NWMPHN will soon seek to commission three accredited general practices to deliver the Health Care Neighbourhood Project in the Melton local government area.

The general practices will participate in the design and implementation of a multidisciplinary team (MDT) model of care, specific to patients in each area.

Each successful applicant will receive $49,950 (ex. GST) over an 18-month period.

The request for information (RFI) is expected to be released on 16 January 2026, with submissions closing on 5 February 2026 at 3pm AEDT.

What is the Health Care Neighbourhood Project?

As part of the Australian Government’s Strengthening Medicare reforms, primary health networks across the country are building multidisciplinary care teams to deliver high-quality continuity of care to address people’s health needs.

With funding from the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, NWMPHN is commissioning multidisciplinary care from allied health professionals and general practices to improve the health of under-served patients.

Known as the Health Care Neighbourhood Project, this activity focuses on the Melton LGA, in which residents have high rates of complex and chronic conditions.

NWMPHN is commissioning three general practices and a neighbourhood care team. Successful applicants will work together, and with patients and other community members, to co-design a multidisciplinary model of care that best suits each practice’s ways of working and patient cohort.

The Health Care Neighbourhood Project aims to:

• strengthen the capability of primary care providers to deliver multidisciplinary care
• improve patient care by designing and delivering multidisciplinary care in general practice.

The intended long-term outcomes include:

• Participating GP practices and allied health clinicians develop capability, and sustain the model of care beyond the life cycle of the project.
• Broader acceptance that the multidisciplinary model of care is a good way of working and is integrated into general practice.
• Improved chronic disease management, leading to better patient outcomes, reduced hospital admissions and improved integration.

This funding will be used to support the practices participation in the project, and for activities related to multidisciplinary care not currently funded via MBS. The funding is not for direct patient care; practices will utilise MBS items for this. Patients participating in the project must be bulk billed.

The neighbourhood care team

The neighbourhood care team – also commissioned by NWMPHN – will comprise a clinical care coordinator and a social worker.

It will be highly mobile and spend one day a week with each of the three participating general practices. It will assist staff in assessing patient need, delivering care, supporting patient self-management, and coordinating access to other allied health and support services in the local area.

Eligibility and locations

Accredited general practices located within the Melton LGA are eligible to apply. Practices must have 2-4 GPs consulting at the practice and will need to nominate a lead GP, a practice nurse and an administrator for the project.

Applicants must:

• Demonstrate capacity to participate in co-design and implementation of the Health Care Neighbourhood Project.
• Commit to collaborate with NWMPHN, the neighbourhood care team, patients and other community members.
• Agree to utilise supplementary funding to support the delivery of enhanced multidisciplinary care at no cost to patients. This funding is designed to cover services and activities that are not funded through standard MBS arrangements. All patients involved in the project must be bulk billed.

Please note: providers applying to participate in the project as a neighbourhood care team are not eligible to apply for this general practice funding component.

Market briefing

An online market briefing session will be held on 12 January 2026 from 11:30am to 12:30pm.

To register, please click here.

Attendees will be able to ask questions via the Q&A during the briefing. Answers will be released with the RFI.

A recording of the briefing will also be available in the RFI pack.

Request for information process

The RFI is expected to be released on 16 January 2026, with submissions closing on 5 February 2026 at 3pm.

NWMPHN will use Tenderlink as the application portal.

Tenderlink is a secure online procurement and tendering platform used by organisations to manage and publish RFI, tender and other opportunities. Suppliers can register, access documents, submit responses, and receive updates.

Interested providers must create an account and be registered on Tenderlink to be notified and apply for this RFI. Visit tenderlink.com/mpcn and view Tenderlink registration information (.pdf) to set up your account.

A notification will also be published in NWMPHN’s e-newsletter and on our website once the RFI opens.

Communication and enquiries

As this advance notice is the first step of an approach to market, NWMPHN cannot currently respond to enquiries about this opportunity.

Questions can be submitted in writing via Tenderlink once the RFI opens.