What is a Distribution Priority Area (DPA)?

Due to an alleged oversupply of GPs in metropolitan areas, the Department of Health has introduced new measures for overseas GPs who want to work in Australia, to better distribute them to areas of higher priority. The new DPA Australia classification system identifies locations with a shortage of medical practitioners and facilitates the placement of international medical graduates (IMGs) in rural areas and communities where there is a greater need for GPs.

The Distribution Priority Area (DPA) classification system has replaced the District of Workforce Shortage (DWS) system for GPs from 1st July 2019.

Alecto helps you navigate the changes

Whether you are confused or unsure about the recent DPA GP changes, please feel free to get in touch with our team to discuss your concerns and questions.

At Alecto, we always keep up with the latest rules & regulations and are happy to help you navigate the ramifications and regulations.

How are DPA locations determined?

The new DPA classification system is not based on a GP-to-population ration like DWS. Instead, the new system considers factors such as gender, age and socio-economic status of patients in a GP catchment area.

Under the new DPA system the following rules apply:

  • Inner metropolitan areas are automatically deemed non-DPA.
  • An area is automatically deemed DPA if it falls into MM 3 – 7 (Modified Monash Model)
  • Northern Territory is automatically deemed DPA
  • Locations with a less than favourable level of health services will also be classified DPA if standards don’t meet a specific service benchmark.

What does the new DPA Australia classification system mean for international medical graduates and bonded doctors?

In order to access Medicare under section 19AB of Australia’s Health Insurance Act 1973, international medical graduates who are GPs need to work in a distribution priority area.

The new system also affects Australian-trained bonded doctors. Under the BMP Scheme, the Government provides a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) at a medical school at an Australian university. In exchange for a medical place, graduates are obliged to work in a DPA location to access the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS).

What changes apply for specialists?

The DWS system for specialists remains largely unchanged and international medical graduates who practice in specialties are required to work in a DWS location to be able to obtain a Medicare Provider Number.

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.

View more info about Distribution Priority Areas Map locations

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

View more info about Distribution Priority Areas Map locations

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.

View more info about Distribution Priority Areas Map locations

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.

View more info about Distribution Priority Areas Map locations

Female staff having a meeting. Locum GP

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