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Applications open to establish Priority Primary Care Centres

A GP checking a patient's badly sprained ankle.
  24 October 2022  NWMPHN   

Please note: this EOI has closed. The below information is retained for transparency only.

The Victorian Government is funding 25 Priority Primary Care Centres (PPCCs) across the state. Primary Health Networks (PHNs) are commissioning these clinics in their respective regions.

The clinics will ease pressure on nearby hospital emergency departments. They will provide GP-led care for urgent but non-life-threatening conditions such as mild infections, fractures and burns. They will also offer pathology and imaging services. Care will be available to anyone with or without a Medicare card, at no cost to the patient.

Site locations

Five of the 25 clinics – collectively, Tranche 1 – were announced and commissioned earlier in 2022. These will be located close to The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Northern Hospital Epping, Sunshine Hospital, Monash Medical Centre Clayton, and Grampians Health Ballarat.

Commissioning is now underway for Tranche 2 clinics. PHNs are conducting expression of interest (EOI) processes for eligible primary care providers wishing to establish and operate these clinics in their regions.

North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network (NWMPHN) is now accepting EOIs for 5 Tranche 2 clinics.

They will be located in close proximity to:

  1. Werribee Mercy Hospital
  2. St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne
  3. Footscray Hospital

Within these suburbs:

  1. Sunbury, as a satellite to the Royal Melbourne Hospital
  2. Craigieburn or Roxburgh Park, as a satellite to the Northern Hospital Epping

Please note:

  • The Department has confirmed there is not a specified distance for the Priority Primary Care Centre to be located in relation to the Emergency Department, however preference is for clinics in a close proximity.
  • Each application will be assessed against all mandatory and weighted criteria including the proposed PPCC locations within reasonable proximity to the nominated primary hospital’s emergency department (except in the case of satellite clinics where  the requirement will be location remains within the target suburb(s)).
  • Providers in the NWMPHN region may also wish to submit an EOI for the PPCC to be established near the The Alfred Hospital. South Eastern Melbourne PHN is conducting this EOI – visit the SEMPHN website for more information. NWMPHN will share this EOI process with providers in its region.
  • A PPCC will also be established near The Royal Children’s Hospital. More information about the commissioning process and operating model for this clinic will be shared soon.

 Visit the Better Health Channel website for a list of all PPCC sites. All information about PPCCs in the NWMPHN region is available at nwmphn.org.au/ppcc

Funding model

An initial establishment grant of up to $150,000 will be available to PPCC service providers. Additionally, a monthly operating grant of approximately $180,000 is available, in line with the PPCC service model. This cannot be used to support existing services or operating hours.

EOI documentation and process

This EOI has closed.