Gippsland PHN has released its June 2026 Tell Gippsland PHN update, providing a snapshot of the region’s health system strengths and challenges, and opportunities to improve health and wellbeing care.
What’s working well
Drawing on feedback from community members, health professionals and advisory groups, the update highlights positive developments across the region including increased use of online health services, strong demand for mobile women’s health clinics and the launch of the Health on Wheels outreach service supporting people experiencing homelessness.
Other developments include the introduction of new workforce roles, strong engagement between primary care and Local Health Service Networks, and the use of innovative tools such as AI scribes to reduce administrative burden for clinicians.
What we heard about system pressures
- There are opportunities to improve mental health and alcohol and other drug services – particularly pathways for people with dual diagnosis
- Growing demand exists for mental health support for children and young people, alongside workforce shortages
- People are experiencing challenges accessing affordable GP services in some rural and remote areas, with allied health and podiatry workforce shortages impacting service availability also
- There are increasing social and economic pressures affecting health care access in the region including homelessness, transport barriers and rising living costs
- Health system challenges include gap fees limiting access to specialist services, the need for improved coordination between providers, and pressure on local hospitals
Gippsland PHN uses these insights to respond through targeted initiatives and partnerships, and makes several recommendations in the update to improve care outcomes in the region:
- Strengthening service models and access by co-locating mental health and alcohol and other drug services with emergency departments; expanding primary care capacity for people with complex, intersecting needs; and supporting increased awareness of bulk billing GP options
- Investing in workforce capability and sustainability through supporting a salaried nurse practitioner model; upskilling GPs, nurses and allied health providers – especially in child and youth mental health; and implementing workforce attraction and retention strategies
- Improving access and inclusion for priority communities through outreach, walk-in clinics, and low or no-cost services
- Embedding lived experience perspectives into new models of care through co-design and incorporating personal stories into health messaging
- Enhancing emergency preparedness including support for community hubs
Tell Gippsland PHN plays an important role in capturing local insights and identifying opportunities for improvement, helping to guide future health care planning and investment across the region.
For more information, access the Tell Gippsland PHN June 2026 update here.
Gippsland PHN welcomes insights and feedback from the community, people with lived experience and health professionals. Tell us about your health and wellbeing ideas and experiences by completing this survey and help shape a measurably healthier Gippsland.
