PHNs commission key national services including headspace and Medicare Mental Health Centres, and (in Victoria) Head to Health Clinics. The national Medicare Mental Health telephone service and digital infrastructure is also operated within VTPHNA, led by North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network.
Each PHN also responds to the unique local needs of the population in its region by working with clinicians, service providers, people with lived experience and local communities to commission and strengthen mental health, suicide prevention, and alcohol and other drugs support that focuses on safe, effective and quality service.
By thinking nationally and acting locally, VTPHNA aims to improve:
- integration of mental health services across the system
- provision of high quality and earlier mental health care
- care pathways between services and PHN regions
- capacity of primary care providers
- linkage with social support services, including alcohol and other drug services.
Mental health commissioning is supported by the Australian Government.
