Lismore – LGA
Health Needs Assessment 2025 – 2028
Lismore local government area (LGA)
An overview of the Lismore Local Government Area (LGA) health needs is provided. The Health Needs Assessment (HNA) process utilised a comprehensive, mixed-methods approach to collect and analyse data on the health and service needs of the North Coast region.
Key Information
- Lismore LGA – Factsheet
- Key messages – Demographics and Social Determinants
- Key messages – Primary Healthcare in the region
- Explore more LGAs in the North Coast, NSW – View menu
Health Needs Lismore LGA
Located in the Northern Rivers region of NSW, Lismore Local Government Area (LGA) is on the Traditional Lands of the Bundjalung Nation. Lismore LGA is part of the Northern NSW Local Health District and Richmond Valley – Hinterland SA3. Its diverse landscape includes mountains, world heritage-listed rainforests and fertile flood plains making for productive agricultural and tourist industries.
Lismore LGA shares boundaries with 5 other LGAs – Kyogle, Tweed, Byron, Ballina and Richmond Valley. It is the health, services and education hub for the LGA and surrounding LGAs. Lismore is one of the 4 regional cities in the North Coast region.
As of 2025, the Lismore area continues to rebuild physically and emotionally following the severe flooding events of 2022. The strength and resilience exemplified by the communities within the Lismore LGA are a remarkable asset, demonstrating the ability to prepare and recover from environmental disasters.
Note, in many instances data is not available for periods after the 2022 floods. The impact of these events must be considered when looking at health status, housing, economy/employment and life of the Lismore communities.
Download Lismore HNA Factsheet
Footnote: throughout this document ‘survey’ refers to the 2024 Better Health Community survey undertaken as part of the Health Needs Assessment 2025-28 consultation process
Key messages
DEMOGRAPHICS AND SOCIAL DETERMINANTS
- Population 44,334, 8% of the North Coast population. Projected to increase by 3% by 2031 (5% increase North Coast).
- Population density: 34 residents per km2 (17 per km2 North Coast).
- 6% identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander (6% North Coast).
- In the 2021 census, 2 in 10 people were aged 65 years or older. This is expected to increase by 22 (18% increase North Coast and 29% NSW).
- Nearly 1 in 4 children in Lismore LGA were assessed as vulnerable in one or more areas of early childhood development.
Fully immunised children rates:
- 90% of 1-year-old children (94% in NSW and Australia)
- 85% of 2-year-old children (92% NSW and Australia)
- 93% of 5-year-old children (94% NSW and Australia)
Opportunity: Work in partnership to understand reasons for low immunisation rates and work with community and healthcare providers on improvement strategies. Continue to partner to improve education, support, community and peer-based services for children and families.
- 57% of people aged 65 or over have at least one long-term health condition.
- 2% live with dementia. Expected to increase as the 65 years and over population increases.
- 59% of survey respondents found accessing services for older people difficult. Challenges included a lack of services and difficulty in organising them.
Did you know: Care finders is a free service. It exists to support vulnerable people who have no one else who can support them to learn about, apply for and set up support services. Learn more about Care Finders
Opportunity: Increase support and education regarding available services for people as they age and for ageing relatives or people in their care.
Healthy North Coast works in partnerships with Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations to improve health outcomes for Aboriginal peoples, families and communities. Rekindling the Spirit provides a number of culturally safe and appropriate health and wellbeing programs for Aboriginal communities in the Lismore LGA. These include allied health services, general practice, maternal and child health, women’s and men’s groups, youth programs and social and emotional wellbeing support.
- 28% of people had an Aboriginal health check in Richmond Valley Hinterland SA3. (Highest in the North Coast).
Connection to country and culture is key for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander peoples social and emotional wellbeing. Programs that Aboriginal peoples identified to help keep Aboriginal communities healthy and strong:
- Exercise and fitness
- Women’s health
- Support with daily living / personal care
- Employment programs
- Community health education events
- 71 per 1,000 people need assistance due to age or severe disability (75 per 1,000 North Coast, 58 per 1,000 NSW). Highest in North Coast.
- 1 per 200 residents experienced domestic and family violence. Decreased 12% from 2021.
- Median total weekly personal income $685 ($652 North Coast, NSW $813).
- Index of Relative Socio-Economic Disadvantage (IRSD) score of 966. Indicates greater disadvantage compared to the Australian average (1,000).
- Adequate access to affordable housing is fundamental to the health and wellbeing of individuals and communities. There is limited availability of affordable housing in the Lismore LGA. Of the 67 rental properties available in the Lismore area:
- none were affordable to singles or couples on Jobseeker or Youth Allowance
- 8 were affordable by a couple with 2 children on minimum wage and receiving family tax benefits (FTB) A and B
- 2 were affordable by a single person on minimum wage
- 3 were affordable by a couple on Age Pension
- 2 were affordable by a single person on Age Pension
- 5 in 1000 people experience homelessness (4 in 1000 in North Coast and NSW, 9 in 1000 in Australia).
- 5 in 1000 people at risk of homelessness (4 in 1000 in North Coast, NSW and 7 in 1000 in Australia).
- More than two years on from the 2022 floods, as of September 2024 approximately 830 people remained in emergency and temporary accommodation sites. Further numbers of those displaced, homeless or experiencing flood-related housing insecurity are not currently known. 24% of survey respondents expressed concern about climate change, highlighting its growing impact on community resilience and housing stability.
Opportunity: Partner with community organisations and government departments to successfully plan for, respond to and recover from environmental disasters.
Key messages
PRIMARY HEALTHCARE NEEDS IN THE LGA
Risks
- Current smoking
- Lismore LGA – 18%
- NSW – 12%
- Alcohol consumption (estimated number of persons aged 15 years and over who consumed 5 or more standard alcoholic drinks on any day in the last 12 months at least monthly).
- Lismore LGA – 20%
- NSW – 18%
- Physical activity (aged 15 years and over, who did not meet 2014 physical activity guidelines).
- Lismore LGA – 80%
- NSW – 77%
- Inadequate fruit intake
- Lismore LGA – 58%
- NSW – 55%
- Overweight (not obese)
- Lismore LGA – 34%
- NSW – 34%
- Obese
- Lismore LGA – 39%
- NSW – 31%
When you were asked….
What kind of programs would you like more of, to keep you and your community healthy and strong?
- Exercise and fitness
- Health screening services
- Women’s health
- Support with daily living / personal care
- Community health education events
Which do you see as the most serious health concerns in your community?
- Mental health issues
- Lack of access to health care
- Ageing population
- Drug and alcohol use
- Lack of dental care
- More than 1 in 5 people have 2 or more chronic conditions.
- The most common chronic conditions are anxiety and osteoarthritis.
Opportunity: Strengthen preventive health programs, including cancer screening initiatives. Enhance support for populations with additional vulnerabilities, including people experiencing homelessness and people with disabilities.
Cancer screening participation:
- 38% National Bowel Cancer Screening Program (NSW 40%)
- 56% BreastScreen Australia (NSW 50%)
- 41% National Cervical Screening Program (NSW 46%).
The most diagnosed cancers:
- Skin cancer
- Urogenital cancer
- Respiratory cancer
The cancer with the highest death rate is respiratory cancer (45 per 100,000).
Shared experiences with mental health:
- 1 in 10 people needed to access a mental health service but couldn’t
- 6 in 10 people reported mental health as one of the most serious health concerns in the community
- 6 in 10 found it difficult to access a psychologist, counsellor or social worker.
- The top challenges to access mental health services:
- cost
- difficult to organise
- lack of services
- In Richmond Valley-Hinterland SA3, rate of suicide deaths 1 in 5,000 people (11 per 100,000 population NSW).
- Over 1 in 5 people in the Northern NSW local health district (LHD) area, experience high or very high levels of psychological distress.
- 1 in 10 residents in Richmond Valley-Hinterland SA3, accessed GP mental health services.
- 1 in 50 people accessed primary mental health care commissioned services, with more than half of services delivered face-to-face. People who lost homes and businesses and those who have been displaced for longer than 6 months as a result of the 2022 floods have a higher risk of experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Did you know: Medicare Mental Health Centres can help you access the local mental health services and supports that are right for you. No referral needed, access by phoning 1800 595 212 or visit the website.
- 10 general practices
- 59 general practitioners (GPs)
- For every GP (full time) there are 833 people
- 13 pharmacies
- 27 dentists
- Lismore Community Health based at Lismore Base Hospital offers a range of nursing and allied health services.
- Lismore Base Hospital provides a range of services including emergency care, surgery and specialised treatments.
- After-hours GP attendances rate in Richmond Valley-Hinterland SA3 is 5% (Australia 17%). Access to after-hours GP services remains a challenge and may contribute to higher ED admissions.
- More than 1 in 2 people found it difficult to see a GP when they needed.
- Nearly 1 in 5 people who needed to see a specialist could not see one.
Barriers to accessing primary care include:
- Long wait time for an appointment
- Cost
- Difficulty getting an appointment
Opportunity: Enhance digital health services and education to improve inclusive access to care, particularly in rural areas. Continue to work in partnership to support recruitment and retention of the healthcare workforce.
Did you know: If you need medical advice and care, call Healthdirect for free, 24/7 on 1800 022 222 and speak to a registered nurse.
HNC commissions a range of community-based services to address local health needs. These include:
- Aboriginal health
- Alcohol & Other Drugs
- Mental Health
- Youth specific
- Integrated Team Care
View more information about the services available in Lismore LGA.
About the North Coast Health Needs Assessment Map
The North Coast Local Government Area (LGA) Health Needs Assessment map identifies our 12 LGAs. The map can be used to navigate to specific LGA findings within our region.
The health needs assessment helps the Primary Health Network (PHN):
• Understand the health status and needs of local communities
• Identify existing services and where gaps may exist
Engage with community members and service providers
• The 2024 assessment informs decisions for the 2025–2028 planning cycle, guiding how HNC and partners commission services that respond to local needs.
To explore data findings, LGA factsheets, and key messages for a specific LGA, you can either click on the region in the hotspot map or scroll down to select your preferred LGA from the list.
Explore more: North Coast LGA Factsheets and information
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