Position statement on enhancing the role of practice nurses in GP-led team-based care
General practice is the foundation of Australia’s primary healthcare system and plays a critical role in keeping patients well and out of hospital. GP‑led multidisciplinary teams enable coordinated, proactive care that prevents avoidable deterioration, supports continuity, and improves patient outcomes.
Practice nurses are essential members of these teams. Working under general practitioner clinical governance, they support regular monitoring, early intervention, patient education, and ongoing care for people with chronic and complex conditions. This approach helps prevent complications that often lead to unplanned hospital admissions and emergency department presentations when conditions are not managed early and effectively in the community.
The AMA is calling for urgent reform to modernise funding and workforce structures, so general practice can sustain effective multidisciplinary teams. Key actions include expanding and strengthening the Workforce Incentive Program, introducing practice‑level MBS items for nurse‑delivered care under GP oversight, embedding team‑based education and training, and supporting career pathways that recognise general practice nursing as a specialised field.
