NSW and ACT PHNs Welcome the Australian National Audit Office Report

NSW and ACT Primary Health Networks (PHNs) welcome the Australian National Audit Office’s (ANAO) report into the effectiveness of the Department of Health and Aged Care’s (the Department) performance management of PHNs.

The report, released 27 February, had eight recommendations, seven of which the Department agreed to, and one partially agreed. All the report’s recommendations relate specifically to the improvement of the Department’s performance measurement, evaluation and data management of the PHN program.

Speaking on behalf of NSW and ACT PHNs, Ms Lizz Reay, CEO Chair of the NSW/ACT PHN CEO Forum, said that for many years PHNs had been calling for a performance framework that focuses on outcome reporting, to adequately highlight the positive impacts they make.

“As regional commissioners, we are strongly supportive of performance reporting that demonstrates value against the significant investment that the Commonwealth has made in our local communities via the PHN network,” she said.

“As PHNs have matured, we have taken on more responsibility for the delivery of national programs, particularly during the pandemic, our role and scope has widened. However, while we have been agile and adaptable, the governance and reporting mechanisms for PHNs have remained largely unchanged. This includes the prescribed performance reporting and framework that has been in place since PHNs were established in 2015.”

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