GP Roundtable Explores Solutions to Boost Workforce in Western Sydney
02 Mar 2026
The Western Sydney Health Alliance held the GP Roundtable at Campbelltown Arts Centre on 24 February, with Macarthur MP Dr Mike Freelander attending to hear the challenges firsthand.
The discussion will help shape the GWS Primary Healthcare Workforce Strategy, a joint initiative between Nepean Blue Mountains PHN, South Western Sydney PHN, and Western Sydney PHN.
Kristen Short, Director of Innovation and Partnerships at South Western Sydney PHN, said the collaboration aimed to tackle the specific primary care pressures in outer metropolitan Sydney, where rapid population growth and a rising rate of chronic disease are putting extra demand on local GPs.
“The outer metropolitan area is home to three of Australia’s fastest-growing population corridors,” she said. “We also need to support diverse communities facing language, cultural, and health literacy barriers.”
The roundtable, facilitated by Western Sydney Health Alliance Program Manager Gautami Motupally, allowed stakeholders to share ideas and experience. Discussions focused on practical ways to recruit and retain GPs and improve access to care across the region.
Key challenges raised included:
-
The perception that GPs are overworked and underpaid
-
Limited student rotations in general practice
-
Opportunities to earn more in other regions
Participants also brainstormed solutions, including:
-
Fostering supportive practice cultures to retain GPs
-
Improving data on student retention and movement
-
Offering mentorship and promoting work-life balance in general practice
-
Co-funded incentives such as housing, office space, and spousal employment support
-
Investing in place-based training to encourage longer-term commitment
The Alliance will consolidate the roundtable findings into a report, which will inform further consultations and the GWS Primary Care Workforce Strategy. The report will also outline feasible projects for implementation over the next 12 months.
Source: Western Sydney Health Alliance. GP Roundtable Report, 2026.
