COORDINARE welcomes review recommendations to strengthen Primary Health Networks and mental health care
19 December 2025
COORDINARE – South Eastern NSW PHN welcomes the findings and recommendations of the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing’s Review of the PHN Business Model and Mental Health Flexible Funding Stream, conducted by Boston Consulting Group.
The review confirms the vital role Primary Health Networks (PHNs) play in commissioning locally responsive, high-quality primary health care. It also identifies opportunities to strengthen governance, streamline funding, and enhance performance measurement – changes that will help PHNs deliver better health outcomes for communities.
Key recommendations include:
- Clarifying accountability: Reinforcing PHNs’ role as trusted partners of the Commonwealth, accountable for improving local primary care.
- Minimum governance and engagement standards: Ensuring consistent, transparent practices across all PHNs and supporting the PHN Cooperative.
- Meaningful performance assessment: Introducing standardised reporting and a new Quality Improvement team within the department to drive continuous improvement.
- Streamlined funding processes: Moving to longer-term rolling grants, reducing prescriptive schedules, and accelerating disbursement to improve service stability and provider confidence.
- Mental Health Flexible Funding Stream reforms: Consolidating funding into a single stream, empowering PHNs to commission, coordinate, and build capacity in line with local Needs Assessments.
“These reforms will enable PHNs to better align services with local needs, reduce fragmentation, and strengthen collaboration with health professionals, local hospital networks, and other partners,” said Prudence Buist, CEO of COORDINARE.
“By simplifying processes and reinforcing trust, we can focus more time and resources on what matters most – supporting healthier communities across South Eastern NSW,” she added.
Read the report here.