Priority Primary Care Centres
- Priority Primary Care Centres
- Victorian HIV and Hepatitis Integrated Training and Learning (VHHITAL)
- Carer Awareness in General Practice
- Accelerated uptake of Hepatitis C medicines
- Lymphoedema Primary Care Capacity Building
- Optimal Care Pathways
- Optimal Care Pathways – Oesophagogastric Cancer OCP
- Optimal Care Pathways – Prostate Cancer
- Place-based Suicide Prevention
- Statewide Paediatric HealthPathways Project
Page last updated: 10am, 2 February 2023
The Victorian Government has established 29 Priority Primary Care Centres (PPCCs) across the state. 10 of these clinics are also known as Medicare Urgent Care Clinics, which are funded by the Australian Government.
Primary health networks (PHNs) are commissioning these clinics in their respective regions.
PPCCs partner with nearby hospital emergency departments. They provide free care for people with conditions that require urgent attention but not an emergency response. This includes conditions like mild infections and burns, suspected fractures or broken bones.
They also offer pathology and imaging services.
The centres help Victorians who need urgent care get help faster, while keeping our busy emergency departments free for those in critical, life-threatening situations.
They operate up to 16 hours a day, 7 days a week and accept walk-ups, referrals and pre-booked appointments.
They provide GP-led care for urgent but non-life-threatening* conditions such as:
- mild to moderate infections
- fever
- pain when urinating
- suspected minor fractures and sprains
- back and muscle pain
- minor cuts, burns, and insect or animal bites
- heartburn, vomiting, nausea
- headaches, migraines and brief fainting
- constipation, diarrhoea, abdominal pain
- allergies and rashes
- light bleeding in the first trimester of pregnancy
- mild to moderate asthma attacks, coughs and other respiratory symptoms.**
Please note: these clinics cannot provide a routine health assessment, a review of a care plan or a repeat prescription. PPCCs employ a rigorous triage process to ensure only urgent low acuity conditions are seen. Patients presenting with chronic conditions that can be managed by their usual GP will be referred back to their regular GP.
*Call Triple Zero (000) or visit your nearest emergency department if you or someone you know is experiencing an immediate life-threatening emergency.
**If you are feeling unwell with mild to moderate respiratory symptoms and are unable to care for yourself at home, contact your local GP (in person or by telehealth appointment) or call NURSE-ON-CALL (1300 60 60 24) for free advice from a registered nurse, 24 hours a day. If urgent care is required, visit a PPCC or contact the Victorian Virtual Emergency Department online, 24 hours a day.
Commissioning process
PHNs are commissioning providers for the 29 clinics. For information specific to each PHN region, visit the following links:
- Eastern Melbourne PHN
- Gippsland PHN
- Murray PHN
- North Western Melbourne PHN
- South Eastern Melbourne PHN
- Western Victoria PHN
Locations
Visit the Better Health Channel website for information on clinic locations including opening hours, booking links and contact details.
Communications materials
To support promotion of PPCCs stakeholders can:
- visit health.vic to download approved messaging and collateral
- contact their local PHN to request local communications resources and support.
Translated flyers, social media tiles and key messages in community languages are available on the North Western Melbourne PHN website.
Priority Primary Care Centres are funded by the Victorian Government. Medicare Urgent Care Clinics are funded by the Australian Government.
Project Contact
Della Robb
PPCC Statewide Coordinator
Primary Care Commissioning Project Lead
North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network
(03) 9347 1188