How do I request a review of a DPA Classification?
This is a FAQ BLOG and you can refer to our 19AB blog here.
Need help understanding your pathway?
Date Updated: 2026-08-11
As a practice, you can request a review of your location’s Distribution Priority Area (DPA) classification, especially if exceptional circumstances apply.
This is important because DPA classification identifies areas where people don’t have enough access to doctors, based on the needs of the community, and DPA is relevant to the 19AB location restriction for GPs. Read more about DPA here.
What are exceptional circumstances?
Here are some examples of exceptional circumstances:
- Changes to health services, workforce or health systems, i.e. There has been an unexpected change to the local health workforce meaning the community has lost crucial health services, like Doctors may have retired and not been replaced or practices have closed.
- Patient demographics or changes, i.e. or Your local population has increased, or possibly you’ve had a large increase of patients to the total area. Your area may have changes in socio-economic status or a larger geriatric population in need of greater access to healthcare.
- Absence of services, i.e. You can clearly show that the location struggles to recruit/retain Doctors, or the difficulties you face are worse than similar communities.
How can I request a review?
As a medical practice, you must contact your local Rural Workforce Agency (RWA) about the exceptional circumstance and the RWA will submit a review.
Please note that this applies to practices in a MM 1 outer-metropolitan location because MM 2 to 7 areas are automatically DPA and MM 1 inner-metropolitan locations are not eligible for DPA status review.
How do I contact the Rural Workforce Agencies?
There is a different agency for every state. You can see the list here: https://www.health.gov.au/contacts/rural-workforce-agencies-network or click the links below:
- New South Wales: NSW Rural Doctors Network
- Victoria: Rural Workforce Agency Victoria
- Queensland: Health Workforce Queensland
- Western Australia: Rural Health West
- South Australia: Rural Doctors Workforce Agency
- Tasmania: The People Project
- Northern Territory: Northern Territory PHN
How will I see the outcome?
After gathering your evidence and submitting your application, it will be reviewed and outcomes will be published online through the Health Workforce Locator. You can also see DPA exceptional circumstances review outcome summaries here.
We Can Help You
Here at People Medical Consulting, we have a passion for guiding medical practitioners through their career pathways to Australia. We have extensive experience in assisting medical facilities in recruiting doctors from local and overseas who will best suit their requirements.
We provide Document Assistance for those requiring support for their PESCI with IME, ACRRM or RACGP, registration and all other mandatory AHPRA requirements, fellowship program related forms and letters, application for Medicare provider and prescriber numbers, application for 19AB or 19AA exemptions and preparation of employment documents.
If you want to talk to someone about your pathway or practice management—book a consultation with us below, or if you need Recruitment or Document Assistance, contact us at help@peoplemedical.com.au or click the buttons below. We’d be glad to help you!
Information from this blog has been taken directly from:
- Request a review of a DPA classification – 13 July 2026 – 11 August 2026
- Rural Workforce Agencies Network – 16 February 2026 – 11 August 2026
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