29 September 2026
No single model fits all practices.
Social prescribing can be delivered through:
- link worker models
- light-touch signposting
- volunteer or peer connectors
- hybrid community-supported approaches
- digital navigation platforms
- integrated care pathways
Common barriers in general practice
- time and workload pressures
- unclear referral pathways
- limited resourcing
- variable program availability
Evidence
- a review of 159 programs found substantial variation, with no single best model (Oster et al 2023)
- link worker models improve outcomes but are resource-intensive and harder to scale (Sharman et al2025)
Find local programs and refer patients
Work in Liverpool LGA? Help shape the local pilot
Our nine-part series on Social Prescribing in general practice is provided by the Lurnea Community Hub as part of its pilot Social Prescribing Program.
This article appeared in Practice Pulse on Wednesday, 29 September 2026. If you are a GP, practice nurse or practice manager in South Western Sydney and do not get the weekly Practice Pulse email, speak to your Practice Support Officer.