SWSPHN is a not-for-profit health organisation funded by the Australian Government.
We’re one of 31 PHNs across the country, which assess the healthcare needs of our communities and commission health services to meet those needs. We support health services to connect with each other to improve patient care and strengthen the primary healthcare system.
With the DHDA’s Strengthening Medicare measures, our role has expanded to include more meaningful support for allied health providers.
As Australia’s population ages, the importance of better integrating allied health and general practice to meet the growing demand for complex, coordinated care for patients with chronic disease, has become increasingly clear.
We’re working across the healthcare spectrum – allied health, general practice, nursing, community and tertiary services – to ensure the stronger partnerships and multidisciplinary collaboration needed for better health outcomes for our community.
The 3Cs
SWSPHN supports allied health, general practice and other primary healthcare providers by:
Coordinating care: We act as a bridge between GPs, hospitals, Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs), residential aged care homes and community health. We’ve been funded to bring allied health into the mix with the aim of increasing awareness about the scope and role of allied health providers, and building stronger connections between allied health and other primary care providers.
Commissioning services: We support locally led, co-designed projects and services, and grant opportunities which address identified gaps in health service provision in South Western Sydney. This provides allied health providers with opportunities to influence priorities, diversify income and contribute to population health initiatives like the Healthy Eating Active Lifestyle (HEAL) program.
Capacity building: We offer general practice and other primary care providers training and professional development opportunities. For allied health providers, SWSPHN’s The Common Ground series aims to remove siloed healthcare by bringing local GPs, nurses and allied health professionals together to explore real-world case studies, practical workflows, and shared approaches to managing complex care.
Additional information:
- Australia’s Primary Health Care 10 Year Plan 2022–2032 – the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing’s priority to strengthen primary healthcare
- Unleashing the potential of our health workforce – analysis of the barriers and opportunities to allow healthcare professionals to work to their full scope of practice in primary care
- National PHN allied health engagement framework and toolkit – areas PHNs are prioritising to increase our collaboration with allied health
- Find out more about the role of SWSPHN and our work
Main picture: Dr Grigoris Platis from Myhealth Macarthur Square Medical Clinic (left to right), Nisha and Anthony Tomelic from Gold Standard Physiotherapy and Sports Medicine collaborate on patient care.