Nambucca Valley – LGA
Health Needs Assessment 2025 – 2028
Nambucca Valley local government area (LGA)
An overview of the health needs identified by the Nambucca Valley Local Government Area (LGA) community 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
- Nambucca Valley 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 Nambucca Valley LGA
Located in the Mid-North Coast of New South Wales, Nambucca Valley Local Government Area (LGA) is on the Traditional Lands of the Gumbaynggirr Nation. The LGA spans an area of 2,110 square kilometres, stretching from the beautiful coastline along the Pacific Ocean to the lush hinterland and the foothills of the Great Dividing Range. Nambucca Valley neighbours Bellingen, Clarence Valley, and Macleay Valley LGAs.
Although the region faces challenges with recruitment and retention of its healthcare workforce, there is an opportunity to strengthen promotion of healthy ageing strategies and chronic disease prevention and management.
Download Nambucca Valley 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 20,403, 4% of the North Coast population. Projected to increase by 4% by 2031 (5% increase North Coast).
- Population density: 14 residents per km2 (17 per km2 North Coast).
- 8% identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander (6% North Coast).
- 30% aged 65 years or over, projected to increase by 15% by 2031 (18% increase North Coast and 29% NSW).
Nearly 1 in 3 children were assessed as vulnerable in one or more areas of early childhood development.
3 in 5 survey participants found it difficult to access a GP for a child in their care.
Opportunity: Work in partnership to improve education, support, community and peer-based services for children and families.
Fully immunised children rates:
- 92% of 1-year-old children (94% in NSW and Australia)
- 89% of 2-year-old children (92% NSW and Australia)
- 91% of 5-year-old children (94% NSW and Australia)
Opportunity: Understand reasons for low immunisation rates and work with community and healthcare providers on improvement strategies.
- 61% of people aged 65 or over have at least one long-term health condition.
- 3% live with dementia. Expected to increase as the 65 years and over population increases.
- 56% 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. Darrimba Maarra Aboriginal Health Clinic (Durri ACMS) in Nambucca Heads and Bawrunga Medical Services in Nambucca Heads and Macksville provide services to the Aboriginal communities across the LGA and to neighbouring communities.
- 28% of people had an Aboriginal health check in Kempsey – Nambucca 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
- Health screening services
- Women’s health
- Training programs
- Yarning circles
- 93 per 1,000 people need assistance due to age or severe disability (75 per 1,000 North Coast, 58 per 1,000 NSW). Second highest in North Coast.
- 6 per 1,000 people experienced domestic and family violence (NSW 4 per 1,000 people)
- Median total weekly personal income $525 weekly ($652 North Coast, NSW $813).
- Index of Relative Socio-Economic Disadvantage (IRSD) score of 920, indicating greater disadvantage compared to the Australian average (1,000).
Opportunity: Strengthen local support services for vulnerable people in partnerships with community services and healthcare providers.
- 2 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).
There is limited availability of affordable housing. Of the 34 rental properties available:
- 0 were affordable to singles or couples on Jobseeker or Youth Allowance, single person on minimum wage, single or couple on Age Pension
- 5 were affordable by a couple with 2 children on minimum wage and receiving family tax benefits (FTB) A and B
- 1 was affordable by a single with 2 children on minimum wage and receiving family tax benefits (FTB) A and B and Parenting Payment
- 1 was affordable by a couple with 2 children on minimum wage and receiving Parenting Partnered Family Tax Benefits (FTB) A and B.
Adequate access to affordable housing is fundamental to the health and wellbeing of individuals and communities.
- 33% single or lone households (25% NSW) and 3% group homes (4% NSW). Social isolation can increase health risks.
Social isolation can increase health risks.
Key messages
PRIMARY HEALTHCARE NEEDS IN THE LGA
Risks
- Current smoking
- Nambucca Valley LGA – 25%
- 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).
- Nambucca Valley LGA – 24%
- NSW – 18%
- Physical activity (aged 15 years and over, who did not meet 2014 physical activity guidelines).
- Nambucca Valley LGA – 84%
- NSW – 77%
- Inadequate fruit intake
- Nambucca Valley LGA – 60%
- NSW – 55%
- Overweight (not obese)
- Nambucca Valley LGA – 34%
- NSW – 34%
- Obese
- Nambucca Valley LGA – 35%
- NSW – 31%
When you were asked….
What kind of programs would you like more of, to keep you and your community healthy and strong?
- Health screening services
- Exercise and fitness
- Support with daily living / personal care
- Women’s health
- Community health education events
Which do you see as the most serious health concerns in your community?
- Ageing population
- Mental health issues
- Lack of access to health care
- Drug and alcohol use
- Cancer
- Nearly 1 in 4 people have 2 or more chronic conditions.
- The most common chronic conditions are anxiety and osteoarthritis.
Opportunity: Strengthen and enhance preventative health programs to reduce the prevalence and impact of chronic conditions.
Cancer screening participation:
- 41% National Bowel Cancer Screening Program (NSW 40%)
- 57% BreastScreen Australia (NSW 50%)
- 41% National Cervical Screening Program (NSW 46%).
The most diagnosed cancers:
- Urogenital cancer
- Skin cancer
- Respiratory cancer
The cancer with the highest death rate is upper gastrointestinal cancer (39 per 100,000).
Shared experiences with mental health:
- 2 in 10 people needed to access a mental health service but couldn’t
- 4 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
- lack of services
- difficult to organise
- long distance from home
- In Kempsey-Nambucca SA3, rate of suicide deaths 19 per 100,000 population (11 per 100,000 population NSW).
Opportunities: Explore and implement innovative approaches to strengthen prevention, treatment and mental health support programs suited to a rural/regional area. This should include increased education and support for community members and healthcare providers, and access to digital based services.
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.
- Macksville District Hospital has a 28-bed acute inpatient unit and a 24-hour Emergency Department with medical coverage and telehealth capabilities to connect into Coffs Harbour Health Campus’ Emergency Department.
- Community health centres in Nambucca Heads, Bowraville, and Macksville provide various primary and allied health services and education programs.
- 7 general practices
- 22 General Practitioners
- For every full time GP there are 1,111 patients
- 4 pharmacies
- 6 dentists
Opportunity: Continue to work in partnership to support recruitment and retention of the healthcare workforce.
- 55% of ED presentations are for lower urgency care (52 % North Coast, 48% NSW).
- After-hours GP service attendance rate for Kempsey – Nambucca SA3 is 4% (Australia 17%). Access to after-hours GP services remains a challenge and may contribute to higher ED admissions.
Barriers to accessing primary care include:
- Difficulty getting an appointment
- Long wait time for an appointment
- Lack of general practitioners in my area
- Cost
Opportunity: Enhance digital health services and education to improve inclusive access to care, particularly in rural areas.
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 Nambucca Valley 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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