In 2015, the Department of Health introduced the Modified Monash Model (MMM) classification system as it better targets health workforce programs by categorising metropolitan, regional, rural and remote areas according to both geographical remoteness, as defined by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, and town size. The MMM 2019 was updated on 1 July 2019.
The MMM2023 was updated on 10 March 2025 to use the latest available Australian Bureau of Statistics (2021) Census data and geography information.
The 2023 MMM uses the following data sets:
• Australian Statistical Geography Standard 2021 Statistical Area 1; and Urban Centres and Localities as the geographic bases;
• Australian Statistical Geography Standard – Remoteness Area 2021 as the ABS remoteness classification (based on Accessibility and Remoteness Index of Australia (ARIA+);
• Estimated Resident Population 2023; and
• Esri ArcGIS StreetMap Premium Asia Pacific 2021
