Northern Queensland Primary Health Network (NQPHN) has officially launched its new Strategic Plan 2025–2028 – a bold and future-focused roadmap to improve health outcomes across one of Australia’s most diverse and expansive regions.
Unveiled during a series of events across Cairns, Townsville, and Mackay, the new plan coincides with a national milestone – 10 years since the establishment of Primary Health Networks (PHNs) in Australia.
NQPHN Board Chair Jeff Stewart-Harris said the 10-year milestone was the perfect opportunity to reflect on the organisation’s progress and unveil a plan that charts an ambitious course for the future.
“This plan is not just a document – it reflects our purpose,” said Mr Stewart-Harris. “We connect, fund, and support primary healthcare so that all northern Queenslanders can access the care and information they need to live healthier lives.
“Our communities – whether in regional centres or the most remote areas of Cape York and the Torres Strait – deserve strategies tailored to their unique and very separate needs. This plan ensures we keep those needs front and centre.
“It reaffirms our commitment to primary health care across all of northern Queensland and acknowledges the vital contribution of general practitioners, nurses, pharmacists, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Practitioners, mental and allied health professionals, and so many more.
“With our focus on the three Cs – Commissioning, Coordinating, and Capacity building – we are better placed than ever to deliver meaningful, place-based outcomes for every community we serve.”
The new Strategic Plan outlines a vision of ‘a healthy future for all northern Queenslanders’, supported by six strategic priorities:
- Health equity
- Healthy system
- Healthy workforce
- Healthy intelligence
- Healthy organisation
- Healthy communities.
NQPHN Chief Executive Officer Ben Tooth said the plan was developed in close consultation with stakeholders and is designed to reflect local health needs, cultivate innovation, and strengthen best practice.
“Over the past 10 years, we’ve grown into a trusted connector, funder, and supporter of primary healthcare – but there is always more work to do,” Mr Tooth said.
“This Strategic Plan provides the framework to guide our efforts and investments over the next three years, with a strong focus on equity, integration, workforce support, digital innovation, and cultural capability.
“Every day, PHNs work behind the scenes to make a real difference – helping communities access the right care, in the right place, at the right time.
“We are excited to partner with providers, communities, and stakeholders to deliver on this vision – and continue making a difference in the lives of the people and places we serve.”
The Strategic Plan builds on a decade of milestones for NQPHN, including the establishment of Clinical Councils and Advisory Groups, investment in Medicare Urgent Care Clinics, partnering on workforce support and recruitment initiatives, and the implementation of chronic disease management and maternal and child health strategies, culturally responsive care models, and digital health innovation.
As NQPHN enters its second decade, the organisation remains committed to evolving its role as a system connector, enabler, and advocate – supporting a healthier future for all.
Read the NQPHN Strategic Plan 2025-2028 at www.nqphn.com.au
