Nursing post
Key facts
- A nursing post is a health clinic run by highly-trained registered nurses or nurse practitioners in remote areas of Australia.
- Nursing posts can also be called a 'health centre' or a 'nurse-led clinic'.
- Nurses at nursing posts can treat some chronic health conditions, assess injuries, prescribe some medicines and perform some tests.
- Most nursing posts' opening hours are limited to weekdays but some have staff on call for emergencies 24 hours a day.
What is a nursing post?
A nursing post is a health centre staffed by highly-skilled registered nurses or nurse practitioners. These nurses have special training. This means they can provide certain medical services, including emergency care.
Nursing posts are commonly found in remote areas of Australia, particularly in Western Australia and Queensland.
'Nursing post' is the term often used in Western Australia. The same type of clinic may be called a 'nurse-led clinic'. They may also be called a 'nurse-led primary healthcare centre' (or 'health centre' or 'health service') in Queensland.
A nursing post might be the closest and best option if you live in a remote area and need medical help or emergency care.
What do nursing posts offer?
Nurses may offer you the following services at a nursing post:
- assessment of your medical injury or illness
- some pathology testing
- treatment and management of some chronic conditions, such as diabetes
- advice about your medicines
The services are free.
Members of the nursing staff are authorised to prescribe certain medicines within the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), including for hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV.
If you have a medical emergency, the nursing staff can consult with medical experts elsewhere. They can provide the emergency care until you can be transported to hospital by ambulance or plane.
At some nursing posts, doctors from cities or the Royal Flying Doctor Service regularly attend special clinics.
Nurses at nursing posts only provide care within their range of practice.
When should I go to a nursing post?
If you are in a remote area and not sure where to get help, call triple zero (000) in an emergency.
As a first step, you should attend a nursing post if you are very far away from a doctor or hospital and need treatment for an injury or illness.
Most clinics' opening hours are limited to weekdays, but some have staff on call for emergencies 24 hours a day.
You might also have regular appointments with a nursing post so they can monitor your condition and manage your medicines.
FIND A HEALTH SERVICE — The Service Finder can help you find doctors, pharmacies, hospitals and other health services.
You can find a list of nursing posts or nurse-led clinics in:
- Queensland — the 'Queensland directory of health and community services' website
Here are some links to Australian rural and remote health services across Australia:
Resources and support
- Learn more about rural health services in Australia at healthdirect's rural health services webpage.
- Healthdirect's Service Finder is Australia's most comprehensive directory of healthcare professionals and services.
- Call healthdirect on 1800 022 222 at any time to speak to a registered nurse (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria) for more information and advice.
Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content.
Last reviewed: February 2024
