Primary health care — the first contact point between individuals and the health system — is where most health problems can be prevented, detected early, and managed before they become acute. Primary Health Networks (PHNs) and community health centres are the backbone of Australia's primary care system, supported by government funding, philanthropy, and community health infrastructure.
General practice as foundation
GPs are the foundation of primary care — but access to GPs has become increasingly difficult in many communities:
- GP shortages in rural and regional areas
- Bulk-billing declining in many urban areas
- Long wait times for appointments
- Limited access for people who are homeless, in prison, or from marginalised communities
Primary Health Networks (PHNs)
Australia's 31 PHNs are government-funded organisations that:
- Commission primary health services in their regions
- Identify local health needs and gaps
- Fund community health programmes
- Support GP quality improvement
- Coordinate mental health services
PHNs are significant local funders — commissioning health services and grants programmes in their regions.
Community health centres
Community health centres provide multi-disciplinary primary care — including GP, nursing, allied health, and social support — often in underserved communities. Funded through state governments and PHN commissioning.
Medicare
Medicare provides the universal health insurance foundation — subsidising GP visits, diagnostic tests, and allied health. However, Medicare funding alone doesn't cover:
- Community health infrastructure
- Health promotion and prevention
- Services for populations that don't access traditional GP care
- Coordination and outreach
PHN commissioning
PHNs receive federal government funding and commission services from community health organisations, GPs, and allied health providers:
- Mental health services
- After-hours GP care
- Chronic disease management
- Drug and alcohol services
- Suicide prevention
- Aged care support
PHNs are increasingly using grant mechanisms alongside direct service contracts.
Commonwealth Grants Programme — Health
The federal Department of Health administers various grants programmes:
- Health Innovation Fund
- Preventive health grants
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander primary care
- Rural health workforce programmes
State government community health
States fund community health centres, community nursing, dental health, and mental health services — through direct grants and service contracts.
Preventive health — stopping disease before it develops — is chronically underfunded despite strong evidence of cost-effectiveness.
What preventive health funders support:
PHN preventive health commissioning
PHNs commission preventive health programmes in their regions — organisations can apply to be commissioned service providers.
Australian Government preventive health
Health promotion grants through the Department of Health for evidence-based population health interventions.
Chronic disease (diabetes, heart disease, respiratory disease, cancer) accounts for the majority of the health burden. Management support grants include:
Chronic Disease Management plans
Medicare funds Chronic Disease Management plans — allowing GPs to refer patients to allied health (physiotherapy, dietitian, psychology). Grants fund the infrastructure to support this model.
Disease-specific management programmes
Community health workers
Community health worker programmes — lay workers from within communities providing chronic disease education, navigation, and support:
- Koori health workers for Indigenous communities
- Pacific health workers
- Multicultural health workers
Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs) are the primary providers of culturally appropriate primary health care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people:
- Government funded through the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) network
- PHN commissioning of ACCHO services
- Philanthropic supplement for community health promotion
Health foundations
These health insurer foundations fund health promotion and primary care innovation.
Community foundations and gaming trusts
Fund local community health initiatives — health screenings, health promotion, equipment.
Medical research foundations
Some research foundations fund implementation of primary health research — getting proven interventions into practice.
Population need evidence
Use AIHW data, PHN needs assessments, ABS health statistics, and local data to demonstrate the health need in your target community.
Evidence-based practice
Funders expect reference to evidence — what interventions have been proven to work for this population and health issue? Reference clinical guidelines, systematic reviews, or evaluated programmes.
PHN alignment
If applying for PHN commissioning, demonstrate understanding of the PHN's local health needs assessment priorities — alignment with PHN strategic priorities is essential.
Accessibility and equity
Primary health grants should address who is currently not being reached — bulk-billing access, geographic access, cultural safety, language access.
Workforce and sustainability
Identify what health workforce will deliver the programme — GPs, nurses, allied health, community health workers. Show that workforce is available and that the programme can be sustained.
Tahua's grants management platform supports community health organisations and primary health funders — with grant portfolio management, health outcome tracking, PHN commissioning integration, and the tools that help primary health providers demonstrate impact across preventive health and chronic disease management programmes.