Annual Report 2023/24

Engagement

CESPHN has many stakeholders it works with including the primary health workforce, community members and consumers, local health districts and local health networks, community organisations and local, state and Commonwealth government. It does this through its Councils, Clinical leaders network, advisory groups, Voices4Health, external representatives on hospital councils, Primary Health Awards and an annual strategy workshop.

Committees and Councils

Clinical and Community Council

CESPHN has a Clinical Council and Community Council that provide strategic advice to the Board, raise and discuss issues affecting practice and identify improvements to the delivery of care. Clinical Council comprises primary care clinicians that work in the CESPHN region and Community Council comprises of representatives working in the area in community services and community members living in the CESPHN region and consumers using primary health services.

In 2023-24, both Councils were consulted on the key health and social needs and service gaps to inform CEPHN’s Needs assessment and they were consulted on the Strategic Plan 2025-2028. Other issues discussed included gambling harm, primary health models, Aboriginal health and wellbeing, disability and social prescribing.

Clinical Leaders Network

CESPHN facilitates a Clinical Leaders Network, which brings together key figures in the healthcare landscape across the region to discuss relevant issues such as veteran’s health and supporting patients experiencing gambling harm and trauma. They have also been consulted on the Needs Assessment to provide insights on issues occurring in practice daily.

External Representatives 

CESPHN fosters partnerships between primary and acute care services by supporting primary health representation on 14 hospital committees. They liaise to understand issues impacting a continuity of care and report to CESPHN to action issues.

Voices4Health

voices4health was launched in May 2023 and is a place where people living in Central and Eastern Sydney can contribute to decision-making about health needs and services in the area where they live. Community members can register to have their say about health needs and health services and find out about community consultation opportunities, including joining CESPHN’s advisory committees or Community Council.

Strategy Workshop 2023

CESPHN held its 2023 strategy workshop in October with 80 stakeholders.

The purpose of the workshop was to inform stakeholders of the progress made in the previous 12 months against the Strategic Plan 2022-2024 and to involve and seek input from our stakeholders around three priority areas:

  • Child mental health and wellbeing
  • Urgent Care Services – Success factors and future opportunities
  • Multicultural health – Addressing health equity.

Primary Health Awards 2023

Central and Eastern Sydney PHN’s Primary Health Awards recognise and commend the exceptional achievements of healthcare professionals and organisations that are improving the health and wellbeing for all. The 2023 Awards took place in August at Hazelhurst Gallery in the Sutherland Shire. Winners were chosen from four categories:

  • Excellence in General Practice – Belmore Medical Services
  • Excellence in Allied Health Practice – Erin Brown, Montefiore Aged Care Facility (dentistry)
  • Excellence in Community Service Delivery – Independent Community Living Australia
  • Excellence in Aboriginal Health and Wellbeing Achievement – La Perouse Local Aboriginal Land Council

Stakeholder Engagement Survey

In September 2023, stakeholders were invited to provide feedback on CESPHN’s services, communication and support over the past 12 months via a survey. 367 people responded to the survey and the vast majority were positive.

Multicultural Health

The national PHN Multicultural Health Framework was launched in March 2024. The Framework provides high level guidance to PHNs to develop a culturally responsive partnership approach aimed at increasing health system access for multicultural communities.

There are five action areas under the framework including:

  • Addressing needs
  • Quality care
  • Improving access
  • Coordinated care
  • Capable organisations.

Priorities for Central and Eastern Sydney PHN this year have included:

  • Development of data collection and reporting framework to better assess the reach and equity of access of commissioned programs
  • Development of a checklist for company policies and procedures to ensure they are culturally appropriate
  • Promotion of the Translation and Interpreting Service to allied health providers, GPs and commissioned mental health services
  • Provision of cultural responsiveness training to commissioned service providers
  • Establishment and facilitation of a Multicultural Health Advisory Group which includes cultural peak bodies and community-managed organisations
  • Facilitation of co-design of multicultural health navigator services to be commissioned in 2024/2025
  • Facilitation of 11 in-language focus groups to inform the Central and Eastern Sydney PHN Needs Assessment
  • Work with South Western Sydney PHN, WentWest and Sydney North Health Network to commission services to support people impacted by the Israel/Gaza conflict.