CEO Report

It is with great pleasure that I highlight achievements improving how care is delivered, accessed, and coordinated across the central and eastern Sydney PHN region as you will see in this report.   

Addressing community health and wellbeing needs 

Improving access to care is critical. This year, a key focus has been working towards the establishment of two integrated mental health service hubs – bringing multiple services together under one roof to simplify access and navigation. Co-designed over the past 12 months, these hubs are on track to launch by June 2026.  

Our online health and community service directory now features over 1,600 services, with new services added regularly. We’re also enhancing the search functionality to make it easier to find what you need. The mental health directory assists clinicians to identify appropriate step-up or step-down pathways, or tailor packages for clients with complex needs. A wait time indicator now allows services to update their availability in real time.  

Recognising the challenges faced by people with limited English proficiency, we commissioned a multicultural health navigator service earlier this year. This bilingual support service helps Mandarin, Cantonese, Arabic, Korean, and Nepali speakers access health and social services more easily.  

We’ve established three Healthy Ageing Hubs in Newtown, Ashfield, and Gymea, supporting older adults to age well. Healthy Ageing Advisors assist with navigating My Aged Care, connecting to local health services, accessing social programs, and linking to legal and financial support. To date, nearly 2,000 older community members have benefited with more hubs planned.  

Facilitating connected and quality care 

Urgent care is now a critical part of CESPHN’s integrated primary care response – improving after-hours access, easing pressure on emergency departments, and supporting better health outcomes for local communities. Over the past year, more than 65,000 patients have accessed urgent care services with monthly presentations continuing to rise.  

As Strengthening Medicare reforms roll out, CESPHN has scaled its efforts to support general practices through major changes aimed at improving access and continuity of care. This includes the implementation of MyMedicare, the GP Aged Care Incentive Program, and the Chronic Conditions Management Framework. A cross-functional team of MyMedicare Support Officers provided targeted support across general practice, aged care, and digital health.  

Our workforce development program spans online, in-person, and in-practice formats. Over the past year, we delivered 315 events, achieving an average satisfaction score of 98% for CPD activities.  

Immunisation remains a top prevention priority. We achieved an 18% reduction in children overdue for vaccination – equivalent to approximately 1,000 children. We also partnered with local health districts to improve vaccination coverage in residential aged care homes and continue to support general practices and pharmacies in their immunisation efforts.  

Demonstrating leadership for the central and eastern Sydney region 

In December we completed a major review of our regional Needs Assessment, available on our website. This report underscores the complexity of needs across our diverse region. 

To strengthen disaster preparedness, we established a volunteer register for our Primary Care Emergency Response Team (PCERT), now comprising 54 members – including 40 GPs.  

CESPHN led several national initiatives this year including the first PHN Digital and Data Showcase, representing PHNs in the design of the National Primary and Acute Care Data Linkage, the national support project for the Initial Assessment and Referral Decision Support tool and the PHN Homelessness Access Program. 

Achieving organisational excellence 

We launched our Employee Value Proposition to define what makes CESPHN a great place to work -highlighting impact, support, and team culture. These strengths were reflected in our independent staff survey, where we maintained the highest level of engagement culture. 

We are also preparing for ISO accreditation in Information Security and Quality Management, with certification targeted for June 2026. 

A huge thank you to our member networks, clinical and community councils, local health districts, and the broader community sector for your ongoing collaboration and support.  

I’m deeply grateful to our Board for their guidance and in particular Board Chair, Rene Pennock, for his wise counsel.  

Congratulations to our staff, the executive and leadership team on an outstanding year – your dedication and passion is truly inspiring.