Priorities we commission
Adelaide PHN commissions a range of services across priority areas as identified as part of our Needs Assessment. A list of these service types can be found below.
Adelaide PHN’s work is driven by a set of national priorities determined by the Commonwealth Department of Health.
Four local priority populations, underpinned by the findings of our needs assessment process, are also considered and reflected across our work.
Adelaide PHN is committed to improving health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, children and families though equitable access to high quality, culturally appropriate primary health care services.
In broad terms, social and emotional wellbeing is the foundation for physical and mental health for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. We consider Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health in a holistic context, that encompasses mental health and physical, cultural, and spiritual health. Connection to land is central to wellbeing.
We recognise that the experiences of trauma and loss, present since European invasion, are a direct outcome of the disruption to cultural wellbeing. Trauma and loss of this magnitude continues to have inter-generational effects. Racism, stigma, environmental adversity, and social disadvantage constitute ongoing stressors and have negative impacts on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ mental health and wellbeing.
Social and emotional wellbeing may look different across the life course: what is important to a child’s social and emotional wellbeing may be quite different to what is important to an Elder. However, a positive sense of social and emotional wellbeing is essential for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to achieve improved health and wellbeing outcomes.
To support this work, we continually provide our staff with learning and development opportunities in Aboriginal culture, to help build culturally appropriate, relevant, and accessible services. We further seek to work with our communities and health providers to co-create services which results in a network of relationships between individuals, family, kin, and community, whilst recognising the importance of connection to land, culture, spirituality and ancestry, and how these affect the individual.
- Integrated Team Care Services
- Specialised mental health supports
- AOD treatment interventions
Aged care is a priority for Adelaide PHN. We aim to facilitate and establish person centred services that enable and empower older people, with the involvement of their families and carers, to live well and independently in our community.
As part of the Australian Government’s response to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety (Royal Commission), PHN’s nationally have received additional funding to support improving access to primary care and aged care services for senior Australians. This funding will enable us to build upon the existing services we already commission in the aged care space.
The complete list of our commissioned aged care services is available via our directory.
- Care Finders
- Primary mental health care services
Adelaide PHN commissions a wide range of alcohol and other drug (AOD) treatment services and activities across the Adelaide metropolitan region.
Services and programs funded by Adelaide PHN support individuals and families affected by AOD use, LGBTIQA+ people, Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander people, people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities, people with co-occurring AOD and mental health issues, young people and people who have been, or are at risk of being in contact with the criminal justice system.
Services are provided free of charge to the community, and they include both brief and more intensive treatment interventions, counselling, structured group education programs, and health promotion activities.
Adelaide PHN also works extensively within the AOD sector to build capacity, increase the effectiveness of existing services, and facilitate linkages and integration within and outside the AOD sector.
Referrals to Adelaide PHN-funded AOD services can be made via:
- Self-referrals
- Family members
- Health care providers (general practice, mental health services) / health professionals
- Community services
The complete list of our AOD commissioned service providers is available via our directory.
- Community transitions programs
- Services for culturally and linguistically diverse communities
- Youth outreach services
- Interventions for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities
- LGBTIQA+ service
- Methamphetamine treatment program
Adelaide PHN recognises digital health as a key enabler and disruptive approach to achieving its overarching vision of shaping the health system to deliver better outcomes for vulnerable people, and a healthier Adelaide.
We work to be at the forefront of the digital health revolution, advocating and driving the adoption of various data and digital technologies to transform the way healthcare is delivered making it more equitable for everyone.
Our focus areas for digital health include:
- Partnership and innovation
- Workforce capability
- Digital integration and connectivity
- Health intelligence
- Data and information sharing
The complete list of our digital health services is available via our directory.
Adelaide PHN has partnered with the Country SA PHN to become a new pilot site to establish and integrate models of support for victims and survivors of domestic and family violence, sexual violence, and child sexual abuse. The objectives of this pilot are to:
- Support primary health care providers to implement a model of support to assist in the early identification and intervention of family, domestic and sexual violence (FDSV), and coordinate referrals to support services.
- Increase the capacity and capability of the primary care workforce to better care for victims survivors of FDSV and persons living with FDSV.
- Improve the primary care system integration with the broader FDSV service response system and health service navigation for victims-survivors of sexual violence.
More information will be released about participation in the consultation and co-design of the models of support but in the meantime, if you have queries or would like to express no-obligation interest in participation, please contact fdsv@adelaidephn.com.au.
Integration supports improved experiences and outcomes for people and providers across the Adelaide PHN’s local priority areas. This achieved by facilitating and coordinating evidence- informed:
- Design, planning and development, utilising the Adelaide PHN priority areas and data to underpin this.
- System and sector integration, connectivity, and collaboration, both
- internal:
- Identifying opportunities for cross-portfolio integration and partnerships within the Adelaide PHN, and
- external:
- focusing on establishing and maintaining relationships with SA Health metropolitan Local Health Networks (LHN), SA Health and its agencies and other Adelaide PHN stakeholders.
- Implementation of strategic, partnership and commissioned activities to enable integrated approaches that avoid unnecessary presentations and admissions to hospital, including, but not limited to, strong referral pathways between primary care and LHN hospitals and the community.
- Involves and includes other Adelaide PHN stakeholders in implementation while supporting and facilitating capacity building, change management and evaluation.
The complete list of our integrated care services is available via our directory.
Adelaide PHN commissions a diverse range of primary mental health care services and initiatives throughout the metropolitan Adelaide region, adopting a Stepped Model of care. This model ensures a seamless provision of care spanning from early intervention to addressing mild, moderate, or chronic/complex conditions. The services are designed to address equity and accessibility challenges, with a specific focus on priority populations that include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, culturally and linguistically diverse communities, LGBTIQA+ individuals, and the older persons and children aged 0-11.
In addition to commissioning service provision, Adelaide PHN actively engages in capacity building and integration between services and government sectors which underscores a commitment to fostering a resilient and interconnected mental health system.
For all inquiries and mental health referrals, the Head to Health Phone Service serves as a central point of contact, accessible at on 1800 595 212. The streamlined referral process employs secure messaging via HealthLink, ensuring a secure and efficient pathway for communication and collaboration.
The complete list of our commissioned mental health services is available via our directory.
- Clinical suicide prevention services
- Head to health phone service
- Headspace centres
- Telephone support services
- Children and family health services
- Wellbeing hubs
- Specialised mental health supports for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities
- Services for culturally and linguistically diverse communities
- LGBTIQA+ services
- Psychosocial supports
- Youth services
An approach to protect and promote good health, prevent illness, and reduce health inequities in the Adelaide PHN region. This can be achieved by community-informed local priority setting and addressing those needs by facilitating quality population health programs on the broader determinants of health, supporting primary care providers, and coordinated quality integrated health care in partnership with our stakeholders.
One of Adelaide PHNs primary objectives is to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of primary health care services for individuals, particularly those at risk of poor health outcomes, to improve the coordination of care to ensure people receive the right care, in the right place, at the right time.
Adelaide PHN commissions services to meet population health needs and reduce barriers to access for communities with the highest needs by:
- identifying and addressing health service gaps based on careful planning and analysis
- providing support services so health care providers are better placed to care for patients
- supporting workforce development through training and education
- assisting health care services to implement and use digital health systems
- working with others to commission health services for priority populations.
The complete list of our population health services is available via our directory.
- Chronic pain management programs
- Urgent Care Clinics
- Priority Care Centres
- Immunisation
- HealthPathways SA
Adelaide PHN recognises the importance of primary health and the role that it plays in the broader health eco-system.
Adelaide PHN’s role in primary care is to assist in achieving a health system that is person-centered, comprehensive, innovative, accessible, equitable, coordinated and provides high-quality and safe care.
We will do this by being.
- Capability builders, ensuring providers have access to education, tools and resources.
- Communicators, delivering timely and relevant localised information to health care providers. Providing Information that is evidence based and accessible to inform and empower diverse communities.
- Champions, advocating for primary care as the foundation of a high-performing and sustainable health care system.
- Coordinators, fostering strong partnerships, collaboration and integration between primary health, acute and specialist services.
The complete list of our practice support services is available via our directory.