Community representatives tour a Hurstville clinic that is championing accessible Medicare for all. Picture supplied

A Hurstville medical centre's transition to a fully bulk-billing model is putting focus on the ongoing role of clinics in providing accessible and culturally inclusive healthcare to the diverse St George region.

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Federal Member for Barton Ash Ambihaipahar and Georges River councillor Ben Wang visited the Hurstville Highpoint Medical Centre to meet with staff and discuss the challenges and opportunities facing primary healthcare in one of Sydney's most diverse communities.

The practice shifted to a fully bulk-billing model in November 2025, operating as one of 34 bulk-billing practices across the Barton electorate. The centre also reflects the multicultural makeup of the area, with staff offering services in languages including Mandarin, Cantonese, Filipino, and Bengali to remove potential communication barriers for patients.

Jason Xie, principal doctor at Hurstville Highpoint Medical Centre, said the change in operations was tied directly to federal policy shifts. "We have been a fully bulk-billing clinic since the government implemented the bulk-billing incentives last November," Dr Xie said. "We provide bulk-billed healthcare services to the wider community, including GP consultations, allied health, pathology and ultrasound services."

However, the clinic's expansion of services comes amid broader industry pressures. "Although we are facing significant challenges due to the shortage of GPs, we warmly welcome younger doctors to join us in delivering better continuity of care and higher quality services to the Georges River community," Dr Xie added.

Community representatives emphasised the economic relief that bulk-billing clinics provide to residents during a period of sustained inflation.

"In the face of the cost-of-living crisis, I am so glad to see the federal government and healthcare professionals working together to provide free, fully bulk-billed medical services for our multicultural community in Hurstville," Mr Wang said.

The visit comes amid broader conversations regarding national bulk-billing rates. According to government data, more than 3800 bulk-billing practices are currently operating across the country following recent federal investments in Medicare incentives.

Ms Ambihaipahar said feedback from practitioners is vital to understanding how these national policies translate on the ground. "Speaking directly with the doctors and staff at Hurstville Highpoint Medical Centre gave me a real insight into the challenges and opportunities facing primary healthcare in our community," she said. "Their commitment to bulk billing is helping remove financial barriers to care and making a meaningful difference for local patients."