Coffee on Country
We use the Coffee on Country podcast to share the work happening in our communities, interview guests, have a laugh and to educate people on our health care system.
First Nations Health
Hunter New England and Central Coast (HNECC) PHN acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands we walk, reside and work upon. We pay our respects to First Nations people and value the continued connection to culture, country, waterways and contributions made to the life of our vast region.
Closing the Gap in Primary Care
We work with our communities and health providers to improve access to services, promote health literacy and support the management of health conditions for First Nations people living and working in our region.
Current First Nations Health initiatives
715 Health Check
The aim of the 715 Health Check is to help ensure that First Nations people receive primary health care matched to their needs, by encouraging early detection, diagnosis and intervention for common and treatable conditions that cause morbidity and early mortality.
Practice Incentives Program (PIP) Indigenous Health Incentive
The Practice Incentives Program (PIP) Indigenous Health Incentive supports general practices and Indigenous health services (practices) to provide better health care for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander patients. This includes best practice management of chronic disease.
Integrated Team Care (ITC) Program
The ITC Program improves access to culturally appropriate, mainstream primary care services, including but not limited to, general practice, allied health and specialists.
Cultural Awareness Training and Education
Our First Nations Health Access Team can provide free cultural awareness support with an email, phone call or a practice visit. View educational resources here.
Indigenous Mental Health Program
Our PHN works with clinicians, service providers, people with a lived experience and local communities to commission mental health care that reflects local needs and focuses on safe, effective and quality service.
Hearing Assessment Program - Early Ears (HAPEE)
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children with undiagnosed hearing loss are disadvantaged at school with delayed auditory, cognitive and psychosocial development.
The Closing The Gap (CTG) Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) Co-Payment program
The CTG PBS Co-Payment program was established in July 2010 to improve access to affordable PBS medicines for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living with, or at risk of, chronic disease.
Healing Forums
The PHN Healing Forums across Taree, Inverell and Cessnock were designed to increase access to First Nations community-identified approaches to improving the healing and wellbeing needs of HNECC Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
COVID-19 Information for First Nations Communities
The PHN has developed resources to assist First Nations people to access reliable information about the COVID-19 vaccines, and to identify health services to manage and treat COVID-19 related illness.
Grants Program
To support our vision of Healthy People and Healthy Communities we have developed a Grants program. Our Grants program addresses local health needs and priorities by providing grant funding for innovative programs and projects throughout our region. Grants are one-off funding opportunities and are not guaranteed on-going funding.
First Nations Health Visual Identity
The First Nations Health logo and artwork has been produced for the Primary Health Network as a representation of the work, programs and services provided for First Nations communities within the Hunter New England and Central Coast regions of NSW.
First Nations Health & Wellness Framework
Primary health is a fundamental cornerstone of wellness and wellbeing for First Nations people which contributes greatly to achieving the Nations Closing the Gap targets. This is why the PHN is focused on First Nations work and improving health outcomes. This Health and Wellness framework provides an impetus for change and dialogue about achieving improved health outcomes.
The framework builds upon recent work including the Healing Forums conducted in 2020 and the original Aboriginal Health framework published in 2016. This framework sets expected standards for cultural competency for staff and PHN stakeholder and guides on us how incorporate culturally responsive attitudes, values, and behaviours into their everyday work. The framework gives us a basis to reflect on our approaches to First Nations health and engaging the First Nations community.
Latest First Nations Health news
April 19 2024
PHN launches First Nations health support request portal for General Practices, Aboriginal Medical Services and Allied Health providers across the region.
The PHN has launched a First Nations health support request portal for General Practices, Aboriginal Medical Services and Allied Health providers across the region.
April 11 2024
Express. Empower. Get Loud! Youth Week 2024: Join the Celebration in NSW!
NSW Youth Week 2024 is set to take place from 11 to 21 April 2024, igniting a celebration of youth empowerment and creativity across the state under the theme 'Express, Empower, Get Loud!'
First Nations Health Access Team
To enable us to support our First Nations communities we have established a dedicated First Nations Health team. The team work closely with local First Nations organisations and service providers, forming strong relationships that help identify regional needs and in turn close the service gap.
Kristy Lee Priestly
First Nations Health Access Manager
Robbie Watson
First Nations Health Access Officer | Hunter Mid-North Coast
Josh Fuller
First Nations Health Community Engagement Officer
Bree Foyle
First Nations Health Access Officer | Central Coast
Alicia Wallace
First Nations Project Officer
The PHN First Nations Team (FNT) is committed to providing support to General Practitioners (GPs), Aboriginal Medical Services (AMS), integrated Team Care Providers (ITC) focusing on the delivery of culturally appropriate healthcare. Our support encompasses:
Cultural Safety Training, Closing the Gap Incentive (CTG), Practice Incentives Program (PIP) and Indigenous Health Incentive (IHI), Integrated Team Care (ITC) Program and other in-practice education. To request support please complete the support request form.