Allied health workforce support in South Western Sydney

A national PHN Allied Health in Primary Care Engagement Framework has been introduced to strengthen collaboration between Primary Health Networks (PHNs) and allied health professionals.

As part of this, South Western Sydney PHN (SWSPHN) is expanding its work with local allied health providers to improve patient care, integration, and access to services. We have established a dedicated allied health portfolio within our Primary Care Workforce team to lead this work and ensure comprehensive allied health workforce support in South Western Sydney.

How we support allied health professionals

We are committed to creating practical and meaningful opportunities for the allied health workforce in South Western Sydney. Here’s how you can get involved:

The Common Ground CPD series

Free CPD events for GPs, GP registrars, nurses and allied health professionals in South Western Sydney focused on multidisciplinary collaboration, shared care, and managing complex care.

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Funding opportunity: Multidisciplinary Team Care Grants

SWSPHN has secured Multidisciplinary Team Care funding from the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. We invited accredited exercise physiologists and physiotherapists to apply for a grant of up to $42,000 to deliver the Healthy Eating Active Lifestyle (HEAL) Program within South Western Sydney in early 2025.

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New research project: MDT-PuRe-Primary Care

We support a research project aimed at improving care for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This includes:
• Multidisciplinary team care planning with GPs
• Pulmonary rehabilitation programs delivered in primary care by private exercise physiologists and physiotherapists

We will engage exercise physiologists and physiotherapists once general practices are confirmed.

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Allied health workforce and job recruitment support

SWSPHN promotes the Workforce Incentive Program (WIP) Practice Stream, which provides financial incentives to help general practices employ allied health professionals.

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Our General Practice vacancies job board helps practices fill positions, including allied health roles. In 2025, this service will expand to support multidisciplinary care opportunities.

Explore job opportunities
Allied health newsletter

The Common Ground is an allied health newsletter for professionals across South Western Sydney. The newsletter shares updates on grants and funding opportunities, local health initiatives, policy and clinical changes, education and training opportunities, and resources to support allied health professionals working in primary care.

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Grow your knowledge with local CPD

The Continuing Professional Development (CPD) program offers sessions throughout the year which align with local health priorities. Sessions are in-person, online or hybrid.

See events
Find co-location and collaboration opportunities

An online Practice Noticeboard is being developed to help allied health professionals connect with general practices for co-location and integrated care opportunities.

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Share your expertise to shape service delivery in our community

Local Health Forums bring together GPs, allied health professionals, service providers, and community members to explore shared priorities and strengthen networks.

They give healthcare professionals living and working in South Western Sydney the chance to connect, share ideas, and influence solutions which improve health access and outcomes. Forums are held twice a year and focus on health topics important to the community.

Sign up for our monthly Community Pulse newsletter or follow us on social media to hear about upcoming forums.

Learn more

Additional resources

Free interpreting service advice for allied health

The Translation and Interpreting Service (TIS National) offers free interpreter access for eligible consultations with culturally and linguistically diverse patients.

Pharmacists

Pharmacists and other staff working in pharmacies are eligible for the TIS Free Interpreting Service if:

the pharmacy has a PBS approval number OR a pharmacist is registered with AHPRA
they are working in a community setting (hospital pharmacies should refer to their hospital’s interpreting policy)
the client is eligible for Medicare

Learn more

Other allied health professions

Private sector allied health professionals are eligible to access the TIS Free Interpreting Service to patients if they:

deliver a private practice located in Liverpool or Fairfield LGAs
delivered by a suitably qualified professional in an eligible discipline
provide to a patient or client who is eligible for a Medicare card.

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Help patients access the right mental health support

The Initial Assessment and Referral – Decision Support Tool (IAR-DST) helps allied health professionals match clients with the appropriate level of mental health support. Free online training includes two CPD hours.

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National healthcare directory

Provider Connect Australia (PCA) is a free, secure tool developed by the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. It lets you update your practice information and share it across health systems, directories and secure messaging providers.

Learn more

National_allied_health_engagement_framework_swsphn

National PHN allied health engagement framework and toolkit

Discover key resources to support allied health providers in South Western Sydney. Explore the National PHN Allied Health Engagement Framework, the Practice Engagement Toolkit, and a local Engagement Framework and Strategy designed to strengthen collaboration, connect you with services and funding, and guide engagement across priority areas like Aboriginal health, mental health, aged care, e-health, population health and workforce support.

Learn more

How to collaborate with us

Allied health professionals can work with us to help strengthen primary healthcare across South Western Sydney. Opportunities to get involved include:

Introduce yourself by emailing us with your name, profession, and workplace details.
Attend Local Health Forums to influence regional health strategies
Be featured in the National Health Service Directory to increase service visibility
Follow us on socials for updates, news, and opportunities across primary care: Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin
Subscribe to our newsletters
- Community Pulse (monthly) for timely primary care updates
- The Common Ground (quarterly) for allied health focused news, training, funding, and employment opportunities in South Western Sydney

The Common Ground newsletter

Sign up to receive quarterly updates, opportunities, and relevant information for allied health professionals in South Western Sydney. By subscribing you’ll get:

Invitations to events and workshops
Updates on local health initiatives
News and resources to support your work in primary care

Use the form below to subscribe.

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Back issues of The Common Ground newsletter

February 2026 May 2026

Contact us

We are here to support allied health professionals in South Western Sydney. If you have any questions or want to collaborate, contact our Allied Health Workforce Team:

Phone: 4632 3000
Email: alliedhealth@swsphn.com.au

Get to know our Workforce Engagement Team

Our team includes people who know what it’s like to work in allied health. Brendan is a pharmacist with more than seven years of experience. Nisha is an occupational therapist who works to support families and adults with disabilities. Anielka is a registered nurse with a background in emergency care and chronic disease management. They’re here to listen, connect, and support you.

Learn more

Visit our Primary care workforce page to learn more about how we support GPs, nurses, allied health professionals and other health workers across South Western Sydney.

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Allied health workforce support in South Western Sydney

How we support allied health professionals

Additional resources

Free interpreting service advice for allied health