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Health Needs Assessment
Every three years, Murray PHN conducts a major Health Needs Assessment with expert analysis, supported by community consultation. Together with supplementary Health Needs Assessments and other key reports, helps us to identify and analyse health and service needs in our region and prioritise activity to address those needs.
Short summary
Full report
To view the full 77-page Needs Assessment, last updated in November 2025, click here to complete the download form. Knowing which organisations are accessing the report and how they’re using it, helps us to improve future reports and publications.
Population Health Series Reports
Murray PHN has developed a series of Population Health Series reports, which are in-depth health and service needs analysis that inform our Health Needs Assessment, and collaborative work with stakeholders and communities.
- Palliative Care Population Health Series Report
- Multicultural Populations Population Health Series Report
Sub-region reports: Central Victoria, Goulburn Valley, North East Victoria, North West Victoria - Homelessness Population Health Series Report
Sub-region reports: Central Victoria, Goulburn Valley, North East Victoria, North West Victoria - First Nations Health & Healing Population Health Series Report
Sub-region reports: Central Victoria, Goulburn Valley, North East Victoria, North West Victoria
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Murray PHN is pleased to release its tenth annual Report to the Community. The 2025 report details many of the local primary health programs we have funded and supported and includes some words from our staff and dedicated health and community professionals that we work with every day.
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Murray PHN’s latest Strategic Plan, puts a renewed focus on prevention and early intervention, managing complex care in the community and targeting sustainable rural health care. It was developed with input from community members, health practitioners, advisory councils and regional health services.
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The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing issues funding schedules to Murray PHN and each schedule outlines the aim of funding, specific obligations to be delivered and reporting accountabilities. While funding schedules apply over multiple years, Murray PHN is required to submit annual work plans (AWP) against each schedule for each forward year, and report against progress as part of 12-month performance reports.
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As we progress into our tenth year as a Primary Health Network, we have continued to grow and adapt to our changing environment, never wavering from our core purpose of using the funding we receive to benefit and improve the health outcomes of our communities.
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PHNs have been established with the key objectives of increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of medical services for people, particularly those at risk of poor health outcomes, and improving coordination of care to ensure people receive the right care in the right place at the right time.
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This framework provides a structured and practical approach to preventing, preparing for, responding to, and recovering from emergencies, disasters and critical incidents that impact primary healthcare services across the region.
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Murray PHN’s Commissioning Framework shows how we partner with consumers, carers and communities, as well as clinical and non-clinical health professionals and government organisations, to improve health outcomes for those in greatest need.
Since PHNs began in 2015, Murray PHN has been moving towards a relational commissioning approach, which emphasises mutual strategies and priorities, along with strong engagement, trust and communication to achieve quality outcomes from programs, projects and services.
Primary Mental Health Services Guidelines
The Primary Mental Health Services Guidelines outline the scope, eligibility requirements, clinical governance obligations and workforce requirements specific to the provision of Murray PHN funded services.- Part A Program Guidelines for all Murray PHN commissioned services
- Part B Program Specific Information – the specific requirements for each commissioned service streams:
- Part C – Data Capture and Reporting Specifications for all Murray PHN commissioned services.
Health Connection and Chronic Condition Management Program (HCCCM) Guidelines
These guidelines for commissioned HCCM service providers outline key aspects and operational requirements to support day-to-day service delivery, quality assurance and program reporting for the clinical component of the HCCCM program, including scope, consumer eligibility, service delivery and reporting requirements.
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Cultural Humility, Cultural Responsiveness and Cultural Safety are the three main concepts we are focused on – concepts that are enhanced by four key primary healthcare principles – governance, partnerships, workforce and inclusive, or wraparound, care. As part of our work in implementing our First Nations Health and Healing Strategy, Murray PHN aims to guide and strengthen the growing capacity of our local primary health workforce, as they work in partnership with First Nations Peoples to deliver culturally informed, responsive and safe services. Through this Cultural Humility Framework, we hope you will join us in recognising that we have much to learn and do, to achieve reconciliation and improved health outcomes for First Nations Peoples.
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With a stated anti-racism commitment, we understand our responsibility to foster a workplace that values and respects First Nations culture and Country.
Murray PHN’s first Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) was endorsed by Reconciliation Australia in June 2025. Since then, the organisation and its employees have been actively reflecting on, and working to deepen understanding of culture, history and the contributions of First Nations peoples, as well as strengthening relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
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The PHN Cooperative has developed the Homelessness Health Framework to provide high-level guidance, for a national approach to addressing these challenges with respective PHN regions.
In late 2024, The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing commissioned the Boston Consulting Group to conduct a review of the PHN business model and aspects of mental health. Murray PHN welcomed the opportunity the review presents to strengthen primary healthcare support around Australia and joined with other PHNs nationally and in Victoria to contribute its views to the Department.
The national PHN Multicultural Health Framework is a key strategy and roadmap to improvement, that has designed to be flexible, rather than prescriptive, in order to guide planning and implementation at a local level, in line with local needs.
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Murray Health Reports
- Murray Health Report: Housing Instability and Health (September 2025)
- Murray Health Report: Multiculturism in our region (September 2024)
- Murray Health Report: the importance of primary healthcare (November 2023)
Reports to the Community
Needs Assessments
Activity Work Plans
- FY25 Activities Summary
- PHN Core Funding | Activity Work Plan 2016-2018
- PHN After Hours Funding | Activity Work Plan 2016-2018
Strategic Plans
Finance Reports
Leadership