MMM rural classification lookup
Type a 4-digit Australian postcode to see its MMM 1 to 7 rating, rural incentive eligibility, and WIP Doctor Stream hint. No account needed.
What the MMM tiers mean
Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra (city centre). No rural incentives.
Newcastle, Geelong, Hobart, Gold Coast. Still metro-adjacent; no WIP.
Cairns, Townsville, Bendigo, Launceston. WIP Doctor Stream begins.
Orange, Rockhampton, Mackay. Higher WIP tier, NDIS travel cap relaxes to 60 min.
Cooma, Longreach, Ceduna. Peak WIP; significant loading on contracts.
Karratha, Port Hedland, Kununurra. FIFO-heavy; remote endorsement often required.
Alice Springs, Tennant Creek, Torres Strait, Kimberley outposts. Peak rural loading.
Related for rural locums
- Super for locum contractorss12(3) SGAA on agency shifts, including rural and FIFO.
- NDIS Pricing 2025-26MMM 3, 30-minute and 60-minute travel caps. Rural uplifts.
- ATO cents-per-km calculator88 cents / km, 5,000 km cap. Critical for rural drives.
- Locum GPs in Far North QueenslandFNQ catchment overview with MMM 5-7 specifics.
- Locum GPs in the PilbaraWA remote catchment, FIFO rosters, whole-of-package rates.
- ATO tax planning for locumsRural-workload implications for the tax reserve.
Common questions
What is MMM?
The Modified Monash Model is a 7-category classification of remoteness for health workforce policy. MMM 1 covers major cities (Sydney, Melbourne). MMM 2-3 covers regional centres (Newcastle, Bendigo, Cairns). MMM 4-5 covers small rural towns and outer regional. MMM 6-7 covers remote and very remote (Pilbara, Far North Queensland, Regional NT). The classification drives eligibility for the Workforce Incentive Program, rural loading, and certain Medicare items.
Which MMM version does this use?
This tool uses the MMM 2019 dataset (the version bundled in the public australianpostcodes file). The version a program uses can differ: the NDIS moved to MMM 2023 from 24 November 2025, while several Department of Health and ATO workforce programs still reference MMM 2019. Confirm which version your specific program uses, and check the Department of Health workforce locator for an authoritative classification of a given address.
What incentives does MMM unlock?
WIP Doctor Stream: MMM 3-7 is eligible for annual payments that scale with remoteness and full-time-equivalent practice. The exact amount is set by the current Workforce Incentive Program guidelines: check the Department of Health and Aged Care for your tier. NDIS travel caps relax in MMM 4-5 (60 minutes one-way) and MMM 6-7 (no simple cap). HECS-HELP forgiveness and bonded GP incentives operate on similar tiers. Exact eligibility depends on profession, full-time-equivalent hours, and location tenure.
What happens if a postcode has multiple MMM values?
A postcode can span multiple MMM categories if it covers a large area. Sessional returns the predominant MMM for the postcode centroid. For boundary cases (a practice on the edge of a postcode), check the Department of Health DoctorConnect locator for the specific street address.
Is the data free?
Yes. The underlying dataset is the matthewproctor/australianpostcodes public-domain file, bundled into the app. No API keys, no rate limits. Sessional checks it on every shift your profile records so your earnings dashboard flags rural-incentive shifts automatically.