Current status

Firstly, we would like to sincerely thank community members, local service providers and health professionals for their time, insights and commitment to our Primary Care Resilience Initiative. Your active involvement, ideas and feedback shared through surveys, interviews and workshops have helped ensure the proposed Service System Recovery Plan model is practical, responsive and grounded in the needs of the Batlow and Tumbarumba communities. Here’s a re-cap and summary of where we are now and what the next steps will be. 

The opportunity 

The General Practice Incentive Fund (GPIF) is a grant opportunity available to Primary Health Networks from the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing (the Department). The GPIF provides funding to enable the design and implementation of healthcare services in communities where primary care services are experiencing instability and are at risk of failure. 

Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network (MPHN), in partnership with Murrumbidgee Local Health District (MLHD), has applied for funding through the GPIF to support improved primary care services in Batlow. Batlow was identified as a community with growing health needs and limited access to primary health care services. 

What we heard 

To inform our application to the Department, during February and March 2026 we conducted a survey for community members and service providers, facilitated one-on-one interviews with healthcare professionals, and held one face to face local workshop (co-design and validation). Through these conversations, we heard that the main priorities for Batlow are: 

  • Limited GP availability – There is one GP practice in Batlow, which operates face to face three days a week. 

  • Attracting and retaining a healthcare workforce in Batlow – There is an ongoing challenge attracting and retaining General Practitioners (GPs), nurses and allied health professionals to Batlow. However, there are practices in neighbouring towns with available workforce that could help supplement access to existing GP services in Batlow, including Nurse Practitioners and GP Registrars. 

  • Limited infrastructure for health facilities – There is currently limited access in Batlow to appropriate infrastructure that provides space for visiting health professionals or new primary health care services. 

  • Limited digital access, update and connectivity – While telehealth offers some solutions, digital options are not always embraced, accessible or offer reliable connectivity for parts of the Batlow community. 

We heard that the main priorities for Tumbarumba are: 

  • Attracting and retaining General Practitioners (GPs) in Tumbarumba – There have been consistent challenges recruiting and retaining GPs in Tumbarumba. One of the major barriers has been the lack of suitable accommodation available in town. 

  • Providing community health services – While there are services available, it was noted that there is limited awareness, often because these services aren’t promoted or well-coordinated. It was suggested that there’s an opportunity to improve services and access, including via telehealth. 

  • Supporting the development of the local workforce – It was also noted that there are local health care professionals and there may be an opportunity to invest in further professional development. 

What we proposed in our application 

To address these priorities for Batlow, we have proposed a model to the Department which includes: 

  1. Supplementing existing GP services with a Nurse Practitioner and service navigation support – Supplementing existing GP services with a Nurse Practitioner model to expand access and service scope, supported by a Service Navigator role to help patients access appropriate care, including telehealth. 

  2. Providing a fit-for-purpose facility supported by telehealth – Establishing a local service access point through internal fit-out of space within the Bush Chemist Batlow to support multidisciplinary and visiting services, including telehealth-enabled consultations. 

  3. Evaluating the model – Allocating funding for independent evaluation to assess implementation, outcomes and sustainability, and to inform potential application of the model in other communities. 

Our proposed model for Tumbarumba included:

  1. Community Health Hub and Service Navigation – Strengthen utilisation of the Roth’s Corner Medical Centre as a Community Health Hub, including upgraded clinical and technology infrastructure, service navigation support, and coordination of visiting and telehealth-enabled health services. 

  2. Local workforce development – Investing in upskilling the local workforce, including supporting local nurses to upskill to Nurse Practitioners. 

  3. Attracting a new GP workforce to Tumbarumba – Implementing a targeted recruitment approach, including short-term accommodation support, local marketing, and a community-led “Welcome to Tumba” initiative to support attraction and retention. 

  4. Evaluating the model – Funding independent evaluation to assess implementation, outcomes and sustainability, and inform potential application in other communities. 

Where to from here? 

The application has been submitted to the Department of Health, Disability, and Ageing. If successful, we will reach out to the Batlow and Tumbarumba communities to establish local Reference Groups to oversee and advise on implementation. We will endeavour to keep communications ongoing as we await the outcome from the Department.

Please reach out to Andrew Heap, Andrew.Heap@mphn.org.au or Alison Jansen, Alison.Jansen@mphn.org.au if you have any further questions.