Port Macquarie-Hastings - LGA

Health Needs Assessment 2025 - 2028

Port Macquarie-Hastings Local Government Area (LGA)

An overview of the health needs identified by the Port Macquarie Hastings 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

Port Macquarie-Hastings a 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 Port Macquarie Hastings LGA

The Port Macquarie-Hastings Local Government Area (LGA), located on the mid-north coast of New South Wales, lies on the traditional lands of the Birpai Nation. Covering 3,686 square kilometres, it stretches west from the Hastings and Camden Haven River mouths to the Great Dividing Range. The LGA is part of the Mid North Coast Local Health District and the Port Macquarie SA3, and borders Kempsey to the north, Walcha to the west, and Mid-Coast to the south.

A rapidly growing region, Port Macquarie-Hastings faces unique healthcare challenges and opportunities in meeting the needs of its expanding population.

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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 86,368, 16% of the North Coast population. Projected to increase by 6% by 2031 (5% increase North Coast).
Population density: 24 residents per km2 (17 per km2 North Coast).
Median age 49 years (47 North Coast, 39 NSW).
5% identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander (6% North Coast).
29% aged 65 years or over, projected to increase by 16% by 2031 (18% increase North Coast and 29% NSW).

Children and younger people

1 in 4 children were assessed as vulnerable in one or more areas of early childhood development.

Fully immunised children rates:

96% of 1-year-old children (94% in NSW and Australia)
91% of 2-year-old children (92% NSW and Australia)
97% of 5-year-old children (94% NSW and Australia).

Older people

70% of people aged 65 or over have at least one long-term health condition.
3% population live with dementia (2% NSW and Australia). Higher than NSW and Australia, with the ageing population, this number is expected to grow.
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

Aboriginal health and wellbeing

Healthy North Coast works in partnerships with Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations to improve health outcomes for Aboriginal peoples, families and communities. The Werin Aboriginal Corporation Medical Centre is located in Port Macquarie, providing comprehensive primary health care services to the local Aboriginal community.

25% of people had an Aboriginal health check in Port Macquarie – SA3.

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
Yarning circles
Community health education events
Men’s health

Social determinants

83 per 1,000 people need assistance due to age or severe disability (75 per 1,000 North Coast, 58 per 1,000 NSW).
5 per 1,000 people experienced domestic and family violence (NSW 4 per 1,000 people)
Median total weekly personal income $647 weekly ($652 North Coast, NSW $813).
Index of Relative Socio-Economic Disadvantage (IRSD) score of 985. Indicates a disadvantage compared to the Australian average (1,000).

Housing and homelessness

29% single or lone households (25% NSW, 26% Australia) and 3% group homes (4% NSW and Australia).
3 in 1000 people experience homelessness (4 in 1000 in North Coast and NSW, 9 in 1000 in Australia).
3 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 in the Port Macquarie-Hastings LGA. Of 164 rental properties:

0 were affordable for singles or couples on Jobseeker or Youth Allowance, or for those on the Age Pension.
12 were affordable for a couple with two children on minimum wage and Family Tax Benefits.
1 was affordable for specific single-parent and couple scenarios with minimum wage and family benefits.

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?

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?

Ageing population
Mental health issues
Lack of access to health care
Drug and alcohol use
Cancer

More than 1 in 5 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 improve early intervention and prevention for chronic disease.

Cancer screening participation and diagnosis

Cancer screening participation:

43% National Bowel Cancer Screening Program (NSW 40%)
62% BreastScreen Australia (NSW 50%)
48% National Cervical Screening Program (NSW 46%).

The most diagnosed cancers:

Urogenital cancer
Skin cancer
Breast cancer.

The cancer with the highest death rate is respiratory cancer (30 per 100,000).

Mental Health

Shared experiences with mental health:

1 in 10 people needed to access a mental health service but couldn’t
5 in 10 people reported mental health as one of the most serious health concerns in the community
7 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 Port Macquarie SA3 rate of suicide deaths 17 per 100,000 population (11 per 100,000 population NSW).
Nearly 2 in 10 people in the Mid North Coast LHD area experience high or very high levels of psychological distress.
8 per 1,000 people accessed primary mental health care commissioned services. More than half of the services were delivered face-to-face.

Opportunities: Explore and implement innovative approaches to strengthen prevention, treatment and mental health support programs suited to a rural/regional area.

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 Port Macquarie-Hastings LGA

23 general practices
143 General Practitioners
For every full time GP there are 667 patients
28 pharmacies
72 dental practitioners.
The Port Macquarie Base Hospital has a 24-hour Emergency Department and specialist services such as intensive care, cardiology, oncology, renal dialysis, and more.
Wauchope District Memorial Hospital offers rehabilitation, palliative care, and an urgent care centre.
Local Community Health centres, including Port Macquarie, Camden Haven HealthOne, and Wauchope, provide a range of primary and allied health services.

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

Access to primary and community health services

52% of ED presentations are for lower urgency care (52 % North Coast, 48% NSW).
After-hours GP use in Port Macquarie SA3, which includes Port Macquarie-Hastings LGA, is 8% (Australia 17%).
52% of survey respondents found it difficult to see a GP when they needed.

Barriers to accessing primary care include: