Access to health services

Health Domain

Access to health services

Having access to health services where and when people need them has an important bearing on their sense of wellbeing.

Access to GP services

This measure shows Canberrans’ ease of access to general practitioner (GP) services.

GPs are the cornerstone of primary healthcare. From disease prevention to diagnosis and treatment plans, they understand the needs of the community and provide appropriate care through all stages of life.

In 2024, 24.7% of Canberrans found it hard to access GP services. This number has continually grown since 2019.

In 2024, people more likely to find access difficult were women, carers, those with a disability and those identifying as LGBTIQA+.

Data for this indicator are sourced from the University of Canberra Living well in the ACT Region survey. Detailed survey data, survey user guide and published reports from the survey can be accessed at https://www.regionalwellbeing.org.au/living-well-in-the-act-region/.

Line graph of percentage of respondents reporting ease of access to GPs in the ACT, between 2019 and 2024.

In 2024:

  • 44.2% reported it was easy to access a GP compared to 50.8% in 2023
  • 31.0% reported it was neither hard nor easy to access a GP compared to 30.2% in 2023
  • 24.7% reported it was hard to access a GP compared to 19.0% in 2023.

The Living Well in the ACT Region survey, conducted by the University of Canberra, aims to measure, track and understand the wellbeing and resilience of adult residents living in the Australian Capital Territory region of Australia. It examines factors known to affect wellbeing and resilience at the individual, household, community and regional level.

When generating data for the ACT, statistical weighting is used to address differences between the sample of people who respond to the survey, and the characteristics of the ACT adult population.

Data are produced from this survey for different groups of people in the ACT. The ‘overall response’ category represents responses at the ACT population level. Where reliable estimates can be produced, data are also presented for Canberrans by: gender, age, cultural background, gender identity and sexuality, carer role and experience of disability. Not all differences over time or between groups are statistically significant: information on confidence intervals for the data presented here is available in data tables that can be accessed at https://www.regionalwellbeing.org.au/living-well-in-the-act-region/.

Care is needed when interpreting the differences in findings between groups as the descriptive statistics published here show where there are differences in wellbeing, but not what has caused those differences in wellbeing.

Further information about the survey can be found at Living Well in the ACT Region or by contacting regionalwellbeing@canberra.edu.au.

Access to specialist services

This measure shows Canberrans’ ease of access to specialist health services.

Being able to access specialist health services is important for our health. Specialist health practitioners help people manage their complex and ongoing medical needs.

In 2024, the proportion of people who found it ‘hard to access’ specialist services increased to 46.3% from 40.1% in 2023.

The proportion of people who reported finding it easy to access specialist services also increased to 35.6% from 27.0% in 2023.

The University of Canberra 2024 Living Well in the ACT Region survey found those who were more likely to find it hard to access specialist services included:

Data for this indicator are sourced from the University of Canberra Living well in the ACT Region survey. Detailed survey data, survey user guide and published reports from the survey can be accessed at https://www.regionalwellbeing.org.au/living-well-in-the-act-region/.

Line graph of percentage of respondents reporting ease of access to specialist health services in the ACT, between 2019 and 2024.

In 2024:

  • 46.3% reported it hard to access specialist health services compared to 40.1% in 2023
  • 18.1% reported it neither hard nor easy to access specialist health services compared to 32.9% in 2023
  • 35.6% reported it easy to access specialist health services compared to 27.0% in 2023.

The Living Well in the ACT Region survey, conducted by the University of Canberra, aims to measure, track and understand the wellbeing and resilience of adult residents living in the Australian Capital Territory region of Australia. It examines factors known to affect wellbeing and resilience at the individual, household, community and regional level.

When generating data for the ACT, statistical weighting is used to address differences between the sample of people who respond to the survey, and the characteristics of the ACT adult population.

Data are produced from this survey for different groups of people in the ACT. The ‘overall response’ category represents responses at the ACT population level. Where reliable estimates can be produced, data are also presented for Canberrans by: gender, age, cultural background, gender identity and sexuality, carer role and experience of disability. Not all differences over time or between groups are statistically significant: information on confidence intervals for the data presented here is available in data tables that can be accessed at https://www.regionalwellbeing.org.au/living-well-in-the-act-region/.

Care is needed when interpreting the differences in findings between groups as the descriptive statistics published here show where there are differences in wellbeing, but not what has caused those differences in wellbeing.

Further information about the survey can be found at Living Well in the ACT Region or by contacting regionalwellbeing@canberra.edu.au.

Access to mental health services

This measure shows Canberrans' ease of access to mental health services.

Our mental health impacts our overall health and wellbeing.

In 2024, 67.8% of respondents reported finding it hard to access psychiatrists, whilst 55.5% reported finding it difficult to access psychologists.

The University of Canberra 2024 Living Well in the ACT Region survey showed that the Canberrans more likely to find it difficult to access mental health services were:

Data for this indicator are sourced from the University of Canberra Living well in the ACT Region survey. Detailed survey data, survey user guide and published reports from the survey can be accessed at https://www.regionalwellbeing.org.au/living-well-in-the-act-region/.

Clustered column graphs of percentage of respondents reporting ease of access to mental health services in the ACT in 2020, 2023, and 2024.

Accessing a psychiatrist:

  • In 2024, 67.8% found it hard to access a psychiatrist compared to 56.9% in 2023
  • In 2024, 17.2% found it neither hard nor easy to access to access a psychiatrist compared to 28.5% in 2023
  • In 2024, 15% found it easy to access to access a psychiatrist compared to 14.6% in 2023.

Accessing a psychologist:

  • In 2024, 55.5% found it hard to access a psychologist compared to 53% in 2023.
  • In 2024, 22.6% found it neither hard nor easy to access a psychologist compared to 27.2% in 2023.
  • In 2024, 21.9% found it easy to access a psychologist compared to 19.8% in 2023.

The Living Well in the ACT Region survey, conducted by the University of Canberra, aims to measure, track and understand the wellbeing and resilience of adult residents living in the Australian Capital Territory region of Australia. It examines factors known to affect wellbeing and resilience at the individual, household, community and regional level.

When generating data for the ACT, statistical weighting is used to address differences between the sample of people who respond to the survey, and the characteristics of the ACT adult population.

Data are produced from this survey for different groups of people in the ACT. The ‘overall response’ category represents responses at the ACT population level. Where reliable estimates can be produced, data are also presented for Canberrans by: gender, age, cultural background, gender identity and sexuality, carer role and experience of disability. Not all differences over time or between groups are statistically significant: information on confidence intervals for the data presented here is available in data tables that can be accessed at https://www.regionalwellbeing.org.au/living-well-in-the-act-region/.

Care is needed when interpreting the differences in findings between groups as the descriptive statistics published here show where there are differences in wellbeing, but not what has caused those differences in wellbeing.

Further information about the survey can be found at Living Well in the ACT Region or by contacting regionalwellbeing@canberra.edu.au.

Access to allied health services

This measure shows Canberrans’ ease of access to allied health services, including physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and speech pathologists.

Allied health professionals provide a wide range of services that help improve people’s health, wellbeing and quality of life.

In 2024, 9.1% of Canberrans found it hard to access a physiotherapist and 40.8% found it hard to access an occupational therapist or speech pathologist.

The University of Canberra 2024 Living Well in the ACT Region survey showed that people more likely to report difficulty accessing physiotherapy services include:

People more likely to report difficulty accessing occupational therapists or speech pathologists were:

Data for this indicator are sourced from the University of Canberra Living well in the ACT Region survey. Detailed survey data, survey user guide and published reports from the survey can be accessed at https://www.regionalwellbeing.org.au/living-well-in-the-act-region/.

Clustered column graphs of percentage of respondents reporting ease of access to allied health services in the ACT in 2020, 2023, and 2024.

Accessing an occupational therapist or speech pathologist:

  • In 2024, 40.8% found it hard to access an occupational therapist or speech pathologist compared to 41.1% in 2023
  • In 2024, 37.8% found it neither hard nor easy to access to an occupational therapist or speech pathologist compared to 34.0% in 2023
  • In 2024, 21.4% found it easy to access to access an occupational therapist or speech pathologist compared to 25.0% in 2023.

Accessing a physiotherapist:

  • In 2024, 9.1% found it hard to access a physiotherapist compared to 7.7% in 2023.
  • In 2024, 26.9% found it neither hard nor easy to access a physiotherapist compared to 24.7% in 2023
  • In 2024, 64.0% found it easy to access a physiotherapist compared to 67.6% in 2023.

The Living Well in the ACT Region survey, conducted by the University of Canberra, aims to measure, track and understand the wellbeing and resilience of adult residents living in the Australian Capital Territory region of Australia. It examines factors known to affect wellbeing and resilience at the individual, household, community and regional level.

When generating data for the ACT, statistical weighting is used to address differences between the sample of people who respond to the survey, and the characteristics of the ACT adult population.

Data are produced from this survey for different groups of people in the ACT. The ‘overall response’ category represents responses at the ACT population level. Where reliable estimates can be produced, data are also presented for Canberrans by: gender, age, cultural background, gender identity and sexuality, carer role and experience of disability. Not all differences over time or between groups are statistically significant: information on confidence intervals for the data presented here is available in data tables that can be accessed at https://www.regionalwellbeing.org.au/living-well-in-the-act-region/.

Care is needed when interpreting the differences in findings between groups as the descriptive statistics published here show where there are differences in wellbeing, but not what has caused those differences in wellbeing.

Further information about the survey can be found at Living Well in the ACT Region or by contacting regionalwellbeing@canberra.edu.au.

Access to dentists

This measure shows Canberrans’ ease of access to dental services.

Access to dental health is important because oral health contributes to physical, social and emotional health.

In 2024, the majority of Canberrans (63.3%) found it easy to access a dentist, while 11.8% found it hard.

In 2024, carers were significantly more likely to find it difficult to access a dentist.

Data for this indicator are sourced from the University of Canberra Living well in the ACT Region survey. Detailed survey data, survey user guide and published reports from the survey can be accessed at https://www.regionalwellbeing.org.au/living-well-in-the-act-region/.

Line graph of percentage of respondents reporting ease of access to dental services in the ACT, between 2019 and 2024.

In 2024:

  • 63.3% reported it was easy to access a dentist compared to 65.0% in 2023
  • 24.9% reported it was neither hard nor easy to access a dentist compared to 25.7% in 2023
  • 11.8% reported it was hard to access a dentist compared to 9.3% in 2023.

The Living Well in the ACT Region survey, conducted by the University of Canberra, aims to measure, track and understand the wellbeing and resilience of adult residents living in the Australian Capital Territory region of Australia. It examines factors known to affect wellbeing and resilience at the individual, household, community and regional level.

When generating data for the ACT, statistical weighting is used to address differences between the sample of people who respond to the survey, and the characteristics of the ACT adult population.

Data are produced from this survey for different groups of people in the ACT. The ‘overall response’ category represents responses at the ACT population level. Where reliable estimates can be produced, data are also presented for Canberrans by: gender, age, cultural background, gender identity and sexuality, carer role and experience of disability. Not all differences over time or between groups are statistically significant: information on confidence intervals for the data presented here is available in data tables that can be accessed at https://www.regionalwellbeing.org.au/living-well-in-the-act-region/.

Care is needed when interpreting the differences in findings between groups as the descriptive statistics published here show where there are differences in wellbeing, but not what has caused those differences in wellbeing.

Further information about the survey can be found at Living Well in the ACT Region or by contacting regionalwellbeing@canberra.edu.au.