Take part in shaping sustainable healthcare in Batlow and Tumbarumba

Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network (MPHN) has secured funding through the General Practice Incentive Fund (GPIF) Thin Markets grant to support the development of a Service System Recovery Plan (SSRP) for the Tumbarumba and Batlow communities.

This project, funded by the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing (DHDA), was initiated due to the challenges in attracting and retaining health professionals in rural communities across the region.

MPHN has engaged Scyne Advisory to support the co-design of the SSRP. The plan will be used by MPHN to seek funding from DHDA under the Thin Markets Grants Program to implement a new model to address service shortages in Batlow and Tumbarumba.

We are seeking input from a broad range of community members, service providers, and system partners to explore alternative service models and identify practical solutions to improve access to primary health care in both communities.

This survey relates to primary care services in the region. Primary care includes:

General practice
Nursing services in general practice
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander primary health care services
Allied health services (e.g. physiotherapy, psychology, podiatry, occupational therapy, diabetes, social work, chronic disease support etc)
Mental health services delivered in primary care settings
Alcohol and other drug treatment services
Community health services
Preventive health services (e.g. immunisation, screening, health checks)
After‑hours and urgent primary care services
Maternal and child health services
Care coordination and integrated care services
Telehealth services delivered by primary care providers

Your responses will be confidential, and you will not be identified in any reporting.

Section 1: About you

Do you consent to participate in the survey? *

Yes, I consent to participate in this surveyNo

Which community are you responding about today? *

Batlow Tumbarumba Both Batlow and Tumbarumba

What is your connection to Batlow and/or Tumbarumba? (Select all that apply) *

I live in Batlow I live in Tumbarumba I live nearby (e.g., Tumut / Brungle / other) I work nearby (e.g., Tumut / Brungle / other) I visit regularly (e.g., family, caring role, seasonal work) Other (please specify below)

If 'Other', please specify:

Which best describes you? (Select all that apply) *

Community member / resident Carer / family member supporting someone who uses health and wellbeing services Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Local Health Advisory Committee member Local government / community leader Education / school or childcare staff

Section 2: Priorities (what matters most) and ideas for future options

The General Practice Improvement Fund can be used to fund initiatives to support the sustainability of local primary care services. This includes additional workforce, digital and telehealth solutions, transport arrangements, new infrastructure, etc.

If 'Other', please specify:

What do you think are the most important priorities for Batlow and/or Tumbarumba? (Please select 3 options) *

Timely access to appointments After-hours access Seeing the same clinician (continuity) Local access (less travel) Cost affordability Culturally safe and respectful care Co-ordinated care across providers Digital options (telehealth) that work for the community. Other (please specify below)

If 'Other', please specify:

Do you have any ideas or priorities for how you would like to see funding used to support the sustainability of primary health care services in Batlow and Tumbarumba that haven’t been mentioned above?

For the options you proposed, what would make them work well in Batlow and/or Tumbarumba? (e.g. staffing, hours, location, community trust, cultural safety, transport, digital connectivity)

What could get in the way of implementing your suggested option/s? What challenges would we need to overcome?

Section 3: Final comments and staying involved

Is there anything else you want us to understand about primary care in Batlow and/or Tumbarumba?

Would you like to be involved in future consultation opportunities for this project? *

YesNo

How would you prefer to be contacted?

Email Phone SMS

Contact details - (providing contact details is optional and will be stored separately from survey responses)

Name (optional)

Email (optional)

Phone (optional)

Would you like to continue the survey to answer some further questions around the current state of GP access? *

Yes – I’m happy to answer some additional questions No – I’d like to end the survey here

Optional - Your experience when accessing primary care (what’s happening now)

In the past 12 months, have you (or someone you care for) needed to see a GP or primary care provider (e.g. Pharmacist, Allied health practitioner, or Community Nurse)?

Yes No Prefer not to say

If 'Other', please specify:

Where do you usually go to access primary health services (e.g. Pharmacist, Allied health practitioner, or Community Nurse)? (Select all that apply)

If 'Other', please specify:

How do you usually see your GP or primary health service (e.g. Pharmacist, Allied health practitioner, or Community Nurse)? (Select all that apply)

In person (face‑to‑face) Telehealth (video) Telehealth (phone) A mix of in‑person and telehealth I don’t currently have a regular GP or primary health care service Other (please specify below)

If 'Other', please specify:

How far do you typically travel to access a GP or other primary care services?

If 'Other', please specify:

Communication / Marketing Questions

If 'Other', please specify:

When you see information about a health service, program, or health advice, what makes you most likely to pay attention? (Select up to two)

It feels relevant to me or my family It’s shared by someone I trust It’s clear and easy to understand It includes local people or local stories It’s creative, engaging, or not boring It fits my life, including cost, time, and access

Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network

As one of 31 Primary Health Networks (PHNs) across Australia, Murrumbidgee PHN’s role is to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of primary healthcare at the community level. Our goal “Well people, resilient communities, across the Murrumbidgee" is to ensure the people in our region can access the right care, in the right place, at the right time, delivering equitable health outcomes for all. To learn more, visit mphn.org.au

Scyne Advisory

Scyne Advisory is a consulting firm specialising in primary and community health, commissioning, co‑design, and service system reform, with deep experience working in regional and rural contexts across Australia. They partner extensively with Primary Health Networks, Local Health Districts, government agencies and community organisations to design innovative service models, undertake evaluations, and address challenges such as thin markets, workforce shortages and fragmented care. Scyne brings strong capability in stakeholder engagement, evidence‑based planning, and collaborative model development, and has a track record of delivering integrated, locally responsive solutions that improve sustainability, access and outcomes in small and rural communities.