Western Victoria Primary Health Network (WVPHN) has an important role in facilitating the delivery of best practice primary health care across our region which comprises 21 local government areas and a total population of approximately 618,000 people.
Established in July 2015, we are funded largely by the Commonwealth Government to work with the primary care sector to improve health outcomes for our communities. We are one of 31 Primary Health Networks in Australia and one of six in Victoria, and we are a member of the Victorian and Tasmanian PHN Alliance
We are a not-for-profit, membership-based organisation. Our core function is to use our knowledge and understanding of local health and health care needs to:
- Support general practice (including Aboriginal community controlled organisations)
- Commission or purchase locally-needed services
- Integrate local services and systems.
We achieve these goals by working collaboratively with health services, health providers and community organisations and individuals, to identify priority health issues and develop region-wide as well as localised programs and projects that directly respond to health care needs.
Priority areas
All PHNs have seven key health priority targets:
- Mental health
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health
- Population health
- Health workforce
- Digital health
- Aged care
- Alcohol and other drugs treatment.
A coordinated approach to primary health care
We are delivering on our commitments through a whole-of-system integrated approach to improve capacity and capability in primary care and general practice.
Our focus is to help practices deliver on the underpinning principles of the ‘Quadruple Aim’ within a localised, high-performing primary care model.
For more information, download the Case for Change brochure (PDF 1.3MB)
Leadership and collaboration
WVPHN is overseen by a nine-member, skills-based board of directors and works with two Clinical and Community Advisory Councils to provide our organisation with insight into key regional health care needs.
We also work with a Clinical Leadership Group of eight practising general practitioners from throughout western Victoria who are integral in developing many of our programs.
Our work also extends to hosting events across our region to foster networking and knowledge sharing. These events include conferences, specialist forums and education and training events.
Environmental and social sustainability
WVPHN acknowledges climate change is the biggest threat to global public health this century and that human health is linked to the health of the planet.
We also acknowledge that First Nations people have been caring for country for millennia.
Locally we are seeing real correlations between climate change weather events and the impact this is having on the health and wellbeing of our communities in western Victoria.
The Greening Primary Care initiative is a vision shift that will provide leadership and build capacity for our communities. It will be underpinned by developing our environment, social and governance strategy.
WVPHN’s ambition is to support the primary health care sector to put both people and the planet at the forefront of more sustainable practices, and to support better and equitable health outcomes now and generationally.
Accreditation
WVPHN has received accreditation status as an Accredited Community Organisation against the QIC Health and Community Services Standards 7th Edition with Quality Innovation Performance Limited (QIP) (PDF 414KB).
This is one way we show our commitment to quality improvement within our organisation and as a leader in the Primary Health Care industry. We thank our employees who contributed the achievement of this milestone, as well as stakeholder organisations who joined us as part of this process.
We look forward to continuing to grow our quality improvement culture that is now strengthened by this achievement.