WA Primary Health Alliance’s (WAPHA) Executive General Manager Primary Care, Tony Mottershead, believes strong primary care is the backbone of healthy communities and health systems, helping to prevent illness and keeping people out of hospital.
Before joining WAPHA late last year, Tony managed large-scale programs focused on improving access, equity and quality of health services in Canada, New Zealand and Australia, including for Western Australia’s remote communities.
These programs enabled clinical teams to enhance their ability to implement and maintain changes, including better access to general practice clinics, reduced outpatient wait times, reduced in-hospital mortality and improved transitions from hospital to community-based services.
“If we get primary care right, we change lives, strengthen communities and re-orient health care services to settings outside of hospitals,” Tony said.
Building on strong foundations
As the operator of Western Australia’s three Australian Government funded Primary Health Networks (PHNs), WAPHA has spent more than a decade strengthening primary care, integrating it with local systems and commissioning services to better support people close to home.
Building on this work, his leadership of the Primary Care portfolio comes at a time of significant reform, primary care workforce maldistribution and renewed direction under the Strengthening Medicare Taskforce. He describes his work as “a mix of strategy, problem-solving, and genuine connection with the sector.”
“A typical day is a balancing act,” he explains, “between pressing operational matters and long-term planning. Some days I’m out in the field; others I’m in the office working on strategic initiatives.”
Tony emphasises that progress towards improved health and care for people most at risk of adverse health outcomes happens through collaboration – between Commonwealth and State health agencies, general practices, pharmacies, community nursing and midwifery, allied health services, Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services and many others.
The Australian Government, through the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, has set a clear direction for PHNs to support the implementation of Strengthening Medicare Reforms, with a strong focus on accessibility, affordability and improving equity for priority populations.
Tony notes that many Western Australians continue to experience barriers in accessing and navigating the primary care system. WAPHA aims to address unmet need for under-served communities by reducing these barriers and ensuring care is more timely, equitable and accessible.
“What we do at WAPHA isn’t just about the here and now,” he said. “It’s about setting up a health system that supports people’s health for years to come.”
Turning challenges into opportunities
Tony acknowledges that the role of primary care can sometimes be misunderstood within the broader health system.
“We need to tell our story better,” he insists. “That means highlighting the significant impact primary care has – how it keeps people well, reduces hospital demand and supports community wellbeing.”
“Demonstrating primary care’s value and impact, using high quality data, is essential to securing the investment and support needed to keep building a healthier WA.”
He sees significant opportunity in digital innovation, data-driven insights and new workforce models to make care more accessible, especially in rural and remote areas.
WAPHA’s strong partnerships across health and social care sectors remain one of its greatest strengths.
“If we continue our work towards breaking down silos and focus on what’s best for the patient, the whole system benefits. That means remaining focused on sharing information, resources and expertise.”
Tony is pragmatic about how to drive meaningful change.
“Firstly, trusting relationships are essential for our system to learn what changes result in an improvement. That takes time, through facilitating, understanding and achieving small wins, together.”
Second, through engagement and data informed storytelling, we scale up our support for the primary care workforce – supporting GPs, nurses and allied health professionals to adapt to changes in policy and practice models that enable them to thrive as businesses and clinicians – particularly in areas of severe workforce shortage.
Finally, all of this is done while keeping people at the centre of everything we do. If we keep focused on what might make the biggest difference for people’s experiences and outcomes of health and care, then we won’t go far wrong.”
Leadership lessons
Reflecting on his leadership style, Tony highlights the importance of cultivating collaboration, courage and accountability – both within WAPHA and across the sector.
His approach centres on three principles:
“First, listen – really listen – to the people you serve and work with. Second, be willing to challenge the status quo, adapt, test and invest in new ways of doing things; health care never stands still. And third, lead with integrity. I want my team to know I’ll always back them when they’re doing the right thing for our communities.”
Looking ahead
Tony’s vision is for a primary care system that is even more responsive, equitable and sustainable, particularly for people who face barriers to care.
“WAPHA wants to make a measurable impact. Better chronic disease management, fewer avoidable hospital admissions, reduced waiting for care and improved patient experiences – that’s the kind of change that matters. Ultimately, it’s about healthier communities across WA.
“It’s about making every day count – for the people we serve and for the future of an integrated ‘one health system’ in WA.”