Overview

• GP services at Collingwood, Fitzroy and Kensington will cease in December 2025, affecting more than 12,000 patients, with remaining Collingwood services to close in mid-2026 as the site is sold.
• Cohealth cites decades of underinvestment, ageing infrastructure and Medicare rebates that do not cover the cost of caring for high‑needs patients as reasons for the withdrawals.
• The federal health department called the decision deeply disappointing and, with the North Western Melbourne PHN, has met cohealth to explore options to improve financial sustainability.
• Upcoming Medicare changes in November will increase payments for clinics that bulk bill every patient, though clinicians involved say the reforms are unlikely to arrive in time to avert closures.
• Specialised alcohol and drug programs, the public drunkenness response and needle exchanges continue, and bulk-billed GP care remains at other cohealth sites including Footscray and the CBD.