Residents and visitors in Shellharbour now have improved access to urgent medical care, with the official opening of the Shellharbour Medicare Urgent Care Clinic (UCC).

The clinic was opened earlier this week by Federal Health and Ageing Minister Mark Butler and Whitlam MP Carol Berry.

Following a competitive tender process led by COORDINARE – South Eastern NSW Primary Health Network (PHN), the service is operating from Centre Health Medical Centre in Barrack Heights.

The Shellharbour Medicare UCC is open seven days a week from 8am to 8pm. The service provides walk-in urgent care that is fully bulk billed, making it free for patients with a Medicare card.

Butler said the clinic would deliver significant benefits to local families and help ease pressure on nearby hospitals.

“The Shellharbour Medicare Urgent Care Clinic is a game changer for families in the region,” he said.

“This clinic is part of the Albanese Government’s commitment to strengthening Medicare and making health care more accessible and affordable.

“Medicare Urgent Care Clinics are taking pressure off hospitals and ensuring patients can get the care they need, when they need it.”

Berry said the clinic would provide convenient care close to home.

“This is a huge win for our community,” she said.

“It means locals can access bulk billed urgent care in the heart of Shellharbour, while also reducing demand on the emergency department at Shellharbour Hospital.”

COORDINARE Chief Executive Officer Prudence Buist said the clinic would offer treatment for urgent but non-life-threatening conditions.

“This service provides an alternative for people who need to see a doctor or nurse for issues such as sprains, minor fractures, cuts, wounds, insect bites, minor burns, and ear or eye problems,” she said.

Shellharbour is one of the fastest-growing areas in the Illawarra, with increasing demand for health services. According to the latest available data (2023–24), almost half of presentations to Shellharbour Hospital were for non-urgent or semi-urgent conditions.

The Shellharbour clinic is the 130th Medicare Urgent Care Clinic to open nationwide.

Since the first sites launched in June 2023, more than 2.5 million patients have attended clinics across Australia.

Other Medicare UCCs in the region are operating in Dapto, Wollongong, Queanbeyan, Batemans Bay and Bega.