Leaders and stakeholders from across health care in WA came together for the recent Collaborative Commissioning Partnership Forum, reinforcing the sector’s commitment to working together to deliver person-centred health care.
The WA Collaborative Commissioning Partnership (Partnership) brings together WA Primary Health Alliance (WAPHA), the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing (DHDA), WA Department of Health, and the Aboriginal Health Council of WA (ACHWA). The shared goal is to deliver health care that is truly person-centred through integrating services across primary, community, hospital, and social care.
By working as one system, the Partnership aims to improve outcomes for all Western Australians, especially those facing barriers to access, such as Aboriginal people, multicultural communities, LGBTIQA+ people, and those in rural or disadvantaged settings.
The Forum showcased the generous sharing of experience and knowledge among panellists, speakers and participants.
Keynote speakers, including Peter Breadon (The Grattan Institute), Klaudia Shenton (Aboriginal Health Council of WA) and Lucille Chalmers (Darling Downs West Moreton PHN), shared insights on funding reform, blended funding models, where WA stands in relation to the health-related Closing the Gap targets, and lessons from other states.
Participants discussed the foundational elements needed for successful partnerships, risks to mitigate, and the importance of shared governance and accountability. A recurring theme throughout the forum was the power of relationships – trust, goodwill and collaboration will be central to the Partnership’s success.
WAPHA’s Executive General Manager Strategy, Partnerships and Governance, Chris Kane, said every day some Western Australians experience seemingly insurmountable challenges in accessing the health care they need – where and when they need it.
“It is these people we should focus our thinking on as we consider the potential of the powerful collaboration we have established with the Partnership.”
“We can make the biggest improvements in the health of the people of WA by working as one system; harnessing our shared goals, resources and investment in prevention and primary and community health care, and ultimately by providing health care that puts the people we are here to serve at the very centre of that care.”
“Our Partnership Agreement will be used to guide how we work together at the regional, State and Federal level, inform shared governance arrangements and agreements, and facilitate shared ownership, initiation, implementation and evaluation of programs, projects and services.”
“Working this way is not always easy – political imperatives, conflicting policy and funding levers and resource deficiencies will continue to work against our efforts. We will leverage the Partnership to overcome these barriers and to consider how innovative and collective impact approaches can move us closer to achieving a more equitable, efficient and effective health system for WA.”
Event photos
