Western Australia rural and remote health services
Key facts
- In rural and remote parts of Western Australia some health services can be hard to find.
- It's good to know about the health services in your area, so that you can get help if needed.
- Telehealth uses video and phone to help people contact doctors and nurses.
- Travelling medical services can offer general and emergency care.
- You may be able to get support with costs if you have to travel for medical services.
Rural and remote Western Australia
Western Australia (WA) is the fastest growing state in Australia. About 20% of people who live in Western Australia live outside the capital city areas of Perth and Freemantle. The areas outside major cities are called rural or remote.
Access to health services may be harder in rural or remote areas. It's important to know what health services are around, in case you need help.
What types of health services are available?
Use the healthdirect Service Finder to find your nearest health services. It covers:
- doctors
- opticians
- dentists
- pharmacies
Hospitals
There are 6 large regional hospitals in Western Australia. There are also small rural hospitals and nursing posts.
A nursing post (also known as a 'health centre') has skilled nurses, who provide medical care in remote areas. They offer services such as:
- emergency services
- mental health help
- drug and alcohol services
Find your local health service using the National Health Services Directory.
Specialist outreach services
Rural Health West offers health services throughout Western Australia. Services include ear health and chronic disease management.
The Royal Flying Doctor Service in WA provides medical services to rural and remote areas, such as:
CareFlight is an organisation that offers emergency help to people in rural and remote parts of Western Australia.
Mental health and wellbeing
If you need to talk to someone about your mental health, call Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636.
Living in a rural or remote area can be stressful. This may be due to financial reasons or because there are not as many jobs available. There is support to help you manage stress.
The Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) offer a free service to children across Western Australia. This service is available from birth to age 16 years.
Learn about other organisation that have mental health helplines.
There is also a wide range of online tools for mental health, such as apps that you can download.
Dental care
Living in a rural or remote area may mean you can't easily get dental care. Organisations such as the Royal Flying Doctor Service offer dental care to people in rural and remote areas of Western Australia.
Emergency assistance
In a medical emergency, dial triple zero (000), and ask for an ambulance.
Most large public hospitals have a 24-hour emergency department that can help in an emergency.
There is an air ambulance service in WA that is managed by the state. The air ambulance service works with groups like CareFlight and Royal Flying Doctor Service, which can also help in an emergency.
FIND A HEALTH SERVICE — The Service Finder can help you find doctors, pharmacies, hospitals and other health services.
Online and telephone services and support
You can call the healthdirect helpline on 1800 022 222 (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria). A registered nurse is available to speak with 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Virtual care or telehealth
Telehealth can help connect people in remote places to healthcare services. This means you might not have to travel to all your medical appointments.
Emergency telehealth links small hospitals with specialists in Perth via emergency video calls. Your local doctor will know how to use this.
The Royal Flying Doctor Service also has a service that connects people to health specialists through telephone and radio.
My Health Record
My Health Record is a digital summary of your health information. Your doctor and other specialists can share and access this information. This record can help if you live in a rural or remote area, as you might have multiple health providers in different places.
You can do this online learning module to better understand your My Health Record.
Health services and support across your life-course in Western Australia
There are many times in your life when you might need medical help. There are online and telephone support services that you can use.
Healthcare for babies and toddlers
If you are pregnant, or a parent of a young child call Pregnancy, Birth and Baby to speak to a maternal child health nurse on 1800 882 436 or video call. Available 7am to midnight (AET), 7 days a week.
Read about maternity services in rural and remote Western Australia.
Healthcare for children
Kids Helpline is for telephone and online counselling for people from 5 to 25 years. You can call them on 1800 55 1800.
Healthcare for teenagers
Headspace offers mental health support for people aged 12 to 25 years. Visit their website or call them on 1800 650 890.
Kids Helpline provides telephone and online counselling for people up to the age of 25 years, call 1800 55 1800.
ReachOut.com is a youth mental health service. Find out more at their website.
Learn more about sexual health.
Healthcare for older people
You can find out about aged care services near you through the My Aged Care website. Or you can call them on 1800 200 422.
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples' health
There are many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community health services in Western Australia.
The Aboriginal Health Council of Western Australia (AHCWA) is the peak body for Aboriginal health in WA.
Community Controlled Health Services provide Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health services such as:
Find out more about AHCWA.
See which Aboriginal health service is nearest to you.
Staying healthy
It's important to take care of both your mental and physical health no matter where you live. Learn more about how to stay healthy.
Travelling to medical and health services
If you need help getting to medical appointments, speak with your local health service. You may be able to get help with the Patient Assisted Travel Scheme. This can help with the cost of:
- transport to and from appointments
- accommodation
Western Australia Ambulance Service offers emergency and non-emergency transport.
The Royal Flying Doctor Service can also help with travel to some appointments.
If you are travelling to get medical care for a sick child, groups like Ronald McDonald House can help you with the cost of accommodation.
If you need to travel long distances, try to plan ahead.
Resources and support
Find out more about rural and remote health.
You can also call the healthdirect helpline on 1800 022 222 (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria). A registered nurse is available to speak with you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content.
Last reviewed: June 2025
