporate these changes.

State/territory	GP catchment	DPA status outcome	Outcome summary
NSW	Penrith	Not Granted	The DPA classification of Penrith NSW was considered by the department in February 2026. The following factors were considered: assessment against current DPA benchmark and health service data indicates high levels of GP service in this catchment the catchment experienced moderate-high levels of population growth over the 4 years to 2024-25, however the 10-year average population growth in the catchment is lower than the national average growth (as at 2021-22) GP FTE per 1,000 residents is above the national average the catchment experiences low levels of socio‑economic disadvantage (which is considered as part of the DPA update and is reflected within the catchment’s benchmark levels). The Minister has not granted DPA status for this GP catchment. The catchment is not considered to meet the requirements for exceptional circumstances.
NSW	Rouse Hill – McGraths Hill	Not Granted	The DPA classification of Rouse Hill – McGraths Hill NSW was considered by the department in February 2026. The following factors were considered: assessment against current DPA benchmark and health service data indicate very high levels of GP service in this catchment the catchment experienced high levels of population growth over the 4 years to 2024-25, with a 10-year projected average annual population growth well above the national average (as at 2021-22) GP FTE per 1,000 residents is below the national average the catchment experiences low levels of socio‑economic disadvantage (which is considered as part of the DPA update and is reflected within the catchment’s benchmark levels). The Minister has not granted DPA status for this GP catchment. The catchment is not considered to meet the requirements for exceptional circumstances.
NSW	St Marys	Not Granted	The DPA classification of St Marys NSW was considered by the department in February 2026. The following factors were considered: assessment against current DPA benchmark and health service data indicate high levels of GP service in this catchment the catchment experienced moderate levels of population growth over the 4 years to 2024-25, however the 10-year average population growth in the catchment is lower than the national average growth (as at 2021-22) GP FTE per 1,000 residents is above the national average the catchment experiences higher levels of socio‑economic disadvantage (which is considered as part of the DPA update and is reflected within the catchment’s benchmark levels). The Minister has not granted DPA status for this GP catchment. The catchment is not considered to meet the requirements for exceptional circumstances.
QLD	Beenleigh	Not Granted	The DPA classification of Beenleigh QLD was considered by the department in February 2026. The following factors were considered: assessment against current DPA benchmark and health service data indicate high levels of GP service in this catchment the catchment experienced high levels of population growth over the 4 years to 2024-25, with a 10-year projected average annual population growth above the national average (as at 2021-22) GP FTE per 1,000 residents is above the national average the catchment experiences high levels of socio‑economic disadvantage (which is considered as part of the DPA update and is reflected within the catchment’s benchmark levels). The Minister has not granted DPA status for this GP catchment. The catchment is not considered to meet the requirements for exceptional circumstances.
QLD	Browns Plains	Not Granted	The DPA classification of Browns Plains QLD was considered by the department in February 2026. The following factors were considered: assessment against current DPA benchmark and health service data indicate above average levels of GP service in this catchment the catchment experienced high levels of population growth over the 4 years to 2024-25, with a 10-year projected average annual population growth above the national average (as at 2021-22) GP FTE per 1,000 residents is below the national average the catchment experiences high levels of socio‑economic disadvantage (which is considered as part of the DPA update and is reflected within the catchment’s benchmark levels). The Minister has not granted DPA status for this GP catchment. The catchment is not considered to meet the requirements for exceptional circumstances.
QLD	Nambour	Not Granted	The DPA classification of Nambour QLD was considered by the department in February 2026. The following factors were considered: assessment against current DPA benchmark and health service data indicate above average levels of GP service in this catchment the catchment experienced moderate levels of population growth over the 4 years to 2024-25, with a 10-year projected average annual population growth slightly above the national average (as at 2021-22) GP FTE per 1,000 residents is below the national average the catchment experiences low levels of socio‑economic disadvantage (which is considered as part of the DPA update and is reflected within the catchment’s benchmark levels). The Minister has not granted DPA status for this GP catchment. The catchment is not considered to meet the requirements for exceptional circumstances.
QLD	Strathpine	Not Granted	The DPA classification of Strathpine QLD was considered by the department in February 2026. The following factors were considered: assessment against current DPA benchmark and health service data indicate high levels of GP service in this catchment the catchment experienced moderate levels of population growth over the 4 years to 2024-25, however the 10-year average population growth in the catchment is slightly lower than the national average growth (as at 2021-22) GP FTE per 1,000 residents is above the national average the catchment experiences moderate levels of socio‑economic disadvantage (which is considered as part of the DPA update and is reflected within the catchment’s benchmark levels). The Minister has not granted DPA status for this GP catchment. The catchment is not considered to meet the requirements for exceptional circumstances.
SA	Salisbury	Not Granted	The DPA classification of Salisbury SA was considered by the department in February 2026. The following factors were considered: assessment against current DPA benchmark and health service data indicate moderate levels of GP service in this catchment the catchment experienced moderate levels of population growth over the 4 years to 2024-25, however the 10-year average population growth in the catchment is lower than the national average growth (as at 2021-22) GP FTE per 1,000 residents is similar to the national average the catchment experiences high levels of socio‑economic disadvantage (which is considered as part of the DPA update and is reflected within the catchment’s benchmark levels). The Minister has not granted DPA status for this GP catchment. The catchment is not considered to meet the requirements for exceptional circumstances.