The Family Doctor GP Access Index 2026
A data report on the composition and operating patterns of the Family Doctor clinic network — bulk-billing availability, opening hours, geographic reach, and GP-training capacity across 112 active clinics. Published 13 June 2026. Data extracted from Family Doctor’s practice-management records on 8 June 2026. Reviewed by Dr Rodney Aziz, Founder, Family Doctor Pty Ltd.
This report describes one private general-practice network. It makes no claims about other providers and no clinical-outcome claims. It is published so journalists, researchers and policymakers can cite primary-source data on GP-access conditions in Australia. The full methodology is at the end of this page. When citing, please reference “Family Doctor GP Access Index 2026” and link to this page.
Headline findings
- Bulk-billing is available at 90.2% of Family Doctor clinics (101 of 112) — they operate either a fully bulk-billing or a mixed-billing model. 26.8% (30 clinics) are fully bulk-billing; 63.4% (71) are mixed; 9.8% (11) are private-billing.
- More than half the network (54.1%) offers extended hours — open on a weekend day and/or a weekday evening (to 6:00pm or later). 47.7% open at least one weekend day; 44.1% open on Saturdays; 13.5% open on Sundays.
- Nearly a third of the network (30.4%) sits outside the major capital cities — 34 of 112 clinics are in MMM2–MMM5 areas (regional centres and rural towns) under the Modified Monash Model. The network spans 6 states/territories, 99 distinct suburbs and 90 distinct postcodes.
- Nearly one in four clinics (23.2%) is an accredited GP-training practice — 26 clinics hold RACGP and/or ACRRM training-site accreditation, supporting a combined physical registrar capacity of 56 training positions.
- More than half of clinics (60 of 112) are in a Distribution Priority Area (DPA) — the federal designation for locations with measured GP workforce shortage — illustrating the network’s weighting toward underserved areas.
Bulk-billing availability by state
“Available” means the clinic operates a bulk-billing or mixed-billing model — bulk billing is offered to at least some patient cohorts; the mix varies by clinic and is set by each practice.
| State | Bulk-billing available | % |
|---|---|---|
| NSW | 11 / 11 | 100.0% |
| ACT | 1 / 1 | n=1 |
| SA | 1 / 1 | n=1 |
| QLD | 33 / 36 | 91.7% |
| VIC | 46 / 52 | 88.5% |
| WA | 9 / 11 | 81.8% |
| National | 101 / 112 | 90.2% |
Billing-model split nationally: mixed billing 71 clinics (63.4%), fully bulk-billing 30 clinics (26.8%), private billing 11 clinics (9.8%). Single-clinic states (ACT, SA) are shown as counts rather than percentages.
Extended-hours and after-hours coverage
Computed from structured opening-hours records (111 of 112 clinics have complete hours data). “Extended hours” means open on Saturday and/or Sunday, or open on a weekday until 6:00pm or later.
| Measure | Clinics | % |
|---|---|---|
| Open Saturdays | 49 / 111 | 44.1% |
| Open Sundays | 15 / 111 | 13.5% |
| Open at least one weekend day | 53 / 111 | 47.7% |
| Weekday evening (to 6pm or later) | 33 / 111 | 29.7% |
| Any extended hours | 60 / 111 | 54.1% |
Weekend GP access is uneven by state. Within this one network, Saturday opening ranges from 18.2% of clinics (NSW, 2 of 11) to 57.7% (VIC, 30 of 52) and 60.0% (WA, 6 of 10). QLD sits at 27.8% (10 of 36).
Geographic spread and workforce-shortage weighting
| Modified Monash Model category | Clinics |
|---|---|
| MM1 (metropolitan) | 74 |
| MM2 (regional centres) | 12 |
| MM3 (large rural towns) | 9 |
| MM4 (medium rural towns) | 8 |
| MM5 (small rural towns) | 5 |
| Not categorised | 4 |
| Outside major cities (MM2–5) | 34 (30.4%) |
60 clinics (53.6%) are in a federally designated Distribution Priority Area (DPA) — locations with a measured GP workforce shortage. 47 clinics (42.0%) are in non-DPA locations and 5 have no DPA status recorded. The network’s state spread is VIC 52, QLD 36, NSW 11, WA 11, ACT 1, SA 1, reaching 99 distinct suburbs across 90 postcodes.
Clinics fall across 20 of Australia’s 31 Primary Health Networks (PHNs). The largest concentrations are Country to Coast PHN (17 clinics), South Eastern Melbourne PHN (16), Gippsland PHN (10), Murray PHN (8) and Eastern Melbourne PHN (8). Twelve clinics have no PHN recorded — a data-completeness gap noted in the methodology.
GP training capacity
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| RACGP-accredited training sites | 26 (23.2%) |
| ACRRM-accredited training sites | 5 (4.5%) |
| Clinics accredited for GP training (either college) | 26 (23.2%) |
| Combined physical registrar capacity | 56 positions |
Nearly a quarter of the network is accredited to host GP registrars in training — a contribution to the national GP workforce pipeline concentrated, like the network itself, partly in regional and workforce-shortage areas.
Appointment availability snapshot
From the network’s online-booking feed, captured 8 June 2026 (next-7-days window): 87.5% of clinics (98 of 112) had open appointment slots in the coming 7 days, with 11,433 open appointment slots across the network in that window. This is a single point-in-time snapshot from the online booking feed at the time of extraction, not an audited wait-time study, and should not be read as a guaranteed standing level of availability.
Frequently asked questions about this Index
What share of Family Doctor clinics offer bulk billing?
Bulk billing is available at 90.2% of Family Doctor clinics (101 of 112) — they operate a fully bulk-billing or mixed-billing model. Eligibility cohorts vary by clinic; 30 clinics (26.8%) bulk bill all patients.
How many Family Doctor clinics are there and where are they?
The Index covers 112 active clinics: VIC 52, QLD 36, NSW 11, WA 11, ACT 1 and SA 1, spanning 99 suburbs and 90 postcodes. 34 clinics (30.4%) are outside major capital cities (MMM2–5).
How many clinics open on weekends?
53 of the 111 clinics with complete hours data (47.7%) open at least one weekend day. 49 (44.1%) open Saturdays and 15 (13.5%) open Sundays. Weekend access varies markedly by state.
What data is the Index based on?
Family Doctor’s internal practice-management records (Frappe CRM) — the same system the group uses operationally — extracted 8 June 2026, covering billing model, structured opening hours, Modified Monash category, DPA status and RACGP/ACRRM training accreditation per clinic. See the methodology section for definitions and known gaps.
Can I cite or republish these figures?
Yes. Cite “Family Doctor GP Access Index 2026” and link to this page. For interviews, custom data cuts or the underlying definitions, contact info@familydoctor.com.au.
Methodology and data-quality notes
- Source: Family Doctor’s internal practice-management records (Frappe CRM), the same system the group uses operationally. Extracted 8 June 2026.
- Universe: 112 clinics with status = Active. Sub-brands/standalone telehealth sites and closed clinics excluded.
- Bulk-billing: based on each clinic’s recorded billing model (Bulk / Mixed / Private). “Available” aggregates Bulk + Mixed. Does not assert every patient is bulk-billed.
- Hours: structured day-by-day opening records; “extended hours” defined as open Saturday and/or Sunday, or a weekday to 6:00pm or later. 111 of 112 clinics have complete records.
- Rurality: Modified Monash Model (MMM) category as recorded per clinic.
- DPA: Distribution Priority Area status as recorded per clinic.
- Training: RACGP/ACRRM site-accreditation status as recorded per clinic.
- Availability: point-in-time online-booking snapshot; not an audited wait-time measure.
- Known gaps: 12 clinics lack a recorded PHN; 4 lack an MMM category; 5 lack DPA status. These are reported as counts and excluded from the relevant denominators where noted.
Related: Bulk billing at Family Doctor clinics · Find a Family Doctor clinic · What is bulk billing?
Weekend access varies by state
Within the one national network, the share of clinics open on a Saturday ranges from under a fifth in New South Wales to nearly three in five in Victoria and Western Australia — a concrete illustration that weekend GP access depends heavily on where a patient lives.
| State | Clinics open Saturdays | Share |
|---|---|---|
| WA | 6 / 10 | 60.0% |
| VIC | 30 / 52 | 57.7% |
| QLD | 10 / 36 | 27.8% |
| NSW | 2 / 11 | 18.2% |
| SA | 1 / 1 | n=1 |
| ACT | 0 / 1 | n=1 |
Computed from structured opening-hours records for the 111 clinics with complete hours data. ACT and SA shown as counts (single-clinic states).
Workforce-shortage weighting by state
Across the network, 60 clinics (53.6%) sit in a Distribution Priority Area — the federal designation for locations with a measured GP workforce shortage — and 34 clinics (30.4%) are outside the major capital cities (Modified Monash categories MM2–MM5), spanning regional centres and rural towns.
