About this report
Bringing expertise and experiences together is key to designing and delivering services with impact for those living in south east Melbourne.
Together with local healthcare providers, dedicated professionals, individuals with lived experiences, SEMPHN staff, and our Board, Clinical and Community Council and reference groups, we aim to foster and support a more equitable, person-centred and seamless health system to positively impact health outcomes for our community.
This year’s annual report showcases stories and initiatives centring on the priority areas set by the Australian Government for primary health networks.
Primary health networks
SEMPHN is one of 31 primary health networks (PHNs) established by the Australian Government in 2015. PHNs are responsible for ensuring people in their region can access the right primary health care, at the right time, in the right place.
Primary care is usually the first health service an individual encounters before seeing a specialist or visiting a hospital. It can include health promotion and prevention initiatives, educating people on what they can do to stay healthy and how to prevent against ill health.
Effective primary care leads to improved health outcomes for patients, a better experience for their carers and families, and reduced pressure on emergency departments, increasing hospital capacity for those who need it most.
PHNs are critical in delivering sustainable, integrated and safe primary health care to Australians.
What we do
At SEMPHN, we foster and support a more equitable, person-centred and seamless health system to positively impact the health outcomes for our communities.
Reporting to an independent Board, our vision is for the 1.6 million people of south east Melbourne to have the opportunity to live their healthiest lives possible.
We support this by providing:
- evidence, planning and influencing services to meet population health needs
- capacity-building services to grow primary health and its workforce in our region
- commissioning services to translate national and state policy into local services and the regional health system.
Our stakeholders
We aim to add value for, and with, 4 key groups:
We work in close partnership with our stakeholders to:
- understand our community and its needs
- support and collaborate with health care providers, and build capacity in our workforce
- continuously improve our services and programs to ensure they are fit for purpose
- keep government and other funding partners informed of how resources can best be invested to address our community’s health priorities.
Our stakeholders include:
- Consumers and carers
- Government (Australian and Victorian)
- Councils within our catchment
- Potential/existing commissioned service providers
- General practices
- Community health services
- Pharmacies
- Allied health workforce
- Mental health workforce
- Alcohol and other drugs-related health workforce
- Monash Health
- Alfred Health
- Peninsula Health
- Residential aged care homes
- Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations
- Other PHNs
- Health education organisations
- Universities and other research bodies
- Peak bodies and industry groups
- SEMPHN Board
- SEMPHN Clinical and Community Council
- SEMPHN reference groups
- SEMPHN staff
In this report, SEMPHN staff, providers and consumers share some of their experiences with the impactful services delivered across south east Melbourne primary care.
Our people
Our team is made up of dedicated professionals, many of whom have worked on the frontline in primary health. This expertise strengthens our understanding of workforce needs and enables strong relationships to be formed with local services and programs.
Our people embody and promote the organisational values at the heart of our work.
SEMPHN’s values are:
- community
- collaboration
- accountability
- respect
- excellence
- solution-focused.
Governance
SEMPHN is governed by a diverse and skilled Board that embraces alternative thinking, innovation, strategy, influence and strong governance. The Board meets at least 8 times each year.
The Board is supported by 3 sub-committees that meet a minimum of 4 times a year:
- Governance and Nominations Committee
- Finance, Audit and Risk Committee
- Strategic Initiatives Committee
The Board also receives advice from our Clinical and Community Council, which is supported by focused stakeholder reference groups to inform decision-making on programs, services and commissioning activities.
Clinical and Community Council
Our Clinical and Community Council meets at least 3 times a year and plays a critical role in providing recommendations and advice from a clinical and community perspective to the SEMPHN Board. The Council informs decision making on programs, services and commissioning activities, strengthening primary health care and connecting services across the community.
Established in 2015, the Council consists of up to 11 representatives across the community, primary and acute health services whose focus is to provide advice and support to SEMPHN to better meet the needs of our communities.
Reference groups
In line with SEMPHN’s aim to foster consumer-focused healthcare in the region, SEMPHN established 2 reference groups in 2022–23:
- Primary and Aged Care Reference Group (minimum 3 meetings annually)
- Mental Health and Wellbeing Reference Group (minimum 3 meetings annually)
Additionally, the Council has supported the development of a First Nations Reference Group in 2024–25.
These reference groups include up to 9 people representing the voices of people with lived experience and professionals who work with local communities. Oversight from the Council ensures gaps in advice from key populations, customers and stakeholders are being identified and actioned, creating an integrated advisory system.
Auditor information
ACCRU Melbourne
Ahmad Samadi (Director)
T:
03 9835 8200
50 Camberwell Road
Hawthorn East VIC 3123
Company Secretary
Julie Zammit FCPA, FGIA, GAICD
T:
0412 415 324
SEMPHN is registered with ASIC as an unlisted Public Company Limited by Guarantee as of 23 January 2015, and with ACNC as a Registered Charity as of 3 June 2015. SEMPHN continues to comply with all regulatory and statutory requirements and act in accordance with all relevant state and federal legislation.
Board members
Clinical and Community Council
Executive team
