Executive General Manager's foreword

WA Primary Health Alliance (WAPHA) is evolving as a commissioning agency, and this includes strengthening our relationships with commissioned service providers and improving contract management processes.

As part of our ongoing efforts to enhance our contract management function, we have introduced a new contract management plan designed to support two-way conversations and decision-making with our commissioned service providers, while maintaining a documented action log.  

Our contract managers have recently commenced introducing this change and discussing the plan with commissioned service providers, with the first round of plans to be completed in February, and regular updates thereafter.

Commissioned service providers will meet with their contract manager regularly to discuss the plan and both parties will complete the contract management plan beforehand and review it together, along with any actions. This is all in support of enhancing two-way communication, clarity of expectations, and successful delivery of services to the Western Australian community.

We understand this may require some additional effort initially, but we anticipate the workload will decrease significantly once the plan is established and the first meeting is held. We encourage you to collaborate with us in implementing this change, which will benefit everyone involved.

We have already received feedback from some of our providers which we are reviewing as part of implementation, meeting with providers to discuss further, and seeking to strike the right balance.

If you have any questions about the contract management plan, please reach out to your contract manager.

As highlighted below, WAPHA’s CEO Learne Durrington has recently resigned as she navigates to retirement, and we have a recruitment process presently in place. As the inaugural CEO of the organisation, Learne has been pivotal in WAPHA’s journey. As many of you will know, WAPHA is the alliance of Western Australia’s three Primary Health Networks, effectively creating a state-based model which was the vision of many stakeholders in 2015. Learne is a passionate advocate for access to primary health care for our under-served communities with equity as her north star and will be missed.

Kind Regards

Mark Cockayne

Executive General Manager Commissioned Services

General information

Retirement of WA Primary Health Alliance CEO

WA Primary Health Alliance CEO, Learne Durrington, will step down from her role in early April this year to commence a well-deserved transition to retirement.  

WAPHA Board Chair, Dr Richard Choong, said Learne has been a highly effective CEO, successfully stewarding the organisation through its establishment in 2015, several significant strategic and structural reviews, reform of the organisation’s governance and the pandemic.  

Read more

Session with WA Primary Health Alliance's Service Provider Panel

We facilitated consultation with WAPHA’s Service Provider Panel to ensure commissioned service providers are kept informed and feedback is captured. In December 2024, more than 35 Service Provider Panel members came together to hear about WAPHA’s commissioning journey and to discuss/provide feedback regarding opportunities and challenges relating to these changes. This initial engagement is not a one-off and will continue across all program areas in combination with our commissioned service providers.

Service Provider Panel - Q&A  

Review and redesign of WA Primary Health Alliance's alcohol and other drugs program

WAPHA is undertaking a comprehensive review and redesign of our alcohol and other drugs (AOD) program.  

We are working closely with peak bodies, the WA Mental Health Commission and people with lived experience of AOD issues, to ensure our AOD program is effective, inclusive, and responsive to community needs.

Over the coming months we are holding a series of workshops with key stakeholders from the AOD sector to identify opportunities and make recommendations to drive improvements in planning and commissioning AOD activities.

We will keep commissioned service providers updated throughout the process and let you know of opportunities for engagement and feedback. Current contracts expire in June 2026 and are not affected by this process.

Performance Management Framework

As part of our ongoing commitment to improving our services and support, WAPHA sought feedback from commissioned service providers who were onboarded to our Performance Management Framework (PMF).

In December, 17 organisations across mental health and suicide prevention, alcohol and other drugs and integrated chronic disease care provided valuable feedback on their experiences and insights regarding the PMF and the Commissioned Services Reporting Portal. This feedback will help shape future improvements ensuring that our frameworks and tools continue to meet your needs.

Inclusive and culturally competent commissioning

WAPHA strives to create a safe and inclusive culture for our people, health service providers, partners, and community members.  

WAPHA’s Cultural Competency Frameworks, Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan, Rainbow Tick accreditation and QIC Health and Community Services Standards accreditation, underscore our commitment to improving cultural competency and safety within our organisation and across the broader primary health care sector.  

We have drafted the Cultural Competency, Equity and Inclusion Guidelines, setting out WAPHA’s expectations and requirements of commissioned service providers in relation to cultural competency, cultural safety, equity, and inclusion. This guideline was a commitment made within the frameworks.  

The guideline was drafted by WAPHA’s Inclusive Culturally Competent Commissioning project working group, in consultation with our Aboriginal and LGBTIQA+ reference groups. We are seeking feedback from commissioned service providers. If you would like to be involved, please express your interest by emailing ctp@wapha.org.au by 5 March 2025.

Whilst the guidelines are being finalised, the project team is focusing on the development and implementation of a self-assessment tool as part of the procurement process for new services, and for commissioned service providers to evaluate their cultural safety practices, identifying both strengths and areas for improvement.  

Supporting Aboriginal patients living with overweight and obesity through culturally safe care

New online training, available through WA Primary Health Alliance’s SHAPE website, equips health care professionals with the skills and knowledge to create a supportive and culturally safe environment for Aboriginal people to discuss weight-related health concerns.

The Aboriginal Weight Management eLearning modules promote culturally safe practices by fostering understanding of Aboriginal community values, social determinants of health, and the impact of weight stigma.

Consultation for the Draft National Allied Health Workforce Strategy now open

The Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care is working with state and territory governments to develop a National Allied Health Workforce Strategy. The strategy outlines recommended steps to address national allied health workforce issues over the next 10 years.

Members of the community and the health workforce, including allied health professionals, are welcome to provide feedback on the draft strategy through completing the survey by 3 March 2025.

Support at Home program provider transition guide

From 1 July 2025, Support at Home will replace the Home Care Packages Program and the Short-Term Restorative Care Programme. Support at Home will ensure a simpler and more equitable system for older people that helps them to stay at home for longer.

Support at Home Provider Transition Guide  

News and media

Prime Minister Hon Anthony Albanese and WA Premier Hon Roger Cook visit Midland Medicare Urgent Care Clinic

Prime Minister Hon Anthony Albanese and WA Premier Hon Roger Cook recently visited the Midland Medicare Urgent Care Clinic, touring the clinic while discussing patient presentations including the number of patients seen/types of conditions and positive impact the clinic is having in the community.

Minister for Health and Aged Care, the Hon Mark Butler, released a statement as the Australian Government’s Medicare Urgent Care Clinics achieved the milestone of 1 million visits across the country, and 70 per cent of Australians living no more than a 20-minute drive from fully bulk billed urgent care, available seven days a week.

Multidisciplinary care transforming patient outcomes

Imagine visiting your GP and knowing you have an entire team dedicated to your wellbeing. This approach ensures comprehensive support, addressing every aspect of your health. Far from being purely aspirational thinking for general practice, multidisciplinary team care is maturing in a growing number of general practices in Western Australia.

In the latest video in WAPHA’s Better Health, Together series, our CEO, Learne Durrington, had the pleasure of speaking with Associate Director, Strategy and Clinical Innovation, Kate Fulford, and Dr Priya Krishnan from Pramana Medical Centre who have embraced a multidisciplinary team care approach at their practice.

Health equity remains my north star

“Health equity has been a driver throughout my entire career, and despite the challenges and slow progress towards this goal, it remains my north star.”

This enlightening Q&A with our CEO Learne Durrington was recently published in Croakey Health Media.

You can also watch the recording of the Health Equity Heroes webinar, where Learne joined fellow panellists Mel Briggs, Hayley Longbottom, Dr Elizabeth Deveny and Karl Briscoe to share their leadership stories.

Procurement and contracts

New contracts 

As many of your contracts approach their end dates, we want to assure you that WAPHA is actively engaging with the Department of Health and Aged Care (DoHAC) to secure funding extensions from June 2025 and beyond. We are committed to working collaboratively with DoHAC to obtain the necessary resources and support for achieving our shared goals. We will keep you informed of any updates and look forward to continuing our partnership in the years to come.

Register to be notified of upcoming tenders.

Training and events

Resources