The Mount Isa Health Services District covers 380 000 square kilometres, encompasses the towns from the Northern Territory border to Richmond, North to the communities of Mornington Island and Karumba in the Gulf of Carpentaria and as far South as the town of Dajarra.

The economic basis for the district consists of mining, cattle, fishing and tourism, and the subsequent support structures of these industries.

The total District Population is 33 474 (ABS1996) density ranges from 0.55 persons per square kilometre in Mt Isa itself, to less than 0.03 persons per square kilometre in the more remote communities. There are 6389 indigenous (ATSI) residents in the district. This represents 19% of the population and 7% of the states indigenous population. The age structure of the district is predominantly young. 41% of the population is less than 24 years of age, 74% under the age of 45 years, and only 6% is aged more than 60. This is compared to the whole of Queensland where 12% of persons are over the age of 60 (ABS 1996).