Commissioning Services
Commissioning health and wellbeing services to meet local needs involves strategic planning, co-design, procuring services, monitoring and evaluation. CESPHN receives funding to commission mental health and suicide prevention, alcohol and other drugs, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, aged care and population health programs and services. During 2021/2022, CESPHN’s commissioned services supported 31,126 people and delivered 172,626 occasions of service.
Mental Health
15,159
People Supported
127,696
Services Delivered
In 2021/22 we commissioned 46 mental health, suicide prevention and psychosocial support services and programs in our region. These services include the following:
Head To Health
In response to the COVID-19 lockdowns, the Australian Government funded NSW PHNs to establish and deliver 10 Head to Health (H2H) Pop Up Clinics across the state in September 2021. In the CESPHN region two H2H Pop Up Clinics were established, located in Lakemba and Hurstville.
H2H pop ups are designed to provide a welcoming, low stigma, soft entry point to engagement, assessment and treatment for people who may be experiencing mental health issues or distress.
NSW Ministry of Health funding
The NSW Government responded to the demand for mental health services, resulting from COVID-19 and associated restrictions, by providing NSW PHNs with funding to boost access to privately practicing psychologists, psychiatrists and other mental health professionals.
Funding was used to enhance capacity of existing mental health services already commissioned by the PHN and the development of new services including:
- KidsXpress – Child Emotional Wellbeing Initiative – School partnership program
- LYSN for telepsychology services
- Telehealth Psychiatry Services
The Telehealth Psychiatry Service launched in April 2022 and addresses a major regional need in accessing psychiatry support for those people who experience severe and complex mental health issues. This service provides free psychiatry support, with psychiatrists working collaboratively with GPs or Support Workers to help people with their recovery.

COVID Mental Health Funding
CESPHN received additional COVID funding this year. These funds were used to support community-based programs focusing on the mental health needs of CALD communities including:
- The 3Bridges Community Perinatal Family Support Worker program
- The Brace-Up Mental Wellbeing Support Program provided by CASS Care
- Mindful Hearts program provided by Muslim Women Australia
- Sydney Women’s Counselling Centre Casework program
- Mindfulness for CALD communities.
1,397 community members have been supported through one of these services and programs.
Testimonials
Farewell Norfolk Island
It is with sadness that we say goodbye to our friends on Norfolk Island later this year and pass onto Brisbane North PHN the privilege of working with this community.
Our relationship with Norfolk Island started in 2017 with our first visit to meet and chat with the community about what health and wellbeing meant for them. This resulted in the Norfolk Island Health Promotion Plan – Enhancing Health and Wellbeing Knowledge and Awareness.
The Plan outlined 3 stages
- Enhancing health and wellbeing knowledge and awareness – commissioning targeted health and wellbeing promotional activities
- Commissioning a Health and Wellbeing Coordinator and Child Youth and Family Clinician
- Building positive attitudes: Creating awareness and influencing behaviour – including an audit of current activities with further preventative and promotional activities being driven by the Health and Wellbeing Coordinator



The recruitment of a Health and Wellbeing Coordinator who had family ties to the Island has been part of the success in the implementation of this Plan.
With the support of a Health and Wellbeing Advisory Sub-Committee, which includes community as well as service provider representatives, the plan has focused meeting community needs. This includes activities such as:
- Parenting programs
- Sexual Health
- NI Active Kids
- Mental Health First Aid
- Men’s Health Checks
- Cancer screening
- Chronic disease support programs
- Women’s health activities
- Accessibility program – implemented to support people with a disability (locals and visitors) access the water in beautiful Emily Bay
- Annual Health and Wellbeing Expo
- Health Cooking demonstrations (with local chefs)
- Falls prevention – Kaa Kaepsais
- Raised garden beds for seniors
- Permaculture


It has been a privilege to work with the people of Norfolk Island; the community groups; the service providers; the team at NIHRACS, and; South Eastern Sydney LHD who provided support till the end of 2021.