Primary Health Networks (PHNs) were established with the key objectives of increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of medical services for patients, particularly those at risk of poor health outcomes, and improving coordination of care to ensure patients receive the right care in the right place at the right time.

The South Eastern Melbourne PHN catchment encompasses an area comprising 1.6 million people and stretches from St Kilda to Sorrento and as far east as Bunyip, including the major population hubs of Monash, Dandenong, Moorabbin, Caulfield, Cranbourne, Frankston, and Pakenham.

From 1 July 2016 PHNs adopted a commissioning approach to procuring medical and health care services which is based on an assessment of the health and wellbeing needs of the community. This work determines the priority areas and guides the scope of the commissioning process.

South Eastern Melbourne Primary Health Network (SEMPHN) invites RACGP accredited general practices in the Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Mornington Peninsula, Cardinia and Casey to submit their proposal to Express their Interest (EOI) to provide increased face to face onsite services in the After Hours (AH) period. Attractive funding is on offer to successful practices.

Practices will be expected to provide services that deliver low to moderate acuity such as treating minor injuries, pain management, wound care, fractures, lacerations, minor burns, abdominal pain, skin and soft-tissue infections and focus on improving access to identified Priority Populations in their LGA.

These services aim to reduce demand on hospital emergency departments. Practice staff may also be required to undertake training as set by SEMPHN, to support them delivering services in the AH period.

Funding of up to $300,000 (Ex. GST.) is available for successful general practices. Interested practices are to propose funding they require to extend their current hours of operation in the AH period on Fridays (after 6 pm), Saturdays (after 12 pm) and Sundays (on any of these nominated days) and must commence 1 October 2024.

Please note the following: It is NOT a requirement to propose extending hours to cover the full AH period on all the above specified days.

Your proposal needs to be an extension of your current operating hours that at a minimum must be an additional two (2) hours per proposed day, per week in the AH period. Preference will be given to practices proposing higher additional hours above minimum requirement.

Funding will only be provided for the extended or additional hours of operation in the AH period.

Funding can be used for eligible costs to extend the hours of operation including specified facility fees, workforce costs, training, on-call security, consumables, community awareness and some supplementary funding for identified priority populations. Interested General Practices will be required to complete templates as part of their proposal.