Welcome to WentWest’s Annual Review 2023 - 2024

WentWest has now been part of the Western Sydney community for more than twenty years. We’ve been on a journey since 2002, starting out as a Regional GP Vocational Training Provider, then incorporating division of general practice and later, Medicare Local responsibilities, to finally become the Western Sydney Primary Health Network in 2015.

WentWest has now been part of the Western Sydney community for more than twenty years. We’ve been on a journey since 2002, starting out as a Regional GP Vocational Training Provider, then incorporating division of general practice and later, Medicare Local responsibilities, to finally become the Western Sydney Primary Health Network in 2015.

As we have grown and evolved as an organisation, our mission has remained essentially unchanged: working in partnership to lead better system integration and coordination, strengthening equity and empowerment for Western Sydney communities and the people who care for them.

With this in mind, I am delighted to introduce the theme of this year’s Annual Review: Partnership. Our purpose necessarily involves a focus on partnering with diverse organisations, health professionals and communities to collaboratively work towards integrated and sustainable health solutions that deliver real gains for individuals, families and communities.

Each year, our Annual Review highlights many of the exciting initiatives we drive and support across our region, and this year is no exception. The Primary Care Transformation and Integration team now supports 350 general practices in our region, and our Strategic Commissioning and Insights team manages 537 contracts with our providers. From child and family health to palliative care, our teams have grown their portfolios and continued to form strong partnerships with providers to strengthen our involvement in Western Sydney, as demonstrated by:

• The opening of a Neighbourhood Health Hub, Healthicare, in an area of population growth, diversity and significant disadvantage, developed in partnership with the Mt Druitt Medical Practitioners Association
• Our first Citizens’ Juries, where we worked with representative groups of well-informed community members to identify the priority strategies required to meet Western Sydney’s health and wellbeing needs
• Supporting practices in the uptake of MyMedicare, with an exceptional number of eligible practices now registered in this next step towards strengthening relationships in primary care

Our work this year would not have been possible without the commitment and expertise of our team, partners and GP leaders. My sincere thanks go to our wonderful staff, our many providers and industry leaders for their unwavering commitment to improving health outcomes in Western Sydney.

Thanks especially to Ray Messom, our CEO for the last five years. During Ray’s time at the helm, WentWest’s digital, policy, commissioning and social enterprise capabilities were greatly increased. Ray led the team with distinction through an international pandemic, consistently striving for strengthened partnerships as evidenced by Patient Centred Medical Homes (PCMH) Program, the establishment of Citizens’ Juries and the Kids Early Years Network (KEYS). Ray and his family have now returned to their native Canada, and on behalf of the WentWest Board, I sincerely thank Ray for his leadership and commitment to WentWest and wish him all the best in his future endeavours.

I would also like to thank Michelle Quinn, who served as Interim CEO with exceptional commitment to WentWest’s values and mission. Michelle provides strong strategic leadership and guidance across the organisation, and her hard work has been greatly appreciated by the Board. I was also delighted to welcome our new CEO, Andrew Newton to the team at the start of the new financial year. I have no doubt that Andrew’s diverse experience, deep understanding of Western Sydney and passion for improving health outcomes will drive WentWest closer to our mission for a healthier Western Sydney.

Finally, I would like to thank our Directors for the breadth of knowledge, skills and experience they bring to the Board. It has also been a year of change, with Dr Wally Jamal stepping down after six valuable years contributing to WentWest and wider health system reform, while Brendon Noney - a Western Sydney stalwart, joined the Board in December 2023, bringing deep business and legal expertise.

When I reflect on the years that have passed and what has been achieved, I am both grateful and inspired. I hope you enjoy exploring this Annual Review and perhaps also feel a little inspired by all the extraordinary work happening across our region.

Conjoint Professor Di O’Halloran
Board Chair, WentWest

Western Sydney is special because of its culture, its diversity and its vibrancy. You can feel the energy when you walk the streets, visit with local families, talk with health and social care providers and engage in the workplaces which make up the rich tapestry of community. When you listen to the music played in the streets and join in the celebrations at the many wonderful festivals, you feel a sense of joy, awe and excitement for the future.

For the final time, it is with the fondest of memories that I share with you this year’s Annual Review. Having had the opportunity to lead WentWest for the past five years, I look back with starry eyes at the journey. Although our collective path toward reform was by no means linear (it never is), we improved health, wellbeing, equity, continuity of care and access for so many people, while pushing forward health system improvements and moving one step closer to the health system of the future we all aspire to achieve.

This past year we set ourselves a task to commission more programs focussed on the social determinants of health than ever before and we achieved that aim. In July, the Head to Health Adult Mental Health Centre in Parramatta opened its doors following the proven need for additional mental health support in Western Sydney. Our Primary Care Transformation and Integration team has supported 350 practices, forging forward a new era of reform across the region through MyMedicare registration, to be followed by new opportunities to further expand multidisciplinary care models. Our team have provided over $49 million in grants to strengthen health care for community and opened two new Medicare Urgent Care Clinics. WentWest has also been able to increase access for primary mental health care, with 194,008 sessions conducted in the last year alone.

This year, our collective vision has become a reality with the establishment of a new Neighbourhood Health Hub, Healthicare, at the Blacktown International Sports Precinct. In August and September, we ran our first-ever Citizens’ Juries to test a new way to partner with and uncover what matters to the citizens of Western Sydney, with groups representing our culturally diverse Western Sydney community and First Nations peoples. We sincerely acknowledge the dedication and commitment of our founding citizens and expert contributors – without you this new way of doing things would not have been the success it is today.

To all the ‘WentWesters’, I am blown away by your continued determination, open-mindedness and ability to adapt at pace. I am delighted to have worked with such an incredible team with innate passion for others, constantly focussed on WentWest’s vision towards building healthier communities, empowering individuals and supporting a sustainable primary health care workforce and system. The WentWest culture is unique and what makes the organisation strong and vibrant.

I’d also like to thank the Senior Management Team for their continued agility, innovation and commitment to achieving change across our region. In particular, I would like to thank Michelle Quinn, who stepped into the role of Interim CEO post my departure in February. Michelle’s extensive experience, ability to grow relationships and strong leadership skills perfectly equipped her to drive the team towards our mission.

Thank you to the WentWest Board for their strategic vision, passion and guidance. It has been an honour to work with and learn from such incredibly talented group of leaders. My gratitude also goes to Professor Diana O’Halloran as Chair for being such a support for the organisation and for me personally. She is an absolute legend, fountain of knowledge and inspired us all to push to new heights each day.

Even though my time as CEO of WentWest has now concluded, my passion for seeing improved outcomes, health equity and system reform and renewal remains. I am looking forward to seeing continued success, positive influence and societal impact in Western Sydney and further afield. The sky is the limit!

Ray Messom
Previous CEO, WentWest
Until 16 February

I am so proud to be able to welcome you to this year’s Annual Review. Over the past few months, it has been a delightful experience stepping into role as Interim CEO. A huge thank you to Ray Messom, who led with grace, professionalism and a clear vision during his time as CEO of WentWest. It has been an honour to lead our talented team forward towards our overarching mission for Western Sydney.

This year, we have provided 537 contracts to provide support to our region, with programs running across multiple areas including alcohol and other drugs, Aboriginal health, mental health, population health, aged care, child and family health and more.

Western Sydney is home to an incredibly diverse population of over 1 million people, with 58% speaking a language other than English at home. As part of our role as the Western Sydney Primary Health Network (WSPHN), we have strived to create opportunities such as the successful Cumberland Neighbourhood Networking events where health professionals have formed and strengthened partnerships to better health outcomes across our community. We expanded funding to the NSW Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors (STARTTS) and commissioned Street Side Medics to help tackle health care among the homeless in our region.

We have continued to drive a Healthy Ageing agenda with partners and community, with our team supporting 64 residential aged care homes and launching the Healthy Western Sydney service directory. In the 2023- 2024 financial year our Urgent Care initiatives have provided care to 15,105 patients for non-life-threatening illness and injuries, alleviating pressure on our local emergency departments. Support for MyMedicare registration has been provided to practices, with an encouraging 88% of eligible practices in Western Sydney now registered in this voluntary patient registration model designed to strengthen relationships between patients and practitioners for years to come

Beyond this, WentWest has also been working with other Primary Health Networks on projects that will strengthen the safe and insightful use of data in anticipation of the rapid changes that are occurring across the digital health landscape

Of course, none of the above could have been achieved without our talented and growing team. The data within this Annual Review highlights our focus on equity and our conscious shift towards proactively addressing the social determinants of health.

I would like to extend my thanks to our incredible Board and Senior Management Team who have been a great support and encouragement. We welcomed Andrew Newton to the role of CEO on 1 July 2024 and I am excited to see the continued success and progress of WentWest. Andrew brings extensive experience across public and private sectors, and will lead our team into the next phase of our journey.

Michelle Quinn
Former-Interim CEO, WentWest
17 February to 30 June