Programs and National Schemes

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There are a range of state and national incentives and initiatives working to improve the health and well-being of all Australians.

 

Aged Care

Short-term restorative care (STRC)

STRC is an early intervention programme designed to reverse or slow functional decline in older people who are having difficulty performing their day-to-day activities. STRC can provide services to an older person for up to 8 weeks (56 days), twice within a 12-month period. To be approved to receive STRC, an older person must have an Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) assessment.
 
For further information, view the STRC fact sheet.
 

PHN Aged Care Program (2021-2025)

In line with PHN Guidance and funding schedules, WAPHA has commenced planning for development and implementation of the program of aged care activities to be delivered by the PHNs. The PHN Aged Care Program objective is to improve outcomes for senior Australians, particularly those at risk of poor outcomes.
 
If you would like more information, visit the aged care webpage on the WAPHA website.

My Health Record

My Health Record is a national platform for the sharing of patient health information that can be accessed anywhere and at anytime. By the end of 2018 every Australian will have a My Health Record, unless they actively choose not to have one.

Through the My Health Record system, healthcare providers will access timely information about their patients such as shared health summaries, discharge summaries, prescription and dispense records, pathology reports, and diagnostic imaging reports.

More information on My Health Record, and the support available from WA Primary Health Alliance, can be found by clicking here.

National Cancer Screening Programs 

 

BreastScreen Australia

BreastScreen Australia is the national breast cancer screening program. Every state and territory operates a BreastScreen Australia service.

BreastScreen WA, as part of the National BreastScreen Australia Program, delivers services in accordance with the national program features.

Screening mammograms are used to find breast cancers early, before they can be seen or felt. The earlier breast cancer is found, the better the chances of surviving it.

Women are eligible and invited for screening based on age alone. That is, women aged 40 years and above are eligible to participate and recruitment strategies are targeted at women aged 50−74 years; the screening interval is every two years.


Key resources:

National Bowel Cancer Screening Program 

Bowel cancer is one of the most common cancers in Australia.

The National Bowel Cancer Screening Program reduces illness and death from bowel cancer by detecting the early signs of the disease using a free, simple test that can be done at home.

Screening can find tiny amounts of blood in faeces that may be a sign of bowel cancer. The good news is that if found early, over 90% of bowel cancers can be successfully treated.
  • People aged 45 to 49 can request their first bowel cancer screening kit by seeing their GP, submitting a webform or calling 1800 627 701.
  • People aged 50 to 74 receive a bowel cancer screening kit in the post every 2 years or by seeing their GP.

Key resources:

National Cervical Screening Program

Cervical screening can detect multiple HPV types, including the highest risk types HPV 16 and 18. HPV 16 and 18 have been linked to 70% to 80% of the cases in Australia.

Anyone eligible for a Cervical Screening Test has the choice to screen either through:
  • self-collection of a vaginal sample using a simple swab (unless a co-test is required)
  • clinician-collection of a sample from the cervix using a speculum.
The National Cervical Screening Policy recommends that people with a cervix:
  • have an HPV test with partial genotyping every 5 years
  • start cervical screening at age 25
  • have an exit test between 70 and 74 years of age
  • have an HPV test at any age if they have symptoms of cervical cancer, even if they screen regularly.
 
Key Resources:

National Lung Cancer Screening Program

In July 2025 a new National Cancer screening program will be launched by the Department of health and Aged Care for lung cancer.

The new National Lung Cancer Screening Program (NLCSP) is a screening program using low-dose computed tomography scans to look for lung cancer in high-risk people without any symptoms. It aims to find lung cancer early and reduce deaths from lung cancer.
  • Eligibility will be for people aged between 50 and 70 years
  • Showing no signs of lung cancer and
  • have a history of at least 30 pack-years of cigarette smoking and are still smoking
    or
  • have a history of at least 30 pack-years of cigarette smoking and quit in the past 10 years.
 
Key Resources:

National Cancer Screening Register

The National Cancer Screening Register (NCSR) plays a vital role in supporting the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program and the National Cervical Screening Program and the soon to be released National Lung Screening program.

The three main functions of the NCSR are to:
  • send invitations and reminder letters to participants
  • provide a safety net for when a person is at risk
  • provide access to your patients’ screening information.
Healthcare providers can access and submit information to the NCSR via a range of digital channels, including a Healthcare Provider Portal and by integrating your clinical software.

You can also complete requests on patients’ behalf, such as requesting to defer next screening dates or ordering replacement bowel test kits to be issued to a patient’s home, or issue kits directly to eligible patients via the alternative access to kits model.

Key resources

 

National Diabetes Services Scheme

The National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS) is an initiative of the Australian Government that commenced in 1987 and is administered with the assistance of Diabetes Australia.

The NDSS aims to enhance the capacity of people with diabetes to understand and self-manage their life with diabetes. It also supports people with diabetes by providing timely, reliable and affordable access to the NDSS support services and products.

Registration with the NDSS is free and open to all Australians who are diagnosed with diabetes.

Key resources​

National Disability Insurance Scheme

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is the new way of providing support for Australians with disability, their families and carers.

The NDIS will provide about 460,000 Australians under the age of 65 with a permanent and significant disability with the reasonable and necessary supports they need to live an ordinary life.

The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) is an independent statutory agency. Its role is to implement the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), which will support a better life for hundreds of thousands of Australians with a significant and permanent disability and their families and carers. The NDIS will mean peace of mind for every Australian - for anyone who has, or might acquire, a disability.

Key resources

National Primary Care Data Management Platform - Primary Health Insights

Primary Health Networks across Australia have collaborated in the development of a new data storage and analytics platform called Primary Health Insights.   This initiative has allowed the 27 participating PHNs to take advantage of advances in technology to strengthen the security, governance and privacy measures around data storage and use. 


How is my data used by WAPHA in general practice activities?

General practices and general practitioners that analyse and act on their patient data can have a greater insight into the needs of their patients, and are better positioned to provide the care that patients need, when they need it. Accurate patient data can highlight the most prevalent conditions, medications or social groups, and can help determine what conditions need to be prioritised.

WA Primary Health Alliance (WAPHA) provides licenses for the CAT Plus suite of data tools at no cost to general practices across Western Australia under a data sharing agreement.

Sharing your de-identified patient data with WAPHA allows us to provide your practice with access to quality data extraction and analysis that can assist you with accurately recording patient information and better understanding your patient population. It also helps WAPHA to commission the right kind of services where they are needed the most, to support you and your patients. 

Data is also used for the purpose of the Practice Incentives Program Quality Improvement Incentive. Please see the relevant page for more information.
 

SHAPE – Supporting Holistic And Person-centred weight Education

SHAPE is an online resource hub aiming to improve how weight management support is delivered in primary care. It contains resources, tools and education to support health professionals to play a more central role in helping patients with weight-related health concerns to improve health and wellbeing outcomes. By focusing on health in a person-centred and holistic way, SHAPE acknowledges the long-term relationships GPs have with their patients and their ability to see the complete picture.
 
The SHAPE website includes Conversations About Weight, a suite of training modules for health professionals developed by Diabetes WA and accredited by RACGP. The training focuses on different aspects of weight management, including causes and support strategies, taking the perspective of both patient and health professional. Each module provides insight into the complexity of this topic, to empower health professionals to support patients and guide these sensitive, yet important conversations.
 
SHAPE is part of a larger, state-wide commitment to halt the rise of obesity, as stated under the Sustainable Health Review, Recommendation 2a. Additionally, it is part of WAPHA’s commitment to deliver the WA Healthy Weight Action Plan 2019-2024 (WAHWAP) which was developed by a collaborative partnership led by WA Health, WAPHA and Health Consumers’ Council.
 
For further information, view the SHAPE introductory video and visit the SHAPE website.

Suicide Prevention

Targeted Regional Initiatives for Suicide Prevention (TRISP)

WA Primary Health Alliance (WAPHA) funded through the  Australian Government is implementing a suicide prevention strategy targeting the primary mental health care sector and in particular General Practice.  At its core the WAPHA suicide prevention strategy is a GP centric depression management program which aims to help improve the care of people with depression and prevent suicidal behaviour.  

Complete access to the strategy, systems based approach and activities can be found on the WAPHA website.

 

Primary care depression management and suicide prevention resource kit

This e-resource kit contains access to capacity building resources, activities and training for primary care providers and their teams.
 
The WAPHA suicide prevention team has partnered with high quality education providers to bring a selection of accredited courses to meet the needs of clinical and non-clinical team members in the primary care sector.
 
Within the kit you will also find access to courses and providers for all community members to gain the intervention skills to support someone with depression and suicidal behaviour.  These can be shared far and wide, with family  and friends, in a waiting room or with local networks.
 
This resource kit will be regularly updated with new training and activities. If you have any suggestions for activities or would like further information, please  contact your local WAPHA suicide prevention lead.
 
If you or someone you know needs help, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or 13 YARN on 13 92 76.   In an emergency, call 000.
 

The Active8 Program – A free healthy lifestyle program for children aged 2-5 and their families

Active8 is a Better Health Company healthy lifestyle program for children aged 2-5 years and their parents/carers. Active8 has been designed by health professionals to provide evidence-based information and support that aligns with national guidelines on healthy eating, physical activity, and sedentary behaviour.
Active8 aims to empower parents to make informed decisions through fun and engaging practical education, along with the provision of resources to support healthy behaviour change at home.

Funded by the Department of Health Western Australia, Better Health Company will deliver Active8 free-of-charge to families, either as face-to-face group sessions or online, in alignment with school terms.  

To find out more information, view the health professional information handout here. 

To make a referral online, click here.
 

The Better Health Program – A free healthy lifestyle program for children aged 6-12 and their families

The Better Health Program is a Better Health Company healthy lifestyle program for children aged 6-12 years and their parents/carers. The Better Health Program has been designed by health professionals to provide evidence-based information and support that aligns with national guidelines on healthy eating, physical activity, and sedentary behavior. 

The Better Health Program aims to empower children and parents to make informed decisions through fun and engaging practical education, along with the provision of resources to support healthy behaviour change at home.

Funded by the Department of Health Western Australia, Better Health Company will deliver the Better Health Program free-of-charge to families, either as face-to-face group sessions or online, in alignment with school terms.  

To find out more information, view the health professional information handout here.

To make a referral online, click here.
 
Practice Assist acknowledges and pays respect to the Traditional Owners and Elders of this country and recognises the significant importance of their cultural heritage, values and beliefs and how these contribute to the positive health and wellbeing of the whole community.

Disclaimer
While the Australian Government Department of Health has contributed to the funding of this website, the information on this website does not necessarily reflect the views of the Australian Government and is not advice that is provided, or information that is endorsed, by the Australian Government. The Australian Government is not responsible in negligence or otherwise for any injury, loss or damage however arising from the use of or reliance on the information provided on this website.