Canberrans will soon experience a major step forward in primary healthcare delivery thanks to a new agreement between the ACT Government and the Capital Health Network (CHN). The freshly signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is designed to enhance collaboration, strengthen workforce sustainability, and improve patient access to affordable, quality care across the territory.
The partnership, formalised between the Health and Community Services Directorate and CHN, comes at a crucial time when Canberra’s health system faces growing population pressures and an evolving demand for community-based services. By aligning local priorities with national health policies, the agreement seeks to foster seamless care integration and ensure residents can access the right care, in the right place, at the right time.
Strengthening Canberra’s Primary Healthcare System
The ACT–CHN MoU builds upon a shared vision: creating a sustainable and patient-centred primary healthcare ecosystem. This means aligning planning, funding, and service delivery to reduce fragmentation and duplication—issues that have historically limited efficiency in local healthcare delivery.
Under the agreement, both organisations commit to:
- Joint planning and commissioning: Designing services that address community health gaps, such as mental health support, chronic disease prevention, and after-hours care.
- Workforce development and retention: Prioritising initiatives to attract, support, and retain general practitioners, nurses, and allied health professionals.
- Accessible care expansion: Enhancing bulk-billing initiatives and expanding the ACT’s participation in national programs such as the tripled bulk-billing incentive.
- Data-driven integration: Promoting secure data sharing and efficient referral pathways to connect hospitals, GPs, and specialists more effectively.
ACT Minister for Health Rachel Stephen-Smith stated that this collaboration “ensures our health system is more connected and responsive to the needs of our growing and diverse community.” She emphasised that the MoU formalises the shared accountability already demonstrated through the ACT Health System Council, where CHN and other partners contribute to system-level planning.
Empowering the Primary Care Workforce
According to the ACT Government, maintaining a stable and satisfied primary care workforce is fundamental to delivering high-quality health services. Canberra, like much of Australia, faces a shortage of general practitioners and community nurses, especially in outer suburban and rural areas.
The MoU will support measures to:
- Develop career pathways for early-career health professionals to remain in primary care.
- Introduce flexible funding models to support multidisciplinary practices.
- Improve workplace wellbeing and professional support systems.
- Offer training and upskilling programs in areas such as telehealth and integrated digital care.
Stacy Leavens, CEO of the Capital Health Network, reinforced this focus, calling the primary care workforce “the backbone of healthcare delivery” and noting that workforce satisfaction directly correlates with patient experience and outcomes.
Integration, Data Sharing, and Accessibility
A major pillar of the agreement lies in integration—both technological and operational. Improved information exchange between hospitals, GPs, and community health providers aims to reduce service silos and accelerate patient referrals. This integration will be achieved through improved interoperability of electronic health records and a coordinated digital care ecosystem.
The MoU supports several key data and access initiatives:
| Focus Area | Action Plan | Expected Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Digital Integration | Secure data sharing and cross-sector interoperability | Reduced duplication and improved continuity of care |
| Affordable Access | Implementation of bulk-billing incentives and outreach clinics | Greater equity in healthcare access |
| After-Hours Support | Coordinated after-hours care models via CHN partnerships | Reduced emergency department pressure |
| Population Health Insights | Shared analytics to identify health inequalities | Targeted interventions for vulnerable groups |
| Referral Coordination | Streamlined electronic referral pathways | Faster, safer patient transitions between providers |
This integration ensures that healthcare delivery in Canberra remains proactive and evidence-based. It also allows policymakers to make informed decisions based on real-time data about patient needs and system performance.
Aligning with National Health Priorities
The MoU complements several ongoing Commonwealth initiatives aimed at strengthening primary healthcare nationwide. These include:
- The Strengthening Medicare Taskforce reforms, which emphasise multidisciplinary care and digital health innovation.
- Tripled bulk-billing incentives, enabling more free or low-cost GP visits for children, pensioners, and concession card holders.
- The National Primary Health Care Plan 2025–2030, which highlights collaboration between state, territory, and primary health networks.
ACT’s alignment with these policies ensures that the territory remains well-positioned to leverage federal funding and technical support, especially for preventive health and chronic condition management.
By combining federal reforms with local-level planning, the ACT Government and CHN can address both systemic and community-specific challenges—from supporting low-income households to improving cultural safety for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations.
Focus on Vulnerable and At-Risk Populations
The new health pact places significant emphasis on reaching populations most at risk of poor health outcomes. These include older adults, people with chronic diseases, culturally and linguistically diverse communities, and residents in socioeconomically disadvantaged areas.
The partnership aims to:
- Improve outreach and screening programs for chronic conditions.
- Expand culturally safe healthcare options through co-designed services with Indigenous communities.
- Strengthen connections between hospitals and primary care for post-discharge patients.
- Enhance telehealth access for people with mobility or transport challenges.
Through this approach, the ACT Government and CHN are ensuring health equity remains central to the region’s healthcare transformation. By improving early intervention and preventive care, the pact also reduces long-term healthcare costs for the territory.
Trending FAQ
1. What is the purpose of the new MoU between the ACT Government and the Capital Health Network?
The MoU aims to enhance collaboration in planning, workforce development, data integration, and service accessibility to strengthen primary healthcare in the ACT.
2. How will this agreement affect access to GPs in Canberra?
It will support bulk-billing clinics, expand after-hours care options, and encourage GP retention through workforce incentives and flexible funding.
3. Who benefits most from this new health partnership?
All Canberrans benefit, but particularly vulnerable groups such as low-income families, older adults, and people in regional or disadvantaged communities.
4. How does this align with federal health initiatives?
The pact complements the Strengthening Medicare reforms and tripled bulk-billing incentives, ensuring local efforts align with national priorities.
5. What are the next steps for implementation?
The MoU establishes a framework for ongoing collaboration, with specific project priorities to be determined through stakeholder consultation and evidence-based system needs.
A Step Toward a Stronger, Fairer Health Future
By cementing collaboration between the ACT Government and the Capital Health Network, this agreement marks a pivotal move toward an integrated, equitable, and sustainable healthcare future for Canberra. It recognises that a resilient health system depends not only on infrastructure or policy but on strong partnerships that bridge the gaps between community needs and system capacity.
With its focus on workforce wellbeing, accessibility, and data-driven planning, the MoU is more than just an administrative document—it’s a roadmap to a healthier, more connected ACT.
