Richmond Valley - LGA

Health Needs Assessment 2025 - 2028

Richmond Valley Local Government Area (LGA)

An overview of the Richmond Valley 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

Richmond Valley-Hastings 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 Richmond Valley LGA

Richmond Valley Local Government Area (LGA) is on the Traditional Lands of the Bundjalung Nation in the Northern Rivers region of NSW. The LGA extends from the coastline at Evans Head, along the floodplains of the Richmond River beyond Casino, and spreads across to the foothills of the Great Dividing Range. It neighbours Kyogle, Lismore, Ballina and Clarence Valley LGAs. Richmond Valley LGA is part of the Northern NSW Local Health District and is part of the Richmond Valley-Hinterland SA3 however has some overlap with Richmond Valley-Coastal SA3.

Agriculture and manufacturing are Richmond Valley LGA’s major industries and employers. In 2025, Richmond Valley LGA continues to rebuild physically and emotionally following the severe flooding events of 2022. Many people lost their homes and or livelihoods – $250 million in production, mostly in agriculture and manufacturing, was lost over the following 2 years.

The area’s demographic structure and geographic location presents specific health challenges, particularly in the areas of service access, healthy aging and chronic disease prevention and management.

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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 of 23,542. Projected to increase by 2% by 2031 (5% increase North Coast).
Population density: 8 residents per km2 (17 per km2 North Coast).
Median age 46 years (47 North Coast, 39 NSW).
7% identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander (6% North Coast).
24% aged 65 years or over, projected to increase by 12% by 2031 (18% increase North Coast and 29% NSW).
Language other than English most spoken at home is Bandjalang (0.3%).

Children and younger people

Nearly 1 in 3 children were assessed as vulnerable in one or more areas of early childhood development.

More than 1 in 2 found it difficult to access a local GP for a child in their care.

Nearly 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)
94% of 2-year-old children (92% NSW and Australia)
98% of 5-year-old children (94% NSW and Australia).

Older people

61% of people aged 65 or over have at least one long-term health condition.
2% population live with dementia (2% NSW and Australia). Nearly 1 in 2 found it difficult to access a specialist doctor for a child in their care.
56% of survey respondents found accessing services for older people difficult. Challenges included a lack of services and difficulty in organising them.

Opportunity: Increase support and education regarding available services for people as they age and for ageing relatives or people in their care.

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. Bulgarr Ngaru Medical Aboriginal Corporation provides services to the Bundjalung, Gumbaynggirr and Yaegl people of Richmond Valley, Clarence Valley, Kyogle and Tweed Heads LGAs. The Richmond Valley Clinic is based in Casino and includes outreach to Box Ridge, Muli Muli, Tabulam and Kyogle.

28% of people had an Aboriginal health check in Richmond Valley – Hinterland SA3. Highest in the region.
23% of people had an Aboriginal health check in Richmond Valley- Coastal SA3
Exercise and fitness

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
Family planning
Women’s health
Men’s health

Social determinants

79 per 1,000 people need assistance due to age or severe disability (75 per 1,000 North Coast, 58 per 1,000 NSW).
8 per 1,000 people experienced domestic and family violence (NSW 4 per 1,000 people). Decreased 14% from 2021.
Median total weekly personal income $578 weekly ($652 North Coast, NSW $813).
Index of Relative Socio-Economic Disadvantage (IRSD) score of 924 indicates a greater disadvantage compared to the Australian average (1,000).

These social determinants influence health outcomes for the communities living in Richmond Valley.

Housing and homelessness

29% single or lone households (25% NSW, 26% Australia) and 3% group homes (4% NSW and Australia).

Social isolation can increase health risks.

2 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).

The 2022 floods impacted 3000 properties and left 450+ homes uninhabitable and 1000+ people displaced. Many continue with insecure housing and in temporary accommodation.

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

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
Women’s health
Training programs (for example: first aid, mental health first aid)

Which do you see as the most serious health concerns in your community?

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

2 in 7 people have 2 or more chronic conditions. The highest presence of 8 different chronic conditions (asthma, chronic kidney disease, renal failure, CHD, stroke, type II diabetes, depression and osteoporosis) in the North Coast region by a substantial amount and is the LGA with the highest presence of chronic conditions.
The most common chronic conditions are:
- anxiety
- osteoarthritis
- asthma.

Opportunity: Strengthen and enhance preventative health programs, strategies, and care teams through partnerships, helping reduce the prevalence and impact of chronic conditions.

Cancer screening participation and diagnosis

Cancer screening participation:

38% National Bowel Cancer Screening Program (NSW 40%)
61% BreastScreen Australia (NSW 50%)
43% National Cervical Screening Program (NSW 46%).

The most diagnosed cancers:

Bowel cancer
Urogenital cancer
Breast cancer.

The cancer with the highest death rate is respiratory cancer (35 per 100,000).

Opportunity: Promote cancer screening activities, partnered with local health promotion units and screening services to educate community on the importance of participating in cancer screening activities.

Mental Health

Shared experiences with mental health:

2 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
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.
The rate of suicide deaths (17 per 100,000 population) in Richmond Valley-Coastal (19 per 100,000 population) and in Richmond Valley-Hinterland are higher than NSW (11 per 100,000 population).

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 Richmond Valley LGA

21 general practices
5 General Practitioners
For every full time GP there are 1,000 patients
18 pharmacies
7 pharmacies
6 dentists.
Casino and District Memorial Hospital is a rural community hospital providing 24-hour emergency care, some inpatient and surgical services including palliative care and some outreach allied health and nursing services.
Community health centres Casino Community Health, Coraki Campbell HealthOne, and Evans Head HealthOne provide various primary and allied health services.

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

The distribution of GPs is unequal in the North Coast region, with the rate of GP full-time equivalents (FTE) in Richmond Valley LGA among the lowest in the North Coast region (1 FTE per 1,000 people).

Access to primary and community health services

62% of ED presentations are for lower urgency care (52 % North Coast, 48% NSW).
After-hours GP use in Richmond Valley – Hinterland SA3 (which includes Richmond Valley LGA) is 11% (Australia 17%).

Barriers to accessing primary care include: