DPA Map Update 2026: Great News for GPs relocating to Australia and for Practice Owners Considering to Hire IMGs
Updated on 31 July 2026:
As of July 2026, there has not been a new nationwide DPA map update. The classifications from the March 2025 update are still the current ones on the Health Workforce Locator, and the Department of Health’s website were refreshed in January 2026 to reference that same March 2025 data rather than announce new changes. The assessment method has been updated behind the scenes (now using 2023 Medicare billing, ABS population, and Modified Monash Model data across 824 GP catchments), but the automatic rules and the list of locations below remain accurate.
We recommend checking the Health Workforce Locator for your specific address, since DPA is assessed by GP catchment, not by whole suburb. We expect another update within the next few months, since it’s been well over a year since the last substantial change. In our 15 years of operation, DPA coverage in metro areas has stayed broader than it used to be, and some of the best DPA vacancies are still in these areas, though that can change at any time.
What is a Distribution Priority Area (DPA)?
A DPA is a location the Australian Government has classified as having a shortage of GPs. Overseas trained doctors, often referred to as International Medical Graduates (IMGs), and other doctors with restrictions under section 19AB of the Health Insurance Act can generally only access Medicare benefits if they work in a DPA. If a suburb is not a DPA, an IMG working there usually cannot bill Medicare, which makes the role unviable for most practices. This is why a DPA reclassification opens up genuinely new job opportunities rather than just adjusting existing ones.
For more detail on how the DPA system replaced the older District of Workforce Shortage (DWS) classification, see our guide: Distribution Priority Area (DPA) system replaces District of Workforce Shortage (DWS) for GPs. For the related visa exemption pathway, see 19AB and 19AA exemption assistance.
How DPA Is Assessed in 2026
The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing assesses DPA status by GP catchment rather than by suburb, using a combination of Medicare GP billing activity, population size, socio-economic status (SEIFA), the Modified Monash Model (MMM), and GP workforce supply. As of the current assessment, this draws on 2023 Medicare billing data, 2023 ABS estimated resident population figures, the 2023 MMM dataset, and updated GP catchment boundaries, covering 824 GP catchments nationally.
A few automatic rules sit on top of this assessment and haven’t changed:
- All MM2 to MM7 locations are automatically DPA.
- Inner metropolitan MM1 locations are automatically not DPA.
- All of Tasmania is automatically DPA.
- All of the Northern Territory is automatically DPA.
Outer metropolitan MM1 catchments are the ones most likely to move in or out of DPA status over time, driven by population growth, GPs moving into or out of an area, changes in Medicare utilisation, and ageing communities. If a location does lose DPA status, doctors already working there under a valid section 19AB exemption can generally continue under their existing arrangement, though this is worth confirming for your specific situation.
What Changed on 10 March 2025, and What’s Happened Since
On 10 March 2025, the government announced updates to the DPA map as part of its broader Strengthening Medicare package. The update opened new locations to IMGs, with the biggest changes affecting outer Perth and Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.
Update, 19 March 2025: the DPA map appeared to reflect most of the locations below, though it was not confirmed to be complete at the time.
Update, July 2026: there has not been a further nationwide DPA map update since March 2025. The Department refreshed its DPA pages in January 2026, but these referenced the same March 2025 classifications rather than announcing new changes. The locations below remain current as of this update. As always, verify a specific address using the Health Workforce Locator rather than relying on any list, including this one, since the map is assessed by catchment and can be revised at any time.
We expect another update within the next few months, since it’s been well over a year since the last substantial change. In our 15 years of operation, DPA coverage in metro areas has stayed broader than it used to be, and some of the best DPA vacancies are still in these areas, though that can change at any time.
Current DPA Locations Added in the March 2025 Update
| State | Suburb / Region | What Stands Out |
| WA | Armadale | Affordable living with city convenience and nearby national parks |
| WA | Byford | Semi-rural charm with family-friendly amenities |
| WA | Cockburn | Coastal living with good schools and shopping |
| WA | Gosnells | Affordable suburb with parks and a strong community |
| WA | Joondalup (partial DPA) | Established hub with strong healthcare facilities |
| WA | Kalamunda | Perth Hills living close to nature |
| WA | Mundaring – Swan View | Bushland setting with a quieter pace of life |
| WA | Swan | Wine region with a growing population |
| WA | Wanneroo – Quinns Rocks | Coastal lifestyle with expanding infrastructure |
| QLD | Maroochy | Part of the Sunshine Coast, one of Australia’s most sought-after coastal regions |
| QLD | Noosa | Well-known beach town with a relaxed lifestyle |
| QLD | Palmwoods | Sunshine Coast hinterland with a close-knit community |
| QLD | Surfers Paradise | Established Gold Coast location |
| QLD | The Gap | Leafy Brisbane suburb with good schools |
| NSW | Campbelltown | Growing outer Sydney hub |
| ACT | Molonglo | Newer Canberra suburb with modern infrastructure |
| SA | Mount Barker | Regional town within commuting distance of Adelaide |
Western Australia and the Sunshine Coast in Queensland saw the largest number of additions in this round.
How to Check If a Location Is Currently a DPA
DPA is assessed by GP catchment, not by whole suburb or postcode, so two addresses in the same suburb can technically fall into different catchments. Treat any list, including this one, as a starting point rather than a final answer. To check a specific address:
- Go to the Health Workforce Locator.
- Enter the specific address or postcode, not just the suburb name.
- Confirm whether itshows asa DPA, note whether it’s a full or partial DPA, and check the MMM classification and any DWS status shown alongside it.
If you are unsure how to read the result, we are happy to check it with you directly.
What This Means If You’re a GP Considering a Move to Australia
If you are a GP in the UK, Ireland, or New Zealand and have been weighing up a move to Australia, these new DPA locations widen the map of places where an international GP can realistically take a role and still access Medicare. Several of the newly listed areas, including outer Perth and the Sunshine Coast, are also popular relocation destinations in their own right, which can make the decision easier for a family.
We currently have roles open across many of these locations. View GP jobs in MM1 locations.
What This Means If You’re an Owner/Manager of a Practice or Medical Center in a Newly Approved DPA Area
If your practice has just gained DPA status, this is a meaningful opportunity. It means you can now consider IMGs for roles that were previously closed to them, which significantly widens your candidate pool at a time when local supply is tight. Our Alecto Direct service is built to help practices in this position move quickly.
Learn more about GP recruitment with Alecto
Common Questions about DPA Map in Australia
What is a Distribution Priority Area (DPA)?
A DPA is a location classified by the Australian Government as having a shortage of GPs. Doctors with restrictions under section 19AB, including most IMGs, generally need to work in a DPA to access Medicare benefits.
Has the DPA map changed in 2026?
No new nationwide update has been announced as of July 2026. The classifications from the March 2025 update are still current, and the Department’s January 2026 page refresh referenced that same data rather than introducing changes.
How is DPA status assessed?
The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing assesses DPA status by GP catchment using Medicare billing activity, population data, socio-economic status, the Modified Monash Model, and GP workforce supply. The current assessment uses 2023 Medicare billing, 2023 ABS population figures, and the 2023 MMM dataset across 824 GP catchments. All MM2 to MM7 locations, all of Tasmania, and all of the Northern Territory are automatically DPA. Inner metropolitan MM1 locations are automatically not DPA.
Which areas became new DPAs in the March 2025 update?
The update added suburbs across Western Australia (including Armadale, Byford, Cockburn, Gosnells, Joondalup as a partial DPA, Kalamunda, Mundaring-Swan View, Swan, and Wanneroo-Quinns Rocks), Queensland (including Maroochy, Noosa, Palmwoods, Surfers Paradise, and The Gap), Campbelltown in New South Wales, Molonglo in the ACT, and Mount Barker in South Australia.
I’m an overseas-trained doctor (IMG), how do I check if a specific practice address is currently a DPA?
Use the government’s Health Workforce Locator and search by the practice’s exact address or postcode, not just the suburb name. DPA is assessed by GP catchment, so this is the only reliable way to confirm whether a specific practice qualifies before you commit to a role there.
What happens if a practice loses DPA status?
Doctors already working there under a valid section 19AB exemption can generally continue under their existing arrangement, though this should be confirmed for your specific situation. New international GPs would not be able to take up Medicare-billing roles there going forward.
Can overseas-trained doctors (IMG) work outside a DPA?
Generally not without another exemption, since Medicare billing for section 19AB doctors is tied to DPA status. Some doctors may qualify for other exemptions; we can talk you through your specific situation.
Does a new DPA location automatically get government incentives?
Not necessarily. DPA status affects Medicare billing eligibility, while separate incentive schemes and Health Workforce Certificates are assessed on their own criteria. Speak with us or check the official government announcement for specifics on your location.
Are there common myths about MMM and DPA?
Here are the common myths about the Modified Monash Model (MMM) and Distribution Priority Areas (DPA):
- MM1 and DPA are the same classification: they’re not. MMM measures geographic remoteness, while DPA measures GP shortage, and the two only overlap through the automatic rules (MM2 to MM7 is auto-DPA, inner metropolitan MM1 is auto-not-DPA).
- MM1 suburbs can never be a DPA: outer metropolitan MM1 catchments can and do gain DPA status, which is exactly what happened in the March 2025 update across outer Perth and the Sunshine Coast.
- DPA status covers a whole suburb: it’s assessed by GP catchment, so two practices in the same suburb can have different statuses.
- Losing DPA status forces existing IMGs out immediately: doctors with a valid section 19AB exemption can generally continue under their existing arrangement even if the location is later reclassified.