The 2022-23 Budget provides a range of measures to support primary health care, with a focus on implementing activities to deliver on Australia’s Primary Health Care 10 Year Plan.
An additional investment of $632.8 million in this Budget brings the total investment in the Primary Health Care 10 Year Plan to $1.7 billion.
There are a range of measures being implemented including:
- $32.9 million in mental health support for Australians impacted by natural disaster and other emergency responses
- $512 million for making universal telehealth permanent
- extension of after-hours funding
- strengthening suicide prevention activities, including a commitment to fund a Suicide Prevention Regional Response Leader in each PHN nationally
- $4.2 million to support headspace centres in regional, rural and remote areas to attract and employ GPs
- additional funding to purchase more Japanese encephalitis vaccines
- $384.4 million for a range of COVID-19 related primary care measures
- $7.5 million over three years to strengthen palliative care and end-of-life care service pathways
- $137.6 million for targeted measures to support women and girls who have experienced violence and/or sexual violence.
Click here for more details on key Budget 2022-23 health initiatives.