In Australia, primary health care is typically a person's first point of contact with the health system and is most often provided outside the hospital system (Government of Western Australia Department of Health 2013). A person does not routinely need a referral for this level of care, which includes services provided by general medical and dental practitioners, nurses, Indigenous health workers, pharmacists and other allied health professionals such as physiotherapists, dietitians and chiropractors.
Primary health care is delivered in a variety of settings, including general practices, Aboriginal and Community Controlled Health Services, community health centres and allied health services, as well as within the community, and may incorporate activities such as public health promotion and prevention. Primary health care accounts for almost as much health spending as hospital services, accounting for 36.1% ($50.6 billion) of total health expenditure in 2011-12 compared with 38.2% ($53.5 billion) on hospital services (see Chapter 2 'How much does Australia spend on health care?'). Primary health care is covered in detail in Chapter 8 'Primary health care in Australia'.