06 July 2026
SWSPHN’s digital health team supports practices to implement My Health Record by offering hands-on assistance with registrations, software integration, staff training and security policies.
My Health Record is a digital summary of an individual’s key health information. When properly maintained it helps to paint a more complete picture of someone’s health.
My Health Record centralises records – such as immunisations, hospital discharge summaries, medications, referrals and test results – making them accessible to patients and authorised healthcare providers, even in emergencies.
SWSPHN’s support helps practices improve patient care, increase efficiency and ensure secure, comprehensive information exchange, promoting better healthcare.
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What SWSPHN can do
06 July 2026
When it comes to improving the health of Australians, the role of digital innovation and connection is a vital part of a modern, accessible healthcare system.
The Australian Digital Health Agency’s Online Learning Portal offers a range of resources for GPs, aged care professionals and allied health practitioners.
Courses help you manage My Health Record and electronic prescriptions and cover subjects such as clinical safety and cyber security. There is also a range of additional resources.
Find out more:
General practice
Aged care
Allied health
22 June 2026
With commencement of the Share by Default upload requirements on 1 July approaching, the Australian Digital Health Agency is sharing information and resources to help healthcare providers understand the upcoming changes.
From 1 July, most written pathology and diagnostic imaging reports authored by (or on behalf of) a pathologist or radiologist will be uploaded to My Health Record by default. The requirement does not include diagnostic images.
These changes will help ensure patients and healthcare providers can access important health information through My Health Record, supporting more connected and informed care.
What this means for healthcare providers:
- more pathology and diagnostic imaging reports will be available in My Health Record
- healthcare providers can continue to access reports through their existing clinical systems and workflows where available
- My Health Record can provide access to reports uploaded by other pathology and diagnostic imaging providers involved in a patient’s care, supporting continuity of care across healthcare settings
- patients may choose to access some pathology and diagnostic imaging reports through My Health Record before a follow-up consultation occurs
- at the time when pathology and diagnostic imaging services are requested, providers may wish to have a discussion with their patients regarding report availability and follow-up arrangements
- guidance resources are available to support conversations about understanding and interpreting results.
There are circumstances where a report may not be uploaded to My Health Record, because an exception applies.
This could apply where a consumer does not have a My Health Record; a consumer or their representative requests certain reports are not uploaded; a healthcare provider reasonably believes a report should not be shared because of a serious concern for the health, safety or wellbeing of the individual; or circumstances outside a healthcare provider’s control prevent upload (such as an unforeseen technical or system issue).
The organisation subject to the upload requirement must retain evidence of the exception for two years from the date the health service was provided.
Additional reasons a report may not be uploaded include where an extension of time to comply has been applied for, preserved privacy laws apply, or the type of report is not required to be uploaded.
Access information and resources
Read guide for requesting providers
Read consumer fact sheet
This article appeared in Practice Pulse on Wednesday, 24 June 2026. If you are a GP, practice nurse or practice manager in South Western Sydney and do not get the weekly Practice Pulse email, speak to your Practice Support Officer.
15 June 2026
SafeScript NSW allows GPs and pharmacists to access information about a patient’s prescription history for certain monitored medicines.
Some medicines, such as opioids and benzodiazepines, have the potential to cause harm when taken in high doses, or with other medicines, so it’s important GPs and pharmacists know what monitored medicines their patients are taking.
Prescribers will also have access to key patient information held by NSW Health which enables them to fulfill their legal requirements for prescribing and/or supplying high-risk medicines.
Registration is simple and online training is available.
Find out more
13 May 2026
Practice managers are being urged to check with their IT support provider or website administrator following a cPanel cyber security alert issued by the Australian Digital Health Agency (ADHA).
The alert relates to a security vulnerability affecting cPanel and Web Host Manager – systems commonly used to manage websites, web hosting and online services.
According to the ADHA, the vulnerability could allow cyber attackers to gain administrator access without needing a password. Practices which use cPanel may be at risk, including websites or other hosted data and services.
What practices should do:
- contact your IT support provider or website administrator as soon as possible
- ask them to check whether your practice uses cPanel
- ensure any affected systems are updated and secured
- ask them to review for any signs of suspicious activity or compromise
The ADHA advises organisations to apply security patches urgently and restrict external access where required.
Read full security alert
12 May 2026
SWSPHN is offering fully funded Husky licences for up to 100 general practices across the region.
Husky, available via POLAR Explorer, provides practices with real-time insights to support:
- identification of patients requiring follow-up or review
- quality improvement and accreditation activities
- improved preventative care and chronic disease management
- streamlined practice workflows and reporting
Practices which register before 30 June and enter the code FIRST100SWS at checkout will receive a 30-day free trial, followed by 12 months of Husky at no cost, funded by SWSPHN.
All SWSPHN practices are eligible to participate. The offer is available to the first 100 practices which register and activate their subscription.
Simply log into POLAR Explorer and click “subscribe here!”, select a yearly subscription and enter the code FIRST100SWS at checkout.
To support onboarding, practices are encouraged to book a one-on-one demonstration using their own practice data, where the Husky team will walk through key features and use cases relevant to your clinic.
Please note: This offer is limited to the first 100 practices. Following the funded period, an ongoing subscription of $960 plus GST per year will apply.
Book a demo
07 May 2026
The National Allied Health Digital Uplift Plan aims to improve digital capability for the allied health workforce and allow care teams to share key information.
Developed by the Australian Digital Health Agency, in partnership with the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing and Allied Health Professions Australia, the plan offers training and support to start using tools such as My Health Record and Provider Connect Australia.
Improving the way health information is shared and accessed allows more timely, coordinated and personalised care, and better support and outcomes for patients.
Providers can email questions to digitalhealth@swsphn.com.au.
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08 April 2026
When digital health services are connected, authorised residential aged care staff and healthcare providers have immediate access to a resident’s key health information.
Services such as My Health Record, electronic prescriptions, Active Script List and telehealth enable aged care homes to offer their residents better continuity of care and allows GPs to expand their treatment base, ensuring better health outcomes.
More than 90 per cent of eligible residential aged care homes in South Western Sydney have accepted an offer of telehealth equipment from SWSPHN. Onsite workshops and webinars were conducted and reinforced by one-on-one training of staff and clinicians.
Questions? Reach out to the digital health team at DigitalHealth@swsphn.com.au.
Find out more
Watch the video
07 April 2026
Electronic prescribing is an alternative to paper prescriptions, providing patients with convenient access to their medicines and reducing the risk of errors. Patients have a choice to receive either an electronic or a paper prescription – but not both.
Sent directly to the patient’s mobile phone or email by their GP, electronic prescribing promises secure and efficient supply of vital medicines.
They can also be added to an Active Script List if patients register for one. It’s a digital list of your electronic prescriptions and barcoded paper prescriptions, and a convenient option for those who take multiple medications.
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23 March 2026
MyMedicare is a voluntary patient registration system which aims to strengthen the bond between GPs, primary care teams and patients.
Practices can access:
- more information about regular patients, making it easier to tailor services to fit patient needs
- longer telehealth items linked to MyMedicare including MBS-funded phone calls and a triple bulk billing incentive for longer MBS telehealth consultations for children under 16, pensioners and concession card holders
Key messages for patient discussions:
- reassure patients their care remains unchanged if they choose not to register
- ensure patients provide informed consent before being registered for MyMedicare
- let patients know the benefits of registering, for them and the practice
Patients need a Medicare or Veterans card. To register with a specific general practice, they must have made at least two face-to-face visits in the last 24 months.
Find out more
- The MyMedicare Patient Privacy Notice has been updated to provide clearer information on how patient data is collected, used and shared across relevant government agencies. This update relates to how patient information is used, not practice information. MyMedicare privacy notice
