The NP-Led Primary/Public Health Model: Policy Pathways, Rural Access & Workforce Visibility
1
Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioner, Healthcare from Anywhere, Cowes, Australia
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Globally, workforce shortages and inequitable access to primary and public health services remain significant barriers to achieving universal health coverage. Many countries, including South Africa, are progressing toward advanced practice nursing frameworks, yet face challenges with regulation, role clarity, and workforce retention. In Australia, Nurse Practitioners (NPs) have established an evidence-based, advanced-practice model that improves access and outcomes in both rural and public-health contexts. This project presents the NP model as a policy case study, demonstrating how mentorship, visibility, and leadership integration can strengthen public health systems and support countries advancing similar reforms.
METHODS:
The initiative operates across two Australian primary/public-health contexts: a regional general practice (Wonthaggi Medical Group) and a national telehealth women’s-health service (Healthcare From Anywhere). Using a participatory action-learning approach, it applies two strategies: 1) Structured NP-based mentorship to retain rural nurses and support progression to advanced clinical practice, leadership, and autonomy; 2) Visibility frameworks that communicate the NP role within primary/public-health systems and policy networks. Evaluation focuses on workforce sustainability, access, and alignment with national health-policy priorities.
RESULTS:
Preliminary outcomes show improved collaboration between NPs and practice nurses, enhanced rural workforce retention, and greater recognition of NP-led care in community and policy settings. Participants reported increased confidence in advanced clinical decision-making and leadership. Engagement with regional health networks and policy forums has highlighted the NP model’s potential transferability to health systems developing advanced-practice frameworks, including those in southern Africa.
CONCLUSIONS:
The NP-led primary/public-health model demonstrates how policy-enabled advanced nursing practice can strengthen equitable care and workforce sustainability. By embedding mentorship, visibility, and leadership, the model provides a scalable framework for countries transitioning toward advanced-practice recognition, supporting universal health-coverage goals and the transformation of primary and public health systems worldwide.
Globally, workforce shortages and inequitable access to primary and public health services remain significant barriers to achieving universal health coverage. Many countries, including South Africa, are progressing toward advanced practice nursing frameworks, yet face challenges with regulation, role clarity, and workforce retention. In Australia, Nurse Practitioners (NPs) have established an evidence-based, advanced-practice model that improves access and outcomes in both rural and public-health contexts. This project presents the NP model as a policy case study, demonstrating how mentorship, visibility, and leadership integration can strengthen public health systems and support countries advancing similar reforms.
METHODS:
The initiative operates across two Australian primary/public-health contexts: a regional general practice (Wonthaggi Medical Group) and a national telehealth women’s-health service (Healthcare From Anywhere). Using a participatory action-learning approach, it applies two strategies: 1) Structured NP-based mentorship to retain rural nurses and support progression to advanced clinical practice, leadership, and autonomy; 2) Visibility frameworks that communicate the NP role within primary/public-health systems and policy networks. Evaluation focuses on workforce sustainability, access, and alignment with national health-policy priorities.
RESULTS:
Preliminary outcomes show improved collaboration between NPs and practice nurses, enhanced rural workforce retention, and greater recognition of NP-led care in community and policy settings. Participants reported increased confidence in advanced clinical decision-making and leadership. Engagement with regional health networks and policy forums has highlighted the NP model’s potential transferability to health systems developing advanced-practice frameworks, including those in southern Africa.
CONCLUSIONS:
The NP-led primary/public-health model demonstrates how policy-enabled advanced nursing practice can strengthen equitable care and workforce sustainability. By embedding mentorship, visibility, and leadership, the model provides a scalable framework for countries transitioning toward advanced-practice recognition, supporting universal health-coverage goals and the transformation of primary and public health systems worldwide.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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