The Australian General Practice Network (AGPN), the organisation most likely to oversee the management of Medicare Locals, intends to expand and improve the palliative care services provided to all communities. 

According to AGPN Chair Emil Djakic, restructuring and reorganising the provision of palliative care must be key components of the Medicare Locals' agenda. "Part of the broader brief of Medicare Locals will be to look at the health needs of the whole community – so they will look into community needs and be working with the local health districts in looking at areas of need, challenges and opportunities for building services,” says Dr. Djakic.

Dr. Djakic emphasises the importance of multidisciplinary teams, which he says will be essential in delivering palliative care services. He adds that the Medicare Locals will be intrinsically involved with these teams to ensure the effective delivery of palliative care services.

"There seems to be a really great opportunity for Medicare Locals to join the dots here – so the patient can see that multidisciplinary team as an organised system … and making sure we’re not duplicating or conflicting services." 

Dr. Djakic also believes that the Medicare Locals can act as a bridge between stakeholders in the healthcare industry and those who decide on how funds should be directed, and that they can influence which sectors should be a priority.