HEALTH-2025

FAR SOUTH COAST

DON’T LET OUR COMMUNITIES BE ‘GP DESERTS’

With equal funding, we can have the best access &

quality of GP & other primary care in Australia

For over 40 years, FSC communities have been short-changed by successive governments on fair access and funding for healthcare.

The $80 million per year funding deficit has led to higher death rates, prolonged periods of illness & increased suffering.

The FSC is not asking for more funding per person, we are asking for the same funding as city populations.

The THPA represents the whole community and has no political affiliations.

We demand that all Eden Monaro and Gilmore candidates commit to urgent action to:

fix the lack of access to healthcare in the FSC, particularly medical care delivered by GPs
ensure access to GPs for urgent care on the same day & within two days for routine care
guarantee equality in per person healthcare funding compared to city populations
to fix the current financing system which significantly disadvantages rural communities

2025 FEDERAL ELECTION - ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Core THPA Health System Principles:

Fair access to government healthcare funding
Community-focused, patient-centred care
Prioritize local service delivery by local providers

Demands for 2025 Federal election candidates in Eden-Monaro and Gilmore:

Fix the 40-year history of neglect by all political parties when in government to the lack of access to and funding for healthcare in the FSC.
Guarantee equality in healthcare funding in FSC communities compared to city populations on a per person basis.
Achieve equality in healthcare funding by fixing the current healthcare financing system which has significantly disadvantaged rural communities for 40 years.
Fix the maldistribution of GP workforce by focussing the initial additional funding on increased access to medical care in each township delivered by teams of local GPs and associated primary care providers.

Specific Commitments from Candidates If Elected to Government:

The first budget post-election to fully fund the annual funding shortfall identified in the “2022 National Rural Health Alliance NOUS REPORT” estimated by THPA in 2025 to be $1,000 per person in the Far South Coast (adjusted for inflation and population).
To achieve similar access to general practice and primary care as a city population
To deliver a new type of GP service specifically designed for the needs of Far South Coast communities including GP and primary care provider team arrangements.
To have a community and patient centred approach by supporting decision making at the local community, GP and other health provider level.
To remove bureaucratic inefficiencies allowing GPs and other primary care providers to focus on patient care.
Reduce GP waiting times to “same day” for urgent care and “within 2 days” for routine care for all patients.
To eliminate the very large delayed and unmet need for medical care (THPA estimate up to 200,000+ consultations per year).
Remove patient cost as a barrier for first point of contact GP care.

REFERENCE LINKS:

Evidence base for additional investment in rural health in Australia, June 2023. National Rural Health Alliance website,

Grattan Institute analysis of the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare data and reported in The Conversation highlights the serious lack of access to GPs in rural areas, referring to the “GP desert” impacting access to GP care when needed.

Too many Australians miss out on essential medical care every year. Here’s how to fix ‘GP deserts’, The Conversation, 27 January 2025

Medicare-subsidised GP, allied health and specialist health care across local areas: 2022-23

Best and worst suburbs for retirees revealed - realestate.com.au The Daily Telegraph, 10 January 2025

How will your information be used? Once the THPA healthcare campaign has finished, the THPA will ask if you want us to retain your email address and any other contact information for ongoing engagement and information sharing. Your contact details will remain confidential. The THPA will publicly refer to the total number of individuals and community organisations who have added their support to the healthcare campaign. No individual, community organisation or personal details will be shared with third parties without consent.