Primary Health Network
Primary Health Network (HNECC PHN) is a Commonwealth Government-funded not-for-profit that commissions and coordinates primary health care across the Hunter New England and Central Coast region of NSW, supporting 400+ general practices and serving 1.39 million people across 23 LGAs.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersErina, Australia
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Primary Health Network does
Primary Health Network (trading as HNECC PHN, legally Hunter New England and Central Coast Primary Health Network) is an Australian not-for-profit, Commonwealth Government-funded commissioning body that coordinates primary health care across the Hunter New England and Central Coast region of New South Wales. The organization operates as an intermediary between federal funders, regional primary care providers, and communities, commissioning and supporting services for a population of approximately 1.39 million people spread across 23 Local Government Areas. Its principal customer segments include 400+ general practices, Aboriginal Medical Services, Medicare Mental Health Centre operators (e.g., Social Futures), headspace youth services, residential aged care homes, and priority population groups including First Nations communities, veterans, and rural/remote residents.
PHN's portfolio spans mental health services (stepped care, suicide prevention, headspace, Medicare Mental Health Centres, Head to Health), general practice support (Practice Support Team, SAVI benchmarking, accreditation and workforce development), digital health tools (HealthPathways clinical decision support, Health-e Together, e-Consultant specialist access pilot, aggregated booking platform, telehealth including a 2025 Tenterfield virtual health pod), and First Nations programs (715 Health Checks, Integrated Team Care, Closing the Gap, HAPEE hearing assessments). Underlying technology is primarily decision-support and integration-oriented rather than AI-native, with information security controls aligned to ISO 27001 principles and integrations to Healthdirect Australia, Medical-Objects, Best Practice Software, and My Health Record.
The business model is grant-funded rather than commercial: the Commonwealth Government provides block funding that PHN allocates through commissioning agreements with local providers, complemented by partnerships with universities (University of Newcastle, University of New England), Reconciliation Australia, Black Dog Institute, Dementia Australia, nib foundation, and Indigenous Allied Health Australia. Services are largely free at the point of use for patients, meaning PHN operates as a system steward and capacity builder rather than a revenue-capturing enterprise, and pricing is therefore not publicly disclosed. There are no subsidiaries, no disclosed funding rounds, no M&A activity, and no patents or trademarks in the input data.
Primary Health Network firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Primary Health Network
- Legal name
- Hunter New England and Central Coast Primary Health Network (HNECC PHN)
- Website
- https://thephn.com.au
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- Primary Health Network (HNECC PHN) is a Commonwealth Government-funded not-for-profit that commissions and coordinates primary health care across the Hunter New England and Central Coast region of NSW, supporting 400+ general practices and serving 1.39 million people across 23 LGAs.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Primary Health Network is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Erina
- HQ country
- Australia
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices4 records
Markets served
Primary Health Network business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Commonwealth Government Funding: Primary Health Network operates as a not-for-profit funded by the Commonwealth Government. The organisation receives federal funding to commission and coordinate primary health care services across the Hunter New England and Central Coast region.
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels9 records
Primary Health Network product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Primary Health Network (HNECC PHN) is a Commonwealth Government-funded not-for-profit that commissions and coordinates primary health care services across the Hunter New England and Central Coast region of NSW, Australia. It delivers commissioned mental health services (Medicare Mental Health Centres, headspace, Head to Health), general practice support programs (SAVI, accreditation, workforce development), First Nations health programs, and digital health tools such as HealthPathways, Health-e Together and e-Consultant. Services are primarily free at the point of use for patients and aimed at improving equity of access across metropolitan, regional, rural and remote communities.
Product overview
Primary Health Network operates as a not-for-profit funded by the Commonwealth Government, working to improve efficiency and effectiveness of primary health care across the Hunter New England and Central Coast region. The organization offers a broad portfolio of health services and programs including Mental Health Services (covering stepped care approach, Medicare Mental Health Centres, Head to Health centres, and suicide prevention), General Practice Support (including the SAVI sustainability initiative, accreditation support, and workforce development), Digital Health tools (HealthPathways clinical decision support, Health-e Together, e-Consultant specialist access, and telehealth services including Healthdirect Video Call), and First Nations Health Programs (715 Health Check, ITC Program, Hearing Assessment, and Closing the Gap initiatives). The network also conducts Health Planning and Needs Assessment activities and partners with various health providers and platforms including Medical-Objects, Best Practice Software, and Healthdirect Australia to coordinate care delivery.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- SAVI (Sustainability and Viability Initiative): General Practice Sustainability and Viability Initiative - a program designed to help general practices achieve business sustainability
- First Nations Health and Wellness Framework
- Mental Health Regional Plan
- Equity of Access to Primary Care Framework
Products and services
- Mental Health Services Commissioned stepped-care mental health services for community members across the HNECC region, integrating clinical decision support (IAR tool), suicide prevention, early intervention and digitally delivered care. Free at the point of use for patients through commissioned providers.
- General Practice Support (incl. SAVI) Capacity-building service for 400+ regional general practices covering practice viability benchmarking (SAVI), accreditation, workforce development, MBS/MyMedicare navigation, and quality improvement.
- HealthPathways Online clinical decision support and referral platform used by GPs and clinicians across the HNECC region to assess and manage medical conditions and route patients to the right local specialist, allied health or hospital service.
- Health-e Together for General Practice Digital care improvement platform that helps general practices enhance clinician experience and patient care by embedding data-driven improvement tools into everyday workflows.
- e-Consultant Pilot Pilot initiative enabling general practitioners to obtain rapid, free specialist medical advice asynchronously, reducing avoidable specialist referrals and improving patient access.
- Aggregated Booking Platform Innovative pilot booking platform that aggregates appointment availability across primary care providers to improve patient access, practice efficiency, and the overall patient experience.
- Medicare Mental Health Centres Free walk-in mental health centres (Muswellbrook, Tuggerah, plus upcoming Central Coast and Tamworth/Armidale) offering psychology and psychiatry consultations via phone, video or face-to-face with after-hours on-call availability. Commissioned by PHN and operated by providers such as Social Futures.
- headspace Youth Mental Health Centres Commissioned headspace centres in Tamworth, Armidale, Wyong, Lake Haven and Taree providing youth mental health services for people aged 12-25, including counselling, mental health support and community education.
- Head to Health Centres and Intake & Assessment Network Free walk-in mental health support with phone/video consultation options including after-hours on-call availability, transitioning to a Statewide Central Intake and Assessment Hub & Spoke Model under the Australian Government's Head to Health program.
- First Nations Health Programs Suite of programs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples including 715 Health Checks, First Nations Mental Health Program, Integrated Team Care (ITC), HAPEE hearing assessments, and the Closing the Gap PBS Co-Payment program.
- Health Planning and Needs Assessment Regional health planning service producing Needs Assessments, Health Profiles, Activity Work Plans, Mental Health Regional Plan and Palliative & End-of-Life Care Needs Assessments, informing commissioning across the HNECC PHN footprint.
- Telehealth Services (Healthdirect Video Call) Commissioned telehealth services using the Healthdirect Video Call platform, including a first-of-its-kind NSW telehealth pod in Tenterfield (launched November 2025) delivering bulk-billed psychology appointments without travel.
- MyMedicare, My Health Record and Electronic Prescriptions Digital health record and medication safety services supporting My Health Record, the Active Script List, and electronic prescriptions across general practices in the HNECC region, in partnership with the Australian Digital Health Agency.
Quantifiable outcome
- More than 5,000 individuals received federally funded mental health treatment through PHN-commissioned programs
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Primary Health Network
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Primary Health Network technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
Feature4 records
Primary Health Network partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Indigenous Allied Health Australia (IAHA)corePHN partnered with IAHA to promote cultural awareness in allied health practices across the region, supporting the PHN's commitment to placing First Nations people at the heart of decision-making and improving health outcomes through culturally competent care.
- Primary Health TasmaniaminorPartnership to install a community greenhouse on Cape Barren Island in 2023, providing fresh produce year-round to address food insecurity through sustainable practices combining traditional foods and modern growing methods.
- Hunter New England and Central Coast Local Health DistrictscorePHN works with Local Health Districts to meet local health care needs, co-design initiatives, and strengthen integration across the primary and acute care continuum. Partners in mental health commissioning, palliative care, and regional planning.
- University of Newcastle and University of New EnglandcorePHN partnered with University of Newcastle and University of New England for the Mental Health Innovation Challenge, engaging over 200 health professionals, students, researchers, and entrepreneurs to develop innovative solutions addressing the mental health crisis across the region.
- Reconciliation AustraliacoreGuided the development of HNECC PHN's first Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan, supporting the organisation to develop, test and implement meaningful actions that advance reconciliation with First Nations peoples.
- Dementia AustraliaminorPHN partnered with Dementia Australia to offer General Practices the opportunity to participate in the Nightingale Program, enhancing support for Advance Care Directives and Advance Care Planning for patients living with dementia.
- Social FuturescoreSocial Futures is commissioned to deliver Medicare Mental Health Centres (Muswellbrook, Tuggerah) and the Universal Aftercare program in the Hunter and Central Coast areas, providing free psychology and psychiatry consultations via phone or video.
- Black Dog InstituteminorDeveloped the Recognise & Respond (R&R) suicide prevention e-Learning program. PHN provided 500 health professionals and community members with fully subsidised licenses for this training.
- Hunter Postgraduate Medical Institute (HPMI)minorPHN offered 10 practices in the region a free annual membership to HPMI, valued at $1,000 each, to support GP continuing education and professional development.
- EverymindminorEverymind developed mental health resources and programs including the Doing It Tough campaign and online programs for family and friends of paramedics, commissioned by PHN.
- Uniting (C2bMe Program)minorUniting was commissioned to deliver the C2bMe mental health program to Residential Aged Care Homes in the HNECC PHN footprint, supporting the mental health of aged care residents.
- ACON (Pride Counselling)minorACON delivers Pride Counselling providing LGBTQ community members with affordable, inclusive, and culturally appropriate mental health counselling support.
- Healthdirect AustraliacoreFunded by the Australian government, Healthdirect provides 24/7 national virtual public health information, advice and referral services accessible via helplines, video call, websites, service finders, mobile apps and social media.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Primary Health Network competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- Healthdirect Australia: Commonwealth-funded national virtual health information and triage service that PHN integrates with for after-hours, telehealth, and Health Services Directory. A key ecosystem partner rather than a competitor.
- Wellbeing SA / State Health Departments: State-level bodies (e.g., NSW Health, Queensland Health) that co-fund and co-design services with PHNs through Local Health Districts. Adjacent public-sector actors that share population-health objectives with PHN.
Direct peers
- Western Sydney Primary Health Network: Another Australian PHN operating under the same Commonwealth commissioning mandate, coordinating primary care, mental health, and First Nations programs across Western Sydney. Highly comparable in mandate, funding model, and service portfolio.
- Murray Primary Health Network: Cross-border (Vic/NSW) PHN providing primary care commissioning, mental health stepped care, and aged care programs across a similarly mixed regional/metropolitan catchment. Comparable in scale and scope.
- Western Victoria Primary Health Network: Regional/rural Victorian PHN operating the same Commonwealth commissioning model, including headspace centres, Medicare Mental Health Centres, and GP support. Comparable in rural commissioning challenges and program portfolio.
- Central and Eastern Sydney Primary Health Network: Sydney-based PHN operating the same commissioning model for primary care, mental health, and allied health services in NSW. Comparable in mandate, regulatory role, and target provider ecosystem.
- North Coast Primary Health Network: Neighboring NSW PHN with a regional/rural focus similar to HNECC's footprint, providing mental health, First Nations, and aged care commissioning. Comparable in geographic complexity and priority populations.
- Brisbane North Primary Health Network: Large Queensland PHN operating under the identical Commonwealth commissioning framework, including mental health, First Nations programs, and GP practice support. Comparable in operating model and scale.
- North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network: A large metropolitan Australian PHN with the same Commonwealth-funded commissioning role, mental health stepped-care services, and GP practice support programs. Directly comparable in structure, scale, and program mix.
Regional players
- headspace National Youth Mental Health Foundation: National operator of headspace centres that PHNs commission to deliver youth mental health services. While not a commissioning peer, headspace is the dominant service-delivery model PHN relies on for the 12-25 youth segment.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Customer concentration
Primary Health Network social profiles
Digital presencePrimary Health Network compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance5 records
Primary Health Network financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Primary Health Network leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Primary Health Network funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Primary Health Network M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments1 record
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Primary Health Network
What does Primary Health Network do?
Primary Health Network (HNECC PHN) is a Commonwealth Government-funded not-for-profit that commissions and coordinates primary health care services across the Hunter New England and Central Coast region of NSW, Australia. It delivers commissioned mental health services (Medicare Mental Health Centres, headspace, Head to Health), general practice support programs (SAVI, accreditation, workforce development), First Nations health programs, and digital health tools such as HealthPathways, Health-e Together and e-Consultant. Services are primarily free at the point of use for patients and aimed at improving equity of access across metropolitan, regional, rural and remote communities.
Is Primary Health Network a public or private company?
Primary Health Network is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Primary Health Network founded?
Primary Health Network was founded in 2014. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is Primary Health Network based?
Primary Health Network is headquartered in Erina, Australia, in the Oceania region.
How does Primary Health Network make money?
One revenue line is on record: commonwealth Government Funding.
Who are Primary Health Network's main competitors?
Others on record are Healthdirect Australia and Wellbeing SA / State Health Departments. Direct peers are Western Sydney Primary Health Network, Murray Primary Health Network, Western Victoria Primary Health Network, Central and Eastern Sydney Primary Health Network, North Coast Primary Health Network, Brisbane North Primary Health Network and North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network. headspace National Youth Mental Health Foundation is listed as a regional player.
Does Primary Health Network have an API?
No public API is recorded for Primary Health Network.