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Turrbal and Jagera Country
Level 4, 348 Edward Street
Brisbane QLD 4000
Learn which gaps our survey participants identified in remote and rural services. On this page:
At a glance
This year’s service gap rankings again put mental health at the top, with community-based rehabilitation close behind, again suggesting that demand pressure remains strongest in services that manage ongoing and complex needs.
Last year’s top 5 service gaps were mental health, community-based rehab, alcohol and other drugs, oral health and aged care. This year, oral health has dropped out of the top 5 and social support has moved in, while the others remain in the leading group (with aged care now ranking ahead of alcohol and other drugs). Oral health is now ranked 7th, which suggests it remains a significant access issue even though other pressures have risen above it this year.
As with the workforce results, the shift suggests the biggest access pinch points are broadening to include the wraparound supports people need to stay well, especially where services are thin and travel and wait times are already barriers.
There were 92 participants who commented on the service gap rating questions. When evaluating the comments, we grouped themes into a) drivers b) impacts and c) solutions.
Comments relating to service gaps, similar to previous comments relating to workforce gaps, reinforce the issues driving and arising from primary healthcare service gaps in Queensland. Participants again pointed to a number of negative consequences of gaps on both patients (e.g. long wait times and affordability barriers contributing to delayed intervention and deteriorating health outcomes) and workforce practitioners themselves (e.g. high workload and ED/hospital substitution).
As with workforce gaps, the most frequently mentioned driver of service gaps was funding/financial constraints, illustrating a consistent driver of both workforce and service gaps from participants’ perspective. However, participants also pointed to issues around service access/criteria constraints and disconnection/communication between services that could help to improve services if addressed.
State ranking
Across the past four years, the same service pressures keep surfacing, with mental health, community-based rehabilitation, alcohol and other drugs, and aged care repeatedly appearing among the top gaps. In 2026, mental health remained at the top of the list, while social support entered the top 5 and health promotion/prevention remained close behind, pointing to growing demand for broader community-based and preventative care.
At the same time, areas like maternal health, palliative care, home medication review and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health were less likely to be identified as major gaps, suggesting pressures are being felt most strongly in a smaller group of high-demand service areas. Overall, the pattern shows a system under sustained strain in services linked to mental health, recovery, ageing and complex social need.
The results also show that workforce and service gaps do not always move together, with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers ranking high as a workforce gap despite Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health sitting low in the service gaps, oral health remains a leading service pressure even though dental practitioners are less prominent in the workforce gap data.
The drivers: Financial barriers to care
Around one third of participants pointed to factors contributing to service gaps, highlighting the range of barriers affecting access to care. As with workforce gaps, funding pressures were the most frequently raised issue, with participants describing a system where services are often limited by funding settings rather than patient need.
Restrictions around service access and eligibility were also commonly reported, with some patients missing out on care altogether because they do not meet strict criteria. Transport challenges were another key concern, particularly in regional and remote areas where long distances and limited public transport can make it difficult to access services.
Participants also pointed to gaps in communication and coordination between providers, suggesting that even when services exist, they are not always well connected. Together, these factors paint a picture of a fragmented system with multiple barriers, making it harder for Queenslanders to access timely, appropriate care.
The systems that exist to support the above have too strict of a criteria for service which leaves thousands without support. - Social worker, MM2
The main issues which creates service gaps for this community are accessibility, continuity and affordability (distance, travel time, cost, no vehicle, limited public transport, unfilled positions for long periods). - Registered nurse, MM7
Referring to out of area services for eating disorders public unit is virtually impossible. - GP locum, MM4
The impacts: No timely care close to home
Around one third of participants pointed to the impacts of service gaps, affecting both patients and the workforce. For patients, the impact is most often seen through longer wait times, the need to travel further for care, rising out-of-pocket costs, and worsening health outcomes when care is delayed or hard to access.
These pressures can build quickly, particularly for people who need ongoing or specialist care. Delays in getting treatment can lead to conditions becoming more complex, while long travel distances can reduce how often (or how well) patients engage with care. Together, this makes it harder to manage health early and effectively.
For practitioners, service gaps are also placing added strain on the system. Participants described increased workload and a growing reliance on hospitals and emergency departments to fill gaps in primary and community care. This shift not only puts pressure on hospital services but can also signal that patients are not able to access the right care at the right time in the community.
There is generally a lack of most disciplines in the areas I work and live. Where the [sic] is access, costs are too high for most patients to afford. - Registered nurse, MM5
Lower income families are definitely disadvantaged by out of pocket expenses when it comes to allied health services. -Practice manager, MM2
Young mum [sic] have to travel 3 hrs to reach a lactation consultant which can be a vital importance for babies. - Practice manager, MM4
The solutions: Service communication and collaboration
Participants pointed to ongoing issues with service access, eligibility criteria, practitioner disconnection and service communication gaps as areas where improvements could strengthen overall service delivery. These challenges were often described as practical barriers that limit how effectively patients can move through the system.
While there was not enough solution-focused data to identify a clear or consistent trend, several comments highlighted how restrictive access criteria can exclude patients from care, and how poor coordination between providers can lead to duplication, delays, or gaps in treatment.
Funding should be focused on local solutions. Building stronger local networks between services can be much more beneficial for health outcomes. At the moment services are siloed. -Practice manager, MM3
No emergency housing or services locally often deeming that they stay in the ED longer due to nowhere to go overnight or often takes longer to arrange transport and housing elsewhere.- Registered nurse, MM3
Read about it: Supporting education in mental health
Mental health has surged to the top of Queensland’s service gap list in 2026, overtaking every other area of care as pressure on the system continues to grow.
After sitting in the top three every year since 2023, it has now claimed the number one spot, highlighting just how deeply demand is outpacing available support.
HWQ’s Service Delivery Manager Andy van der Rijt said the result is a reflection of what is happening on the ground across the state.
“Communities are feeling the greatest strain in services tied to mental health, recovery, ageing and complex social need,” Mr Van de Rijt said.
“We obviously know there is growing pressure to make sure we recruit more people in this area, but it is also important to ensure the current workforce has the skills to respond.
“That’s why it’s so important to invest in training and supporting the broader health workforce.
"Building mental health and social support capability across the primary care workforce will be critical to improving access and easing pressure on frontline services.”
Since the 2024 Financial Year, HWQ has delivered workshops for over 80 practitioners and approved over 1,135 scholarship applications to support postgraduate study and professional development.
