Welcome to the Northern Queensland Primary Health Network (NQPHN) 2024–25 Annual Report.
This report highlights the collective impact of our team, commissioned providers, healthcare workforce, and partners in improving health outcomes across northern Queensland.
Over the past year, we’ve strengthened partnerships with general practices, pharmacies, allied health services, RACHs, ACCHOs, and AMSs—working together to help northern Queenslanders live happier, healthier, longer lives.
We value the insights of our Member organisations and continue to collaborate with the region’s four Hospital and Health Services - Torres and Cape, Cairns and Hinterland, Townsville, and Mackay - to drive better service delivery and measurable health improvements.
During the 2024-25 financial year, we focused on improving access to essential primary and mental health services, strengthening primary care teams, and helping people stay healthier and out of hospital.
Through the MDT, Pharmacists in General Practice, and Social Workers in General Practice programs, we delivered coordinated, person-centred care in rural and remote areas. MDT teams bring allied health professionals into communities to support chronic condition management alongside local GPs, while embedded pharmacists and social workers enhance medication safety and social wellbeing.
Our Mental Health and Alcohol and Other Drugs teams launched MyndKind, Universal Aftercare (UAC), and TRISP, three programs that prioritise lived experience, local partnerships, and culturally safe, compassionate care. Each supports a different stage of the mental health journey by improving early access through stepped care, providing post-crisis support, and empowering communities to lead local prevention efforts.
The Thin Markets initiative restored GP services to Mission Beach, improving access and revitalising the local health workforce. Workforce Development CPD and ProCCM further strengthen primary care by upskilling clinicians and supporting high-quality chronic disease management.
Together, these programs help build a more resilient, skilled, and accessible primary healthcare system for North Queensland.
We also focused on growing a culturally safe Indigenous health workforce with our partners JCU and ADEA to help Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander practitioners access training and career pathways, from entry-level training to advanced specialisation. This helps close workforce gaps and ensures care is relevant and accessible for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
The first Joint Regional Needs Assessment (JRNA) highlighted where we needed to direct our focus and investment, while the Digital Capability Grants and Disaster Preparedness and Response programs strengthened system integration.
NQPHN is proud to showcase more of the outcomes we achieved in the 2024-25 financial year on the pages ahead.
Jeff Stewart-Harris
Board Chair
Northern Queensland PHN
Ben Tooth
Chief Executive Officer
Northern Queensland PHN
