Medicare Locals Boundaries Review

The national network of 61 Medicare Locals are a key component of the National Health Reform agenda, which provide better health services and a strong local focus for Australia’s health system.

The review of Medicare Local boundaries undertaken in early 2011 took into account several factors including alignment with Local Hospital Networks (LHNs), natural population catchment areas, configuration of health services and patient referral patterns between services.

The review also took into account the level of support for the previous boundaries with the review being completed in consultation with state and territory governments. Additionally, around 70 submissions were taken into account as a part of this review.

The revised boundaries include additional Medicare Locals in New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia, as follows:

north eastern Sydney and northern Sydney in New South Wales by splitting the Northern Sydney Medicare Local;
Macedon Ranges & North Western Melbourne and South Western Melbourne by splitting the Western Melbourne Medicare Local;
Goulburn Valley Medicare Local by splitting the Hume Medicare Local;
Kimberley-Pilbara and Goldfields-Midwest areas of Western Australia by splitting the Country North Medicare Local; and
Rockingham-Kwinana- Peel and Bentley-Armadale by splitting South Metro Medicare Local in Western Australia.

Subsequently, the catchment areas for the Hunter Urban Medicare Local and the Hunter Rural Medicare Local were combined to form the Hunter Medicare Local.

Medicare Local online Map Locator

The Department has developed standardised information accessible to all Medicare Locals. The information includes Medicare Local Profile reports; information on social determinants of health, significant areas of disadvantage and some MBS item and GP workforce data.