The Cardwell community came together this week to celebrate the transition of Cardwell Medical Practice back to a private, locally run medical service - marking a new chapter for local primary healthcare. 

The event - supported by Northern Queensland Primary Health Network (NQPHN), Townsville Hospital and Health Service (HHS), and Cassowary Coast Regional Council - recognised the collaborative effort that contributed to securing long-term healthcare services for the area. 

With support from the Department of Health, Disability, and Ageing’s (DHDA’s) Thin Markets initiative, and following a competitive tender process, Cardwell Medical Practice (formerly Cardwell Family Practice) transitioned to a private practice on 1 July 2025.  

Clinic staff and partner organisations have worked hard throughout the transition to ensure the Cardwell community continues to access services without interruption. For patients, it’s been business as usual. 

The clinic is supported by Ingham Family Medical Practice and staffed by a locally based team, including long-term, stable general practitioners, to ensure continued access to quality care for Cardwell residents. 

The milestone follows an extensive process that began in 2023, when the Cardwell practice announced its planned closure. In response, NQPHN, Townsville HHS, and the Cassowary Coast Regional Council worked closely with the community to find a sustainable, long-term solution. During this time, Townsville HHS managed the clinic on an interim basis while future plans were finalised. 

Cardwell is now the second community in northern Queensland to benefit from the Thin Markets initiative, which is designed to support areas with limited access to primary care services. The first was Mission Medical in Mission Beach, which opened in November 2024 as the first practice in Australia under the Thin Markets program. 

NQPHN CEO Ben Tooth said the transition was a positive outcome for the community. 

“The Thin Markets funding has allowed us to explore new and innovative ways to ensure small communities are supported,” Mr Tooth said. “We’re proud to have worked with our partners and the community to achieve this solution specifically for Cardwell.  

“It truly reflects the dedication and hard work from everyone involved, including the teams on the ground. 

“It’s a step closer to our vision of all northern Queenslanders living happier, healthier, longer lives.”  

Townsville Hospital and Health Board Chair Tony Mooney said: “As a health service, we’re incredibly proud to have supported the Cardwell community through this transition period, and we’re excited to now see the practice return to local hands. 

“This outcome is a testament to what’s possible when we work together; local state and federal stakeholders collaborating with a shared goal and a determination to deliver for the people who matter most. 

“I want to thank our health service team, NQPHN, the Cassowary Coast Regional Council, the Member for Hinchinbrook Nick Dametto, and of course, the staff at the practice who kept it running during this time. 

“Everyone’s efforts meant that patients from the Cardwell community could continue seeing a doctor locally, even during an uncertain period.” 

Cassowary Coast Regional Council Mayor Teresa Millwood said, the transition of the Cardwell Medical Practice is a significant milestone for our region and the result of years of determined advocacy, collaboration, and community effort. 

“Following the results of the 2022 Community Scorecard, which highlighted the community’s strong desire for improved regional medical services, Council made advocacy in this area a key priority. 

“We are proud to have worked closely with Northern Queensland PHN, Townsville Hospital and Health Service, and local stakeholders to help make this possible,” said Mayor Millwood.  

“This is not just the return of vital health services, it marks the beginning of a new chapter in delivering sustainable, community-focused primary health care across the Cassowary Coast.” 

Ingham Family Medical Practice will support the Cardwell practice. Principal General Practitioner Dr Brett Scott said: “We are proud to assist the Cardwell community to access stable and ongoing medical care. 

“Retaining the staff at the Cardwell practice has been key to providing consistency and familiarity for the patients.   

“With the support of my team, the commitment of the staff at Cardwell Medical Practice, and the support of the community, I am confident we can ensure this service continues to serve Cardwell well into the future.” 

People living in the Mareeba Shire and Atherton Tablelands regions who are feeling overwhelmed and stressed out will soon have a new kind of community support to turn to. 

Northern Queensland Primary Health Network (NQPHN) is pleased to announce Mareeba Community Centre and Beacon Strategies will deliver Distress Brief Support, a community-based trial designed to help people navigate life’s everyday pressures - before it gets too much. 

North Queensland is one of only two Queensland sites selected as part of a national trial, the other being in Ipswich. 

NQPHN CEO Ben Tooth said Distress Brief Support wasn’t a traditional mental health or suicide prevention service or program. 

“Through extensive consultation, we heard that community members reached out to family, friends, and social networks or groups when they were stressed, rather than using traditional services,” Mr Tooth said. 

“Distress Brief Support is about connection to community support for people who might not walk into a formal service, but would turn up to a barbecue, sewing club, or Men’s Shed, where conversations naturally happen. 

“This approach has been codesigned with community organisations and community members, and we are pleased to work with Mareeba Community Centre and Beacon Strategies, so people can get support from their communities through their everyday interactions.” 

Distress Brief Support includes two elements: 

• Community engagement points, which offer immediate compassionate support, and, 

• A short-term team that provides support for up to three weeks and connections to longer-term services if needed. 

Mareeba Community Centre Inc will deliver the short-term support across the communities. 

CEO Julie Theakston said the short-term support team would link people with support services and other resources to assist them as they navigated everyday life challenges. 

“We look forward to engaging in a non-clinical, person-centred, and holistic way with people across the Atherton Tablelands and Mareeba areas who are experiencing distress. 

“We’re excited to be working with NQPHN on this project.” 

Through consultation, the importance of support to those in the community who are key engagement points was heard strongly. With this in mind, Beacon Strategies has been engaged to support the community engagement points to confidently refer people to the short-term support team. 

CEO Mitch Stalker said: “Strengthening the capacity of these local touchpoints is essential in addressing distress because it can’t be left to mental health and suicide prevention services alone. 

“We know from community feedback that local knowledge and trust are central to making this project work. That’s why we are employing locally. 

“We want to ensure the support provided to community engagement points is grounded in local context, relationships, and insight, and reflects what the community has told NQPHN they value most. 

“We’re excited to work with NQPHN and connect with a wide range of local groups, whether they’re neighbourhood centres, sporting clubs, or healthcare providers, so they can offer meaningful support to people experiencing distress.” 

Recruitment for the local positions is under way with service delivery expected to begin in the coming months. 

Distress Brief Support is funded through the Department of Health, Disability, and Ageing and Queensland Health.

More information about the initiative can be found on here.