Executive General Manager's foreword

I am pleased to introduce myself as the new Executive General Manager – Commissioning.

Having recently commenced with WA Primary Health Alliance, I am excited to be joining the team as we move into the new financial year with a continued focus on strengthening outcomes for the communities we serve.

I would like to acknowledge the important work delivered every day by our commissioned service providers, and the critical role you play in supporting accessible, high-quality primary health care across Western Australia.

I would also like to recognise Mark Cockayne for his outstanding contribution and leadership over many years. Mark’s commitment to strengthening commissioning practice and building strong, collaborative relationships with service providers has made a lasting impact, and I am grateful for the strong foundation he has established.

Over the coming months, I am looking forward to meeting with service providers across the state. These conversations will be an important opportunity for me to better understand your services, the challenges and opportunities you are navigating, and how we can continue to work together, particularly as the broader policy and operating environment continues to evolve.

The Australian Government is strengthening its focus on compliance, quality and consistency across the health system, with a range of initiatives designed to support high‑quality service delivery. This includes the development of Australia’s first National Virtual Care Safety and Quality Standards, led by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care, in response to increasing demand for remote care.

Separately, Medicare Mental Health Centres are continuing to play a critical role in WA, with more than 50,000 instances of free mental health support delivered, reflecting strong community uptake and the importance of accessible, community-based services.

Recent changes to the Assignment of Medicare Benefits are also creating new opportunities for providers through expanded bulk billing incentives and additional payments for practices that bulk bill all patients, while increasing demand for accessible primary care services. As these developments progress, providers will need to adapt to evolving compliance, digital and service delivery expectations. WAPHA remains committed to supporting service providers through these changes by building awareness and aligning requirements with our contractual obligations.

Strong partnerships remain central to effective commissioning. I am committed to open and constructive engagement, ensuring we continue to build on existing foundations and strengthen coordination across the system. This will be key to supporting integrated, person-centred care and responding to evolving community needs.

Thank you sincerely for your ongoing commitment and contribution. I look forward to connecting with you soon.

Kind Regards

Fran Downey

Executive General Manager Commissioning

General information

Building suicide prevention capacity

Mental health concerns are an increasingly common reason Australians seek care, with 71 per cent of GPs now identifying them as a frequent presentation, up significantly from 2017.

As demand grows, so too does the need for targeted support and resources for clinicians on the front line. WAPHA has responded by working closely with GPs to better understand these challenges and deliver practical, evidence-based training. In partnership with Black Dog Institute, WAPHA is equipping GPs and practice teams with the skills and confidence to identify, respond to, and support patients experiencing mental ill health.

Read more  

Strengthening general practice through multidisciplinary care

Access to multidisciplinary care across Perth and the Midwest is supporting smaller and solo general practices to better manage chronic conditions and improve patient outcomes.  

Following a comprehensive and collaborative process, WAPHA has successfully commissioned ‘Multidisciplinary Teams (MDT) in General Practice’ with PDC Health Hub in the metropolitan area and Central West Health & Rehabilitation in the Midwest to deliver these services. This marks an important step forward in strengthening accessible, coordinated primary care. 

The activity will bring together health professionals such as nurses, podiatrists, dieticians and physiotherapists to work alongside selected general practice teams. Patients at participating practices will be able to access services including face-to-face and telehealth care, case conferencing and coordinated support tailored to their needs.  

Read more

Medicare Mental Health eReferral

The Medicare Mental Health eReferral provides a secure, electronic way for GP and non-GP referrers to submit referrals directly into the Medicare Mental Health intake system. It reduces reliance on email or fax referrals and supports more complete, consistent referral information.

Why was it created?

- To simplify the referral process for referrers.

- To reduce incomplete referrals and follow-up.

- To support faster triage and access to services.

- To provide a consistent, standardised referral pathway across regions.

- To close the referral loop, allowing referrers to receive confirmation and track referral status in real time.

How to access?

GPs can refer using the HealthLink SmartForm within their clinical software.

Online eReferral webforms for non-GP referrers and services that do not use HealthLink are also available, using region specific links below:

Country WA: https://form.referral.intake.org.au/?phn_code=PHN503

Perth North: https://form.referral.intake.org.au/?phn_code=PHN501  

Perth South: https://form.referral.intake.org.au/?phn_code=PHN502   

Watch a demonstration video that guides you through the referral process in HealthLink. Unsure of your Primary Health Network? Access the PHN locator.

While no referral is needed for a person to access Medicare Mental Health, referrals are welcomed from GPs, primary health care professionals, local hospital and health service providers and non-government organisations. 

For support related to the HealthLink SmartForm, contact 1800 125 036 or HelpdeskHL@healthlink.net

Medicare Mental Health Check In providing free online mental health support

Medicare Mental Health Check In provides free, confidential and accessible online mental health support. It is for people aged 16 years and over who live in Australia. No referral or diagnosis is needed.  

The online service offers early support, before mental health challenges escalate, through evidence-based low-intensity Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.   

People can choose between working through the online tools on their own or with the support of a qualified mental health practitioner:  

- Self‑guided support allows people to work through the tools independently, anytime and anywhere, at their own pace.  

- Guided support offers additional support and allows people to work through the tools with a qualified mental health practitioner via telehealth. Guided support is delivered over several sessions. Each program takes around 6 weeks to complete.  

How to access 

- Clients can call the Medicare Mental Health phone service on 1800 595 212 or request a callback or visit a Medicare Mental Health Centre to be referred. Speaking with Medicare Mental Health will help decide whether an online program is right for you, and if so, how to access and start the program. If this service isn’t the right fit, they will connect you to a more suitable service. 

- GPs and non-GP referrers can submit a Medicare Mental Health eReferral.

Consumer Medicines Line closure

The Consumer Medicines Line – also known as the adverse medicine events line – will close when the current funding agreement ends on 30 July 2026.

This service has provided medicines information and helped consumers to report suspected adverse events from medicine use. It is not an emergency support line.

After 30 July 2026, there are trusted services to help you get advice about your medicines and report side effects.

Find out more 

Revised Open Disclosure Framework now available

The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care has revised the Australian Open Disclosure Framework, which now applies across all healthcare settings.

The revised Framework supports all healthcare professionals in Australia to communicate openly with patients when things go wrong in health care.

Originally released in 2014, the updated Framework reflects contemporary clinical practice and strengthens its focus on person-centred care. The Framework sets out a nationally consistent approach to open disclosure, supporting clear, timely and compassionate communication with patients when things do not go to plan.

Inaugural Kalgoorlie Men's Health Conference

Our Goldfields Regional Integration Manager, Sarah Brown recently attended Kalgoorlie’s inaugural Men’s Health Conference as part of International Men’s Health Week.

The community-led event brought together around 300 attendees to explore the health and wellbeing challenges facing men in the Goldfields, with a strong focus on primary care, mental health and suicide prevention.

The day highlighted the importance of place-based, community-designed approaches that reflect local needs and encourage men to seek support.

“This was a genuine community-led initiative. Local people, with local insight, creating something that clearly resonated with the people in the room. When communities lead, people show up and that’s where real impact starts.” - Sarah Brown, Regional Integration Manager - Goldfields.

Care finder country commissioning update

Following the recent announcement of care finder services for the metropolitan area, we are pleased to confirm the outcomes for country areas following an open market procurement.

Two new regions will now be served by care finders, with services expected to be operational from mid-September 2026.

WACHS will continue delivering services in the Mid West on an interim basis, before handing over to Mission Australia. We will provide updates on the Kimberley in due course.

WAPHA is working closely with current and incoming providers to support a coordinated transition, including the safe and appropriate handover of clients where required.

Except where noted, care finder services will be funded until 30 June 2029.

GPACI Practice-Based Care Coordination grant outcome

The GPACI Practice-Based Care Coordination grant opportunity for the Busselton region has been completed, with two practices awarded grants: Busselton Medical Practice and Brecken Health Busselton. This outcome will support dedicated care coordination capacity for general practices providing care to residents of residential aged care homes in the City of Busselton, helping to reduce administrative burden on GPs and strengthen continuity and quality of primary care in a thin market setting.

Update on fuel impact reporting

As fuel supply pressures ease, WAPHA is winding down fuel impact reporting.

Thank you for the information you shared on service impacts. Your insights informed reporting to the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing (DHDA) and contributed to system-wide understanding through the State Health Incident Coordination Centre, ensuring the experience of primary care providers, patients and clients was reflected.

Reporting to DHDA has now ceased and we will withdraw the fuel impact form on the WAPHA website with immediate effect.

We appreciate your support during this period. Please continue to raise any significant issues through your usual WAPHA contacts.

Older Adults Non-Dispensing Pharmacist Program - expression of interest

WAPHA and the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia are seeking expressions of interest from general practices across Western Australia’s three Primary Health Network regions (Perth North, Perth South and Country WA), to introduce non-dispensing pharmacists (GP pharmacists) into their practice. 

Commissioned by WAPHA, this iteration of the program aims to support older adults in continuing to live in their communities through early intervention initiatives that promote healthy aging, slow decline, and support the ongoing management of chronic conditions.

Successful practices will have access to a non-dispensing pharmacist for approximately fifteen hours per week, for the duration of the funding period (June 2027). The pharmacist will be onsite and will require access to a dedicated consultation room. 

To learn more about the eligibility criteria and submit an expression of interest, click here.

Support the MIND-MAP Study - improving mental health in diabetes care

Service providers are invited to support the Mental Health IN Diabetes – Monitoring And Pathways (MIND‑MAP) study, a major national research initiative led by the Australian Centre for Behavioural Research in Diabetes. This longitudinal study aims to better understand the emotional wellbeing, resilience and mental health support needs of people living with diabetes, with a target of recruiting 8,000 participants across Australia.

Findings from MIND‑MAP will help inform future models of person‑centred diabetes and mental health care, including the development of dedicated support pathways and resources.

Providers can support the study with minimal effort by displaying participant flyers in waiting areas or making them available to patients. Participation involves four short online surveys over 36 months.

Promotion will align with Diabetes Week (12–18 July). Your support will help strengthen the evidence base and improve outcomes for people living with diabetes and their families.

Procurement and contracting

Changes to Aspire sign-in page

From 23 May, the Aspire sign-in page will look a little different, reflecting enhanced capabilities for advanced secure authentication. These changes come directly from Oracle as part of their upgrade. Continue to use your email address and password to login.

Note: You may be directed to reset your password. Weaker passwords will be forced to reset, so be sure to use a strong password if you are prompted to reset yours.

If you have any questions, please contact procurementsupport@wapha.org.au  

Current tenders

Health service providers and other organisations interested in hearing about and responding to tender opportunities are encouraged to register to receive tender notifications.

Training and events

Resources