The Department of Human Services is bringing Medicare and Centrelink services together in Parramatta and Merrylands from Monday 21 September 2015 to form two new one-stop shops for Western Sydney residents.
Medicare services and staff from the Parramatta Service Centre within Westfield Parramatta will relocate to both the Parramatta Service Centre on Macquarie Street and the Merrylands Service Centre on Pitt Street.
The department’s General Manager Hank Jongen said Parramatta and Merrylands join over 200 communities around Australia that now have access to the department’s one-stop shops.
“Moving Medicare services to the Parramatta Service Centre will make access to government services easier for residents, saving them a trip across the city to do both their Centrelink and Medicare business,” Mr Jongen said.
“Introducing Medicare services to Merrylands will also benefit local residents who would otherwise travel to Parramatta or Fairfield to access face-to-face services.
“One-stop shops are part of a national service delivery rollout that provides convenient, easy-to-access, coordinated services in the one location.”
Mr Jongen said the number of people visiting the service centre within Westfield Parramatta had significantly dropped, and combined with the expiry of the current lease, has influenced the decision to co-locate services at Macquarie Street in Parramatta and Merrylands.
“Foot traffic at this centre has halved since the move away from Medicare cash rebates in 2012 and the increasing number of doctors offering electronic claiming services at the surgery,” Mr Jongen said.
“The best way to claim your Medicare benefit is directly at the GP. Nationally, over 95 per cent of all Medicare claims are now lodged electronically at the point of service.
“I also encourage residents to find out about the range of digital services available through myGov and the department’s Express Plus apps, which allow people to do their routine government business where and when it suits them.
“However, staff will always be available to provide face-to-face services to people who require more intensive or personalised support.”
Parramatta Service Centre, located at 2-12 Macquarie Street, and Merrylands Service Centre, at 207-209 Pitt Street, will open Monday to Friday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.
