NORTH WESTERN
MELBOURNE
A Systematic,
Collective Impact
Approach
An Australian Government Initiative
North Western Melbourne PHN
MPCN has four key strategic goals which underpin our activities:
FOCUS ON PRIORITIES – Reduce the burden of disease by
understanding and responding to local and national priorities.
SUPPORT GENERAL PRACTICE –Improve individual patient
and population health outcomes by strengthening and supporting
general practice.
COORDINATE CARE – Ensure patients receive the right care,
in the right place at the right time through improved coordination,
with a focus on those who need it most.
DRIVE VALUE FOR MONEY – Achieve real value for money
in the delivery of health services.
Our first step to achieve these goals is to build strong
relationships with the existing health providers and
organisations in Melbourne’s north and west.
There is a wealth of relevant knowledge and expertise within the
region, and our role is to ensure it is brought together in a coordinated
way to generate solutions and drive reform.
To begin this process we are contacting our key stakeholders, including
general practitioners, hospitals, community health centres, health
organisations and others, to discuss the major health issues facing our
region and how we can work together to meet these challenges.
This consultation will then guide our initial work to identify and address
local health needs, in addition to the national PHN priorities. It will also
help us set the baseline against which we will measure our success in
delivering tangible population health improvements.
To ensure this collaborative approach is carried beyond the transition
period, we are establishing a GP led Clinical Council and a Community
Advisory Council made up of clinical and community representatives
from across our region.
These bodies will help guide our activities now and into the future,
ensuring we support programs and services that are backed by the
communities and clinicians we serve.
▲ MPCN CEO Associate Professor
Christopher Carter and Chair Dr Ines Rio.
Our Board
and Executive
LEADING THE CHANGE
Our Board and Executive
are committed to ensuring
that every member of our
community is able to receive
the right care, in the right
place, at the right time.
Led by MPCN Chair Dr Ines Rio
and CEO Associate Professor
Christopher Carter, our leadership
team has extensive experience
in health care delivery and
administration, as well as in
complementary fields such as
finance, technology and business
management.
It’s this diverse range of expertise,
underpinned by the highest
governance standards, that will
drive the innovation needed
to make health better in north
western Melbourne.
A transparent and equitable selection process has been initiated
to select representatives for each of the Councils, with full details
available at www.mpcn.org.au/councils
RA381e
Stay
Connected
Phone (03) 9347 1188 to register your details and select
your ongoing communication preferences.
To find out more information on MPCN and PHNs,
you can also visit our website at www.mpcn.org.au
or email mpcn@mpcn.org.au
Melbourne Primary Care Network (MPCN) operates the North Western
Melbourne PHN (NWMPHN).
This document is a brief guide to the background, priorities and role
of MPCN and PHNs, and how we hope to work with you to improve
primary healthcare across Melbourne’s north and west.
PHNs In Brief
PHNs have been established with the
key objectives of increasing the efficiency
and effectiveness of medical services
for patients, particularly those at risk of
poor health outcomes; and improving
coordination of care to ensure patients
receive the right care in the right place,
at the right time.
Whilst primarily focused on improving
population health outcomes the 31
PHNs across the country will also work
with the primary healthcare sector to
improve frontline services.
Collaborating with Local Hospital
Networks to ensure better integration
between primary and acute care
services will also be within the
PHN remit.
PHNs formally began operations
on 1 July 2015, taking over from
the existing Medicare Locals which
ceased operations from that date.
PHN
National
Priorities
The Department of Health
has identified six key priority
health areas for PHNs:
•Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander Health
• Mental Health
•Population Health
planning
•Health workforce
planning
•eHealth
• Aged care
While the Australian Government Department of Health has contributed to the funding of this material, the
information contained in it does not necessarily reflect the views of the Australian Government and is not advice
that is provided, or information that is endorsed, by the Australian Government.
The Australian Government is not responsible in negligence or otherwise for any injury, loss or damage however
arising from the use of or reliance on the information provided herein.
MPCN acknowledges the peoples of the Kulin nation as the Traditional Owners of the land on which our work in
the community takes place. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present.
©MPCN 2015
North
Western
Melbourne
PHN
Who is MPCN?
REGIONAL
PROFILE
Melbourne Primary Care Network (MPCN) is an independent,
not-for-profit organisation which is working to improve health in
our region, with the support of key healthcare partners.
POPULATION:
This network aims to connect
and support primary health in
Melbourne’s north and west,
promoting better health outcomes
and more efficient care.
1,494,696. Expected to
grow to 2.2 million by 2030.
GEOGRAPHY:
Covers an area of 3,179sq km,
from the Central Business
District to Bacchus Marsh
in the west, south as far as
Cocoroc and north past
Lancefield. Includes 13 Local
Government Areas in whole
or in part:
•Melbourne, Yarra,
Moreland, Moonee Valley,
Maribyrnong, Hobsons
Bay, Wyndham, Brimbank,
Melton, Hume, Darebin.
•Moorabool (part) and
Macedon Ranges (part).
Together the four founding partners
have extensive experience and
expertise in all facets of health service
development, planning and delivery,
as well as the potential to collectively
create more efficient and effective
models of care for the future.
This core partnership is supported
by alliances with a range of key
health organisations and is built on
a network of traditional and nontraditional health collaborators,
including leaders in communications,
finance and corporate health services.
Some of these collaborators
are making their first steps into
primary healthcare through
MPCN, bringing a fresh
perspective to entrenched
issues and great opportunities
for system and technological
innovation to the field.
As well as bringing new players
to the table, MPCN also has a
proud history of service to the
communities of north western
Melbourne as the operator of
INWMML.
INWMML achieved great success
by lending support to frontline
primary healthcare providers
across its region and stepping
in to fill service gaps where no
alternative was available.
DIVERSE HEALTH
CHALLENGES:
In addition to the national
PHN priorities listed above,
the North Western Melbourne
PHN region faces a number of
specific health challenges.
A NWMPHN Population
Health Snapshot is being
developed. This report will
provide an overview of key
health related statistics for
the region and will start to
uncover some of the most
pressing health issues in local
areas. It is intended to be a
conversation starter, not a
definitive list of priorities.
2
Working Together
Now and in the Future
As we develop over the next two years
our focus will shift from establishment
and service continuity, to becoming a
backbone organisation that harnesses
the collective impact of our network
to improve primary healthcare.
Meaningful engagement with our
stakeholders and partners during
this initial phase is crucial to our
ongoing success. Your involvement
will help us build the broad system
knowledge and expertise we will
need to efficiently respond to
emerging and ongoing health
priorities in our shared region.
As a commissioning
organisation our response
will be to facilitate, support
and fund services to meet
these needs, rather than
providing services directly
in competition with new or
existing providers.
Our focus will be on
supporting services which
are person-centred, have
a proven track record of
improving health outcomes
and which deliver strong
value for money.
North
Western
Melbourne
PHN
Who is MPCN?
REGIONAL
PROFILE
Melbourne Primary Care Network (MPCN) is an independent,
not-for-profit organisation which is working to improve health in
our region, with the support of key healthcare partners.
POPULATION:
This network aims to connect
and support primary health in
Melbourne’s north and west,
promoting better health outcomes
and more efficient care.
1,494,696. Expected to
grow to 2.2 million by 2030.
GEOGRAPHY:
Covers an area of 3,179sq km,
from the Central Business
District to Bacchus Marsh
in the west, south as far as
Cocoroc and north past
Lancefield. Includes 13 Local
Government Areas in whole
or in part:
•Melbourne, Yarra,
Moreland, Moonee Valley,
Maribyrnong, Hobsons
Bay, Wyndham, Brimbank,
Melton, Hume, Darebin.
•Moorabool (part) and
Macedon Ranges (part).
Together the four founding partners
have extensive experience and
expertise in all facets of health service
development, planning and delivery,
as well as the potential to collectively
create more efficient and effective
models of care for the future.
This core partnership is supported
by alliances with a range of key
health organisations and is built on
a network of traditional and nontraditional health collaborators,
including leaders in communications,
finance and corporate health services.
Some of these collaborators
are making their first steps into
primary healthcare through
MPCN, bringing a fresh
perspective to entrenched
issues and great opportunities
for system and technological
innovation to the field.
As well as bringing new players
to the table, MPCN also has a
proud history of service to the
communities of north western
Melbourne as the operator of
INWMML.
INWMML achieved great success
by lending support to frontline
primary healthcare providers
across its region and stepping
in to fill service gaps where no
alternative was available.
DIVERSE HEALTH
CHALLENGES:
In addition to the national
PHN priorities listed above,
the North Western Melbourne
PHN region faces a number of
specific health challenges.
A NWMPHN Population
Health Snapshot is being
developed. This report will
provide an overview of key
health related statistics for
the region and will start to
uncover some of the most
pressing health issues in local
areas. It is intended to be a
conversation starter, not a
definitive list of priorities.
2
Working Together
Now and in the Future
As we develop over the next two years
our focus will shift from establishment
and service continuity, to becoming a
backbone organisation that harnesses
the collective impact of our network
to improve primary healthcare.
Meaningful engagement with our
stakeholders and partners during
this initial phase is crucial to our
ongoing success. Your involvement
will help us build the broad system
knowledge and expertise we will
need to efficiently respond to
emerging and ongoing health
priorities in our shared region.
As a commissioning
organisation our response
will be to facilitate, support
and fund services to meet
these needs, rather than
providing services directly
in competition with new or
existing providers.
Our focus will be on
supporting services which
are person-centred, have
a proven track record of
improving health outcomes
and which deliver strong
value for money.
NORTH WESTERN
MELBOURNE
A Systematic,
Collective Impact
Approach
An Australian Government Initiative
North Western Melbourne PHN
MPCN has four key strategic goals which underpin our activities:
FOCUS ON PRIORITIES – Reduce the burden of disease by
understanding and responding to local and national priorities.
SUPPORT GENERAL PRACTICE –Improve individual patient
and population health outcomes by strengthening and supporting
general practice.
COORDINATE CARE – Ensure patients receive the right care,
in the right place at the right time through improved coordination,
with a focus on those who need it most.
DRIVE VALUE FOR MONEY – Achieve real value for money
in the delivery of health services.
Our first step to achieve these goals is to build strong
relationships with the existing health providers and
organisations in Melbourne’s north and west.
There is a wealth of relevant knowledge and expertise within the
region, and our role is to ensure it is brought together in a coordinated
way to generate solutions and drive reform.
To begin this process we are contacting our key stakeholders, including
general practitioners, hospitals, community health centres, health
organisations and others, to discuss the major health issues facing our
region and how we can work together to meet these challenges.
This consultation will then guide our initial work to identify and address
local health needs, in addition to the national PHN priorities. It will also
help us set the baseline against which we will measure our success in
delivering tangible population health improvements.
To ensure this collaborative approach is carried beyond the transition
period, we are establishing a GP led Clinical Council and a Community
Advisory Council made up of clinical and community representatives
from across our region.
These bodies will help guide our activities now and into the future,
ensuring we support programs and services that are backed by the
communities and clinicians we serve.
▲ MPCN CEO Associate Professor
Christopher Carter and Chair Dr Ines Rio.
Our Board
and Executive
LEADING THE CHANGE
Our Board and Executive
are committed to ensuring
that every member of our
community is able to receive
the right care, in the right
place, at the right time.
Led by MPCN Chair Dr Ines Rio
and CEO Associate Professor
Christopher Carter, our leadership
team has extensive experience
in health care delivery and
administration, as well as in
complementary fields such as
finance, technology and business
management.
It’s this diverse range of expertise,
underpinned by the highest
governance standards, that will
drive the innovation needed
to make health better in north
western Melbourne.
A transparent and equitable selection process has been initiated
to select representatives for each of the Councils, with full details
available at www.mpcn.org.au/councils
RA381e
Stay
Connected
Phone (03) 9347 1188 to register your details and select
your ongoing communication preferences.
To find out more information on MPCN and PHNs,
you can also visit our website at www.mpcn.org.au
or email mpcn@mpcn.org.au
Melbourne Primary Care Network (MPCN) operates the North Western
Melbourne PHN (NWMPHN).
This document is a brief guide to the background, priorities and role
of MPCN and PHNs, and how we hope to work with you to improve
primary healthcare across Melbourne’s north and west.
PHNs In Brief
PHNs have been established with the
key objectives of increasing the efficiency
and effectiveness of medical services
for patients, particularly those at risk of
poor health outcomes; and improving
coordination of care to ensure patients
receive the right care in the right place,
at the right time.
Whilst primarily focused on improving
population health outcomes the 31
PHNs across the country will also work
with the primary healthcare sector to
improve frontline services.
Collaborating with Local Hospital
Networks to ensure better integration
between primary and acute care
services will also be within the
PHN remit.
PHNs formally began operations
on 1 July 2015, taking over from
the existing Medicare Locals which
ceased operations from that date.
PHN
National
Priorities
The Department of Health
has identified six key priority
health areas for PHNs:
•Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander Health
• Mental Health
•Population Health
planning
•Health workforce
planning
•eHealth
• Aged care
While the Australian Government Department of Health has contributed to the funding of this material, the
information contained in it does not necessarily reflect the views of the Australian Government and is not advice
that is provided, or information that is endorsed, by the Australian Government.
The Australian Government is not responsible in negligence or otherwise for any injury, loss or damage however
arising from the use of or reliance on the information provided herein.
MPCN acknowledges the peoples of the Kulin nation as the Traditional Owners of the land on which our work in
the community takes place. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present.
©MPCN 2015