About us

As a Primary Health Network, we receive limited funds from the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care, with the expectation that we will commission for the greatest possible outcomes. We also recognise that we are not the only organisation in the market commissioning health care activities. We therefore commission activities according to greatest need, helping to address health disparities between different population groups and locations within our region.

We consult with the community and other sectors, including the health, education and social care sectors. The approach we take may not always be the ‘obvious’ one. Our commissioning intentions are based on many factors, including:

• population health data (comprising quantitative and qualitative data)
• service gaps and needs
• barriers and enablers to health and health care access
• social determinants of health
• the health system as a whole
• equity in terms of access to health care and outcomes.

Regardless of whether we are working with our staff or our sector and community, respect is fundamental in our relationships. We acknowledge that everyone brings different experiences, views and approaches to the table, and there is often no right way or wrong way.

Together, we work to achieve the best outcomes for our community with the resources available.

We do so by:

• striving to embrace different opinions. This means providing a respectful environment where it is safe to have a voice and learn from constructive criticism, while recognising that trust needs to be earned
• understanding and respecting the experience of our consumers and communities and ensuring this knowledge informs our decision-making
• enjoying the sharing of ideas, while recognising this works both ways, and that finding the space to do this can be challenging
• respecting the professionalism of our stakeholders and their commitment to building relationships for themselves and their organisations
• recognising that working respectfully increases our shared approach of collaboration, innovation and individual, organisational and systemic growth
• basing our shared investment on data (clarity, parity, quality and integrity).

Commissioning is not about us doing it ourselves, it is about working together, for our community, with our community.

For us, collaboration (internal and external) means:

• we believe we can all add value to each other’s work
• we actively seek to involve others to help inform and improve our work, which builds strength and confidence in our approach
• we challenge ourselves to find better ways of doing things, asking for input and being open to what we hear
• we see collaboration as the strongest form of working together, and we build partnerships as we leverage each other’s work and effort
• we share resources and knowledge, and work together for shared outcomes (for example, by pooling resources). This ensures we fund activities that benefit our community
• we seek to identify links between programs and populations, to strengthen existing connections or build new ones.

When we work collaboratively, we:

• communicate openly and respectfully
• get off our chairs and talk to each other ‘in the moment’
• seize opportunities to connect
• use systems/processes in place and help improve them if necessary
• encourage a healthy culture through sharing ideas, efforts, resources and challenges.

In working with you as a contracted provider, we welcome the opportunity to share our values, and will remain aware of the values guiding you and your organisation.

We believe that innovation – finding new, better ways to solve health care problems or address issues – is critical to us being able to provide better care for our community.

This means we are open to different approaches – new ways of thinking and working – if they will better meet the needs of consumers or provide better value for the community.

We ensure primary care providers can access the best education, tools and resources. We promote primary care as a rewarding career path.

We commission co-designed local and regional solutions to address service gaps, better integrate health care and ensure equitable access.

We deliver timely and relevant localised information to health care providers. We provide evidence-based, accessible information to inform and empower the diverse communities in our region.

We foster strong partnerships and collaborations across local, state and federal governments – between primary health, acute and specialist services.

We advocate for primary care as the foundation for a high-performing and sustainable health system.