Kyogle - LGA

Health Needs Assessment 2025 - 2028

Kyogle Local Government Area (LGA)

An overview of the Kyogle 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

Kyogle 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 Assessment Kyogle LGA

Kyogle Local Government Area (LGA), located in the Northern Rivers region of NSW, sits on the Traditional Lands of the Bundjalung Nation. It is part of the Northern NSW Local Health District and the Richmond Valley-Hinterland SA3. Covering 3,589 square kilometres, Kyogle LGA borders Tweed, Lismore, Richmond Valley, Clarence Valley, and Tenterfield. The area includes state forests, national parks, rural living, and farming regions.

The 2017 and 2022 floods, along with the 2019/2020 bushfires, severely affected local communities. Kyogle also faces significant healthcare access challenges due to a shortage of practitioners and its remote location. The LGA is working to build community resilience in preparation for future extreme weather events and more frequent environmental disasters.

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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

Demographics

Population 9,359, 2% of the North Coast population. Projected to increase by 2% by 2031 (5% increase North Coast).
Population density: 3 residents per km2 (17 per km2 North Coast).
6% identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander (6% North Coast).
26% aged 65 years or over, projected to increase by 25% by 2031 (18% increase North Coast and 29% NSW).

Children and younger people

1 in 3 children were assessed as vulnerable in one or more areas of early childhood development.
2 in 5 survey participants found it difficult to access a GP for a child in their care.
More than 1 in 2 found it difficult to access a specialist doctor 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:

94% of 1-year-old children (94% in NSW and Australia)
80% of 2-year-old children (92% NSW and Australia)
85% 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.

Older people

49% 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.
40% 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

Aboriginal health and wellbeing

Healthy North Coast works in partnership with Aboriginal Medical Services across the region to improve health outcomes for Aboriginal peoples. In Kyogle LGA, Bulgarr Ngaru Medical Aboriginal Corporation and Rekindling the Spirit provide services to the Aboriginal communities in Kyogle.

These partnerships focus on culturally appropriate care, chronic disease management, and addressing social determinants of health.

28% of people had an Aboriginal health check in Richmond Valley Hinterland SA3. (Highest in the North Coast).

Opportunity: There is currently limited information available regarding Aboriginal peoples in Kyogle, which has made it challenging to fully understand the needs and cultural context. Healthy North Coast has committed to conducting an Aboriginal deep dive to better understand the needs of the Aboriginal communities in the region. This aims to increase understanding and support future planning.

Social determinants

75 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.
Median total weekly personal income $520 weekly ($652 North Coast, NSW $813).
3 per 1,000 people experienced domestic and family violence (NSW 4 per 1,000 people)
Less than 1% of people report very low proficiency in English (5% NSW).
71% survey respondents indicated housing availability as a concern in the community. Adequate access to affordable housing is fundamental to the health and wellbeing of individuals and communities.
Index of Relative Socio-Economic Disadvantage (IRSD) of 921. Out of the 12 LGAs in the North Coast region, Kyogle is placed tenth out of the twelve LGAs, indicating that people living in the Kyogle LGA face greater levels of disadvantage when compared to some of the other LGAs in the North Coast region.

Housing and Homelessness

2 in 1000 people experience homelessness (4 in 1000 in North Coast and NSW, 9 in 1000 in Australia).
4 in 1000 people at risk of homelessness (4 in 1000 in North Coast, NSW and 7 in 1000 in Australia).
32% 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

Preventative health and chronic disease

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 preventative health programs, and provide education opportunities in partnership with LHDs and community organisations to ensure early intervention and prevention for chronic disease.

Cancer screening participation and diagnosis

Cancer screening participation:

38% National Bowel Cancer Screening Program (NSW 40%)
61% BreastScreen Australia (NSW 50%)
51% National Cervical Screening Program (NSW 46%).

The most diagnosed cancers:

Urogenital cancer
Respiratory cancer
Skin cancer.

The cancer with the highest death rate is respiratory cancer (54 per 100,000).

Mental Health

Shared experiences with mental health:

Nearly 5 in 10 people needed to access a mental health service but couldn’t
Over 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
- long distance from home
- lack of services.
In Richmond Valley-Hinterland SA3, rate of suicide deaths 20 per 100,000 population (11 per 100,000 population NSW).
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).
Over 1 every 5 people in the Northern NSW LHD area, experience high or very high levels of psychological distress.
1 in 5 Richmond Valley – Hinterland SA3 residents accessed GP mental health.

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.

Healthcare in Kyogle LGA

2 general practices
6 General practitioners
For every full time GP there are 1,429 patients
3 Pharmacists
3 pharmacies
3 dental practitioners.
Kyogle Multi-Purpose Service and Bonalbo Multi-Purpose Service are both rural community facilities combining health, aged care and emergency services.
Kyogle Community Health, Bonalbo Community Health and Urbenville Community Health (Tenterfield LGA) provide a range of nursing, allied and health education services.

The distribution of GPs in the North Coast region is uneven, with Kyogle having one of the lowest FTE rates. The area is vulnerable to workforce changes, and community feedback highlights difficulties in booking GP appointments and limited access to after-hours services.

These issues likely contribute to higher rates of preventable hospitalisations and emergency department visits for lower urgency conditions.

Opportunity: Continue to work in partnership to support recruitment and retention of the healthcare workforce.

Access to primary and community health services

74% of ED presentations are for lower urgency care (52 % North Coast, 48% NSW).
After-hours GP service attendance rate for Richmond Valley-Hinterland SA3 is 5% (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. 48% of survey participants found it difficult to see a GP.
16% of people needed to see a medical specialist but could not (2% North Coast).

Opportunity: Explore and implement innovative approaches to strengthen prevention programs and service access suited to a rural area. This should include increased education and support for community members and healthcare providers to access digital based services.

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.

Commissioned services in Kyogle LGA

HNC commissions a range of community-based services to address local health needs.

These include: