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Our History

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Our History

Central and Eastern Sydney Primary Health Network was established on 1 July 2015, with funding from the Australian Government. The PHN brought together the collective strengths of three Medicare Locals, with the vision of ‘supporting, strengthening and shaping a world class, person centred primary health care system’. Maintaining and strengthening relationships with our stakeholders remained front and centre during this transition, with there being minimal impact on the delivery of programs.

The PHNs of today have their origins in the Divisions of General Practice. These 120 divisions were local organisations of general practitioners aimed at supporting general practice and improving integration with the broader health system.

In 2011, Divisions of General Practice were replaced by 61 Medicare Locals, whose aim was to coordinate care across the entire primary health care system and strengthen the focus on population health. In 2015 the the Australian Government replaced Medicare Locals with 31 Primary Health Networks. The aim of PHNs is to support primary healthcare in Australia through capacity building, coordination and the commissioning of services to address identified gaps and needs in their local areas.

In July 2025, Central and Eastern Sydney PHN celebrates its 10 year anniversary. It has been a decade of significant achievements, but not without its challenges (namely an unprecedented global pandemic). The timeline below provides a snapshot of some of the highlights from the past 10 years.

Key achievements

2025
June 6
Launched new Strategic Plan 2025-2027
April 3
Established a GP service for the La Perouse Aboriginal Community
February 3
Established a Multicultural Health Navigator Service
2024
December 4
Launched 3rd Reconciliation Action Plan
June 1
Developed the CESPHN Multicultural Health Action Plan
May 1
Developed Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Regional Plan 2024-26
March 1
Launched the CESPHN Service Directory

Link

February 1
Established a further four urgent care services in Caringbah, Belmore, Green Square and Carlton
January 1
Launched Disability Inclusion Action Plan 2024-2027
2023
September 1
CESPHN Healthy Ageing Strategy 2023-2028 released
July 1
Joint PHN and Mental Health Community Managed Organisation working group established, marking start of ongoing partnership
June 1
Launched voices4health to give community members the opportunity to contribute to decision-making about health needs and services in their area
May 1
HealthPathways Sydney became the first Australian HealthPathways region to publish 1,000 locally relevant HealthPathways
April 1
Established two Healthy Ageing Hubs in Gymea and Newtown
March 1
Commissioned CESPHN’s first Commonwealth Medicare Urgent Care Centre in Maroubra
February 1
Delivered grants to general practices within the region as part of the Strengthening Medicare GP Grants program
January 1
Established Head to Health service in Canterbury
2022
July 1
Released CESPHN Allied Health Engagement Strategy and contributed to the development of a National PHN Allied Health Framework
March 1
Released CESPHN Climate Change and Population Health Statement
January 1
Held the first annual CESPHN Primary Health Awards to recognise the outstanding achievements of healthcare professionals and organisations
2021
July 1
Regional Drug and Alcohol Joint Strategic Planning Meeting established
April 1
Launched two Head to Health pop-up clinics in Hurstville and Lakemba, providing easy access to mental health services
February 1
Established GPCanShare, a cancer shared care network linking GPs with hospitals and LHDs
January 1
CESPHN supported general practice and pharmacies through the COVID-19 vaccine rollout
2020
July 1
Developed the joint Intersectoral Homelessness Health Strategy 2020-2025
April 1
Supported delivery of electronic prescriptions in the Central and Eastern Sydney PHN region
March 1
Launched Headstart, an online navigation tool for people experiencing mental health issues
February 1
Supported primary care response to COVID 19 pandemic, via distribution of PPE, educational webinars and constant communications
2019
May 1
Developed a First Nations Model of Care for Suicide Prevention
March 1
Launched the Eora Health Messenger
February 1
Launched the Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Regional Plan for Central and Eastern Sydney
2018
May 1
Relocated to a single office in Mascot
April 1
Launched first Reconciliation Action Plan
March 1
Developed General Practice Engagement Strategy
February 1
Developed CESPHN Digital Health Strategic Plan 2019-2021
January 1
Launched South Eastern Sydney HealthPathways
2017
June 1
Established Alcohol and Other Drugs Advisory Committee
May 1
Established CESPHN Disability Network
April 1
Established Aboriginal Workers Circle
March 1
Began commissioning Alcohol and other Drugs (AOD) services
February 1
Commissioned the Primary Integrated Care Supports (PICS) program following intensive co-design across the region to develop the new model of care
2016
April 1
Established Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Advisory committee
March 1
Funded NDIS Impact, Needs and Planning Project
February 1
Became the fund holders for the five headspace centres, (Ashfield, Bondi Junction, Camperdown, Hurstville and Miranda) in the region
January 1
Completed first Needs Assessment
2015
March 1
Held first Clinical and Community Council meetings
February 1
Partnered on the Inner West Sydney Child Health and Wellbeing Plan to improve outcomes for vulnerable children in partnership with Sydney LHD, NSW Family and Community Services, NSW Department of Education
January 1
Central and Eastern Sydney PHN was established with offices in Kogarah, Ashfield and Waverley