Community and Primary Health Care Network
About us
The Community and Primary Health Care Network (CPHCN) is building strong partnerships between the University, Primary Health Care organisations and people in the community. Our aim is to promote and embed a Primary Health Care approach centred on meeting people’s health needs throughout their whole life.
Our Faculty of Medicine and Health delivers education and research programs that encompass widest array of healthcare disciplines of any University in Australia. Primary Health Care principles and newly emerging models of care are integral to supporting a high quality, high performing Australian healthcare system.
News and events
PRECISE Genomics Research Project - Co-Design with General Practitioners and Consumers
Dr Alan Ma from the Faculty of Medicine and Health is leading the PRECISE (Practitioner Readiness, Education and Capabilities, with Implementation Science Evaluation) Genomics Research Project, aiming to co-design and evaluate online resources that support General Practitioners (GPs) in genomics. This study seeks to develop practical tools that enhance GPs’ confidence and capability in applying genomics to patient care. Participants will contribute valuable insights to shape these resources, and help shape these resources to better meet the needs of GPs.
GPs currently in practice or training across Australia are invited to take part in this study, which involves up to four online focus groups running from April to September 2025. Each session lasts between 60 and 90 minutes, and participants will be compensated with a $200 gift card per hour. By participating, you will gain valuable insights into genetics, and help shape these resources to better meet the needs of GPs. If you are interested, sign up today to contribute to this important initiative.Sign up to join the study.
For more information see the study flyer (pdf) or the patient information statement (pdf).
Screen Me! short film and campaign to promote cervical screening for people with disability
Screen Me! is a short film and social media campaign encouraging people with disability to access cervical screening. It’s a joint project between the Daffodil Centre (a joint venture between Cancer Council NSW and The University of Sydney) and the Centre for Disability Studies (an affiliate of the University of Sydney). View the film and cervical screening resources on the Screen Me! website.
Celebrating World Patient Safety Day
The Network recognised WHO World Patient Safety Day recently with an event celebrating the faculty's recent partnering with Health Consumers NSW. The event's discussions centred on empowering consumers as partners in our healthcare system as well as improving diagnosis, both critical to improving patient safety.
Keynote Kirsten McCaffery from the Sydney Health Literacy Lab spoke about partnering with consumers to develop and evaluate new interventions to strengthen digital health literacy. Anthony Brown, CEO Health Consumers NSW, then chaired a panel discussion with Anne Duggan from the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Healthcare, Karen Luxford of the Australian Council on Healthcare Standards, Andrew Wilson from the NSW Clinical Excellence Commission and Health Consumer leader Laila Hallam.
International Award
Hearty congratulations to Sydney Pharmacist Dr Shania Liu who was recently recognised internationally as a winner of the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) Early Career in Pharmaceutical Practice Recognition Award 2024. Dr Liu is the immediate past Chair of the Pain Management Leadership Committee of the Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia. Her research involves the improvement of the safe use of opioids before and after surgery.
Congratulations to Professor Meredith Makeham - NHMRC's Targeted Call for Research: Ensuring the Quality and Safety of Telehealth.
Congratulations to Professor Meredith Makeham who has received funding under the National Health and Medical Research Council’s Targeted Call for Research: Ensuring the quality and safety of telehealth.
Professor Makeham’s research project will examine the safety, quality, acceptability, and sustainability of using telehealth services for individuals living in residential aged care homes.
Learn more: https://www.nhmrc.gov.au/about-us/news-centre/5-million-boost-furthering-quality-and-safety-telehealth
Advances in Virtual Care for Primary Health Care Settings Showcase
The Community and Primary Health Care Network co-hosted a seminar showcasing new models of virtual care and telehealth technologies in the community for older Australians. The event was co-hosted in collaboration with The Kolling Institute, Sydney North Health Network and Sydney Health Partners' Virtual Care Clinical Academic Group and Geriatric Medicine Clinical Academic Group.
The event brought together consumers, clinicians and digital health experts at the forefront of developing and delivering new models of virtual care in the region and beyond. The event included presentations on innovative new technologies being developed and delivered by the North Sydney Primary Health Network in collaboration with GPs and residential aged care homes in the Northern Sydney Region, an update on the Virtual Care Service at Royal North Shore Hospital, and additional updates on research, innovation and services being developed in the field of virtual care and technology supporting older Australians in NSW and beyond from experts from Sydney Health Partners.
Focus on patient safety and person-centred care
The CPHCN and the Sydney Policy Lab recently celebrated World Patient Safety Day with the Patient Safety and Person-Centred Care Symposium exploring innovative models of care, safety practices and policies that keep the person at the centre of decision-making. Speakers:
- Dr Bernadette Eather – Chief Nurse and Clinical Services Director, Ramsay Health Care Australia
- Prof Hanna Mayer – Professor for Nursing Science and Head of the Nursing Science Division, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Austria
- Prof Brendan McCormack – Head of School and Dean, Susan Wakil School of Nursing and Midwifery
Co-presented by the CPHCN together with the Digital Health Informatics Network with guest speaker Prof Paul Bowie from Glasgow University and emerging CPHC Sydney researchers.
Co-presented by the CPHCN, Cancer Research Network and the Daffodil Centre with presentations by Prof Karen Canfell, Prof Deborah Bateson, A/Prof Megan Smith with cervical cancer survivor and advocate Kirsty Brown and Prof Alison Brand.
Community and Primary Health Care Strategic Plan 2022-2027
We are excited to share our Community and Primary Health Care (CPHC) Portfolio and Network Strategic Plan 2022-2027 officially launched in December.
In this plan, we describe the initiatives that we will deliver to meet our community and primary health care strategic goals over the next five years. It has been created with input from consumers, community and advocacy organisations, healthcare providers and colleagues from Primary Health Networks and Local Health Districts who share our vision of healthcare that delivers equity and access for all.
Thank you to all of our CPHC champions across the University and within our external partner organisations who have provided invaluable contributions to developing our plan. Our ability to translate our goals into tangible benefits for our community will be enhanced by working together. View the Strategic Plan >
Topics of interest
Community-University collaborations: addressing health service needs and workforce development
Broadcasting live from Broken Hill with panellists online in Lismore and Dubbo on Zoom, this CPHCN webinar focused on our rural and regional Schools and their connections in their local communities.
- Find out more about the Far West Extended Nursing Placement Program
- Destination Medicine - a podcast library created to assist anyone who has thought about a career as a rural doctor to make informed decisions and navigate with greater confidence a rural medical pathway.
- Western NSW Health Research Network
- Article: Learning relationships in community-based service-learning: a social network analysis
Primary Health Networks 101– making communities happier and healthier
An expert panel of Primary Health Networks (PHN) leaders presented an engaging webinar in May focused on the the valuable role PHNs play in supporting the health and wellbeing of our communities. The panel described the national PHN agenda and highlighted some key programs of work, including collaborative commissioning and climate change and mental health. We heard about the vital role of PHNs in dealing with the impacts of COVID and extreme weather, including the recent floods in Northern NSW. Speakers also provided a researcher’s 101 guide on how to engage with PHNs and the Primary Health Care clinicians and communities they serve.
Do you have a Community and Primary Health Care news item to share? Email the CPHCN.
Our focus areas
- Cancer care
- Chronic disease
- Community health
- Consumer engagement
- Digital health
- Disability
- End of life care
- First Nations health
- Genomics / biomedical data
- Health system reform
- Medicines safety
- Mental health
- New models of care
- Population health
- Primary care
- Rural health
- Self care
- Telehealth/ virtual care
- Women’s health
- Behavioural and Social Sciences in Health
- Dentistry and Oral Health
- Diagnostic Radiography/ Medical Imaging Science
- Dietetics and Nutrition
- Exercise and Sport Science
- General Practice
- Health Services Management
- Laboratory Science
- Occupational Therapy
- Pharmacy
- Physiotherapy
- Psychology
- Rehabilitation Counselling
- Speech Pathology
- Medicine
- Nursing and Midwifery
- Nutrition and Dietetics
- Public Health
- Social Work
Join the network
Membership is free and open to postgraduate research students and employees of the University of Sydney and affiliated institutes working within fields related to Primary Health Care.
We also welcome and include consumers, primary health care professionals and our partners in government and industry. Complete our membership form to join.
A Primary Health Care approach
Primary Health Care is defined by the World Health Organisation as essential health care that is universally accessible and meets people’s health needs throughout their lives. We are dedicated to achieving this by embedding a Primary Health Care approach to research, education and engagement.
A Primary Health Care approach is a whole of society approach. It includes methods of health promotion, disease prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and palliative care. It addresses the broader determinants of health through multisectoral policy and action, an importantly, empowers individuals, families and communities to take charge of their own health and care.
The CPHC Network Leadership Group represents the CPHC disciplines within the University and key external and affiliated partners in fields relating to CPHC:
- Faculty of Medicine and Health
- CESPHN (Central and Eastern Sydney PHN)
- Health Consumers NSW
- Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use
- Menzies Centre for Health Policy
- Regal Health
- Rural Clinical School Dubbo/Orange
- Rural Clinical School Northern Rivers
- South Western Sydney Local Health District
- Susan Wakil School of Nursing and Midwifery
- Sydney Dental School
- Sydney Local Health District
- Sydney Northern Health Network
- Sydney School of Health Sciences
- Sydney School of Medical Sciences
- Sydney School of Pharmacy
- Sydney School of Public Health
- The Daffodil Centre
- The Kolling Institute, Northern Clinical School
- University Centre for Rural Health
- WentWest PHN
- Western New South Wales Primary Health Network
- Westmead Clinical School