This Expression of Interest (EOI) is issued by the Western Sydney Primary Health Network (WSPHN) as part of its aim to strengthen mental health services through a whole of system approach to service delivery - 'One Western Sydney Health System' - to proactively improve access and support for people across the region.

The aim of the Primary Mental Health Care (PMHC) program is to provide psychological and psychiatric services for the most vulnerable and financially disadvantaged members of the Western Sydney region who would otherwise have limited or no access to mental health services.

Services include psychological and psychiatric therapy sessions for people who are unable to otherwise afford to pay for therapy, and a separate suicide prevention stream is designated to help people who have been identified as acutely at risk of suicide regardless of their financial status.

The objectives of Primary Mental Health Care are to:
- Improve targeting of psychological interventions to appropriately support people with mild mental illness at the local level
- Support region-specific, cross sectoral approaches to early intervention for children and young people with, or at risk of mental illness (including those with severe mental illness who are being managed in primary care)
- Implementation of an equitable and integrated approach to primary mental health services for this population group
- Address service gaps in the provision of psychological therapies for people in under-serviced and/or hard to reach populations, making optimal use of the available service infrastructure and workforce.

PMHC enables professionals to refer individuals with a diagnosed mental health condition, or at risk of developing a mental health condition, to accredited psychologists and psychiatrists. The services to be provided under PMHC include focused psychological/psychiatric strategies, evidence based psychological treatments and flexible supports to resume activities of daily living.

This service will continue to improve patient outcomes through working collaboratively with health professionals and services to integrate and facilitate a seamless patient experience.