Northern Queensland Primary Health Network

Get to know us

Who we are Northern Queensland Primary Health Network (NQPHN) is an independent, not-for-profit organisation funded by the Australian Government to commission services to meet the health needs and priorities of our region.

Across northern Queensland, from Sarina in the south to the Torres Strait in the north, NQPHN co-ordinates and commissions primary and preventive healthcare—that is, the healthcare that is undertaken outside of a hospital, such as GPs, allied health, chronic disease management, aged care, mental health, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health.

Primary health care is recognised as the most effective way to keep communities and individuals healthy and well. NQPHN identifies where there are areas of need, such as lack of health care services, difficulty in accessing these services, or regions with particularly high health needs, and works closely with GPs, allied health care providers, hospitals, and the broader community to ensure that patients can receive the right care, in the right place, at the right time.

We aim to improve health outcomes for all by working with GPs, pharmacists, dentists, nurses, allied health professionals, and organisations specialising in chronic disease management, health promotion, aged care, mental health, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health. We also work with secondary care providers, hospitals, and the wider community.

Our vision

Northern Queenslanders live happier, healthier, longer lives.

Our purposeTo drive change within and support primary health care to improve individual and community health.

Our goalsTo place individuals at the centre of their own health and wellbeing.

To work with communities to understand local needs, and design and implement solutions that improve local health and wellbeing.

To ensure an integrated approach to health and wellbeing.

To build local capacity to improve health and wellbeing outcomes.

What we do We identify health needs through extensive analysis across our region, working with health care professionals and other key stakeholders. We then commission services through private, not-for-profit, and government organisations to meet those needs and foster healthier communities.

For more on what we do, including more details on our initiatives, view our Strategic Plan 2018–2023 at www.primaryhealth.com.au

Our interactions with primary health care providers are focused on the wellbeing of the entire person and the entire community.

Our key prioritiesThere are 31 Primary Health Networks (PHNs) across Australia. The Australian Government has agreed to six key priorities for all PHNs.

These key priorities are:• mental health• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health• population health• health workforce• digital health• aged care.

Who we supportWe have experienced staff working together and collaborating with healthcare providers to make a positive difference in our community. Some of the areas we support and fund include:

• after hours• aged care• chronic disease• digital health• HealthPathways• Indigenous health• maternal and child health • mental health• practice support• workforce development.

To achieve this, we focus on the following key national PHN outcomes:• addressing needs• quality care• improving access• coordinated care• capable organisations.

This includes working closely with primary healthcare providers and other key stakeholders to address specific health challenges. These include closing the gap in health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, reducing the burden of chronic disease, and supporting mental health and alcohol and other drugs needs. Overall, we work with the health sector to improve coordination of care for patients and integration of health services in our region.

Our region Our region is unique—spanning an area of 510,000km2, more than seven times the size of Tasmania, this tropical environment is home to approximately 673,622 (as at June 2016) residents, of whom 10.1 per cent are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people. The majority of our population is located within the regional centres of Cairns, Townsville, and Mackay, but a significant amount of people live outside of the cities in rural and remote areas, including Cape York Peninsula and the Torres Strait Islands.

Our footprint includes four Hospital and Health Services, nine Aboriginal Medical Services, more than 150 Aboriginal Health Workers, and covers 31 local government and Aboriginal Land Council areas.

Indigenous people (10.1% of our population and 10.4% of total Australian Indigenous population) Source: Queensland Health

67,722

Our offices

Cairns

Townsville

Mackay

Torres and Cape

4 Hospital and Health Services 9 Aboriginal

Medical Services

31 Local Government Areas (LGAs)

21 31out of

LGAs have people living in very remote areas

80%

of our population live in ‘outer regional Australia’

8%

of our population live in ‘remote’ or ‘very remote’ areas

From 2011 to 2036, our population is projected to increase by 30%

to

949,045

Our governance We have a commitment to strong, effective governance. We are an independent not-for-profit Company, limited by guarantee. We are registered as a charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission.

We are a membership-based organisation governed by a Constitution and a skills-based Board of Directors. A Nomination Committee and a Finance, Audit and Risk Management (FARM) Committee report to the Board.

Our Clinical Councils and Community Advisory Groups We have two Clinical Councils: Clinical Council North (covering the Cairns, and Cape and Torres regions), and Clinical Council South (covering the Townsville and Mackay regions).

The membership is representative of healthcare providers in our region and they provide us with expert specialist knowledge. They also play a critical advisory role in supporting best possible decision making on health and primary/community-based healthcare, and provide input into our Health Needs Assessments and annual plans.

In a shared initiative with local Hospital and Health Services, we have also established Community Advisory Groups, which consist of a diverse range of community members. The aim of these groups is to provide a community perspective to decisions made by NQPHN. The groups help ensure that decisions are patient centered, cost effective, and relevant to our communities, while also promoting a ‘one health system’ view.

How we deliver funding Commissioning is a process to enable the procurement and coordination of health services. It helps ensure resources are best directed to meet the health service needs of the communities in our region, particularly those at most risk of poor health outcomes.

To establish those needs, NQPHN consults with local service providers, consumers, and healthcare providers to analyse and then report on the health status and needs of our region to deliver Health Needs Assessments (HNAs). View our latest HNA at www.primaryhealth.com.au

NQPHN’s robust commissioning framework (below) underpins our organisation’s core capabilities and structure. It is based on sound commissioning practices and ensures we:

• conduct a whole of region needs assessment to determine the health needs of our area

• design effective, efficient services to meet prioritised health needs

• empower communities and partners to co-design services and solutions

• consider the most appropriate delivery method (e.g. purchase, partner, or coordinate).

NQPHN Commissioning Framework

(purchase, provide, co-ordinate)

Execute

Mon

itor/

eval

uate

Plan

Design

Understandneeds

Strategicalignment

Stay connected on funding opportunities by registering at www.primaryhealth.com.au

Cairnsp: (07) 4034 0300Level 3, 36 Shields StreetCairns, Qld 4870

Townsvillep: ( 07) 4796 0400Level 3, 1 James Cook DriveDouglas, Qld 4811

Mackayp: ( 07) 4963 4400Level 1, Post Office Square67-69 Sydney StreetMackay, Qld 4740

Torres and Cape80-82 Douglas StreetThursday IslandQld 4875

Northern Queensland Primary Health Network acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the lands and seas on which we live and work, and pay our respects to Elders past and present.

e: hello@primaryhealth.com.au w: primaryhealth.com.au Follow us