Tweed - LGA

Health Needs Assessment 2025 - 2028

Tweed Local Government Area (LGA)

An overview of the Tweed 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

Tweed LGA – Factsheet
Key messages – Demographics and Social Determinants
Key messages – Primary Healthcare in the region
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Health Needs Assessment Tweed LGA

Tweed Local Government Area (LGA), located in the Northern Rivers region of NSW on the Traditional Lands of the Bundjalung Nation, is part of the Tweed Valley SA3 region and the Northern NSW Local Health District. It borders Byron, Lismore, Kyogle LGAs, and Queensland. The LGA features diverse landscapes, including World Heritage-listed Gondwana rainforests, wetlands, estuaries, and national parks, which are culturally, environmentally, and scenically significant.

Tweed’s natural beauty and proximity to the Gold Coast Airport make it a popular tourist destination. Major industries include hospitality, trade, and healthcare sectors. The region’s location on the Queensland border offers both opportunities and challenges, particularly in managing health aging and chronic disease prevention.

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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 97,386, 18% of the North Coast population. This is the largest population on the North Coast and is projected to increase by 6% by 2031 (compared to 5% increase North Coast).
Population density: 74 residents per km2 (17 per km2 North Coast).
Median age 47 years (47 North Coast, 39 NSW).
4% identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander (6% North Coast).
27% aged 65 years or over, projected to increase by 27% by 2031 (18% increase North Coast and 29% increase NSW).
5% of the population is born in non-English speaking countries (1% North Coast, 19% NSW, 16% Australia).

Children and younger people

Just over 1 in 5 children were assessed as vulnerable in one or more areas of early childhood development.

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

Fully immunised children rates:

88% of 1-year-old children (94% in NSW and Australia)
86% of 2-year-old children (92% NSW and Australia)
90% 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

58% of people aged 65 or over have at least one long-term health condition.
3% population live with dementia (2% NSW and Australia). Expected to increase as the 65 years and over population increases.
47% 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 operates Bugalwena General Practice in Tweed Heads South and provides services to Aboriginal communities in the Tweed LGA.

22% of people had an Aboriginal health check in Tweed Valley 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
Support with daily living / personal care
Art and cultural programs
Training programs
Health screening services

Social determinants

74 per 1,000 people need assistance due to age or severe disability (75 per 1,000 North Coast, 58 per 1,000 NSW).
3 per 1,000 residents people experienced domestic and family violence (NSW 4 per 1,000).
Median total personal income $658 ($652 North Coast, NSW $813).
Index of Relative Socio-Economic Disadvantage (IRSD) score of 989. Indicates a slightly greater disadvantage compared to the Australian average (1,000).

Opportunity: Improve support for people facing homelessness and domestic violence by integrating services and strengthening partnerships with providers.

Housing and homelessness

Tweed LGA has limited availability of affordable housing. Of the 132 rental properties available:
- 0 properties affordable to singles or couples on minimum wage or receiving benefits or
  pensions.

Adequate access to affordable housing is fundamental to the health and wellbeing of individuals and communities.

The 2022 floods affected areas within the Tweed LGA and damaged over 2,100 resulting in 1,600 residents displaced. Current numbers of those displaced, homeless or experiencing flood-related housing insecurity are not known.

5 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).

Opportunity: Enhance support by integrating services for individuals experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity.

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
Health screening services
Women’s health
Support with daily living/personal care

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

Ageing population
Mental health
Drug and alcohol use
Lack of access to healthcare services.

Nearly 1 in 5 people have 1 or more 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:

40% National Bowel Cancer Screening Program (NSW 40%)
53% BreastScreen Australia (NSW 50%)
47% National Cervical Screening Program (NSW 46%).

The most diagnosed cancers:

Urogenital cancer
Skin cancer
Breast cancer.

The cancers with the highest death rate are respiratory and upper gastrointestinal (both 25 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:

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
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
- difficulty organising appointments.

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.

In Tweed Valley SA3, the rate of suicide deaths (18 per 100,000 people). The rate is nearly double the rate of NSW (11 per 100,000 population).
Over 1 every 5 people in the Northern NSW LHD area experience high or very high levels of psychological distress.
Just over 1 in 10 residents in Tweed Valley SA3, accessed GP mental health services.

Opportunity: Strengthen preventive health programs and partnerships with community organisations to plan for, respond to, and support community mental health and recover from environmental disasters.

Healthcare in Tweed LGA

21 general practices
126 general practitioners
For every full time GP there are 909 people
25 pharmacies
83 dental practitioners.
Tweed Valley Hospital received a $723.3 million redevelopment to better serve the growing Tweed-Byron community. The expansion increases capacity and adds additional services, with the aim to address issues such as lower urgency emergency department presentations and gaps in specialised care.
Murwillumbah District Hospital is a community hospital providing emergency care and a range of medical, nursing and surgical services.
Community health centres such as Banora Point Child and Family Health, Kingscliff Community Health, Murwillumbah Community Health, Pottsville HealthOne, and Tweed Heads Community Health offer a range of primary and allied health services.
Tweed LGA faces unique challenges to accessing healthcare due to the differing healthcare systems between New South Wales and Queensland, with residents often accessing services across the border, which can lead to confusion and delays. The movement of residents between states also strains both healthcare systems, making it difficult to accurately assess access to care and manage the overall demand.

Access to primary and community health services

51% of survey respondents found it difficult to access a GP when they needed.
40% of ED presentations are for lower urgency care (52 % North Coast, 48% NSW).
After-hours GP use in Tweed Valley SA3 is 11% (Australia 17%).

Barriers to accessing primary care include: