2023–2024
Year in Review
Acknowledgement of Country
Baugull nyungai – Yugambeh good day (Bundjalung-Yugambeh – Beaudesert, Logan)
Gurumba bigi – Yugarabul good day (Brisbane western suburbs)
Maroomba biggee – Jandai good day (Minjerribah – North Stradbroke Island)
We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we live and work, and of the many different nations across the wider Brisbane South PHN region. We pay our respects to the Elders, past, present and emerging, as the holders of the memories, the traditions, the culture and the spiritual wellbeing of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across the nation.
We acknowledge any Sorry Business that may be affecting the communities as a whole. In the spirit of reconciliation, partnership and mutual respect, we will continue to work together with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to shape a health system that responds to the needs and aspirations of the community.
Welcome message from the CEO and Board Chair
This year has been significant for Brisbane South PHN as we have taken on expanded responsibilities, supported by partnerships with all levels of government, and secured targeted investment into programs to achieve better outcomes for the communities we serve.
Federal investment through the 2023 budget has been instrumental in enabling us to deliver much-needed primary care services to our communities. The opening of Medicare Urgent Care Clinics in Logan (Browns Plains) and South Brisbane has increased community access to free care for urgent health issues, 7 days a week, helping to ease pressure on local hospital emergency departments.
Through Commonwealth funding, we have been able to co-design and commission locally tailored mental healthcare programs, delivering both wrap-around care and immediate support for people most in need. Brisbane South PHN also plays a lead role in assisting PHNs across Australia through the Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Local Link programs. This reflects our earlier work on shaping the Recognise, Respond, Refer Program which builds the capability and confidence of primary healthcare professionals to support individuals and families in their practices who are affected by domestic and family violence.
Similarly, our long-standing commitment to multicultural health has been formally recognised, with Brisbane South PHN appointed as the national lead for PHNs on multicultural health priorities. This year, we spearheaded the development of a national Multicultural Health Framework to guide PHNs on best practices for commissioning inclusive, culturally responsive healthcare.
Back in our region, collaboration with Metro South Health on this year’s Health Needs Assessment set a new standard for community engagement. More than 750 people, including individuals with disability and members of the LGBTIQA+ community, shared their perspectives with us. This information will help us address local health needs more effectively.
Our support for primary healthcare providers has also gone from strength to strength. MyMedicare registration has increased to 86% of eligible general practices in our region, while 90% of eligible practices have adopted Primary Sense – a clinical support tool to assist better care coordination.
Looking to the future, we will be guided by our refreshed 3-year Strategic Plan. Our continued focus is on supporting communities, improving coordination between primary and tertiary health systems, and strengthening our organisational capability.
As we reflect on Brisbane South PHN’s achievements over the past year, we remain proud and humbled by our staff’s dedication and commitment to advancing health and wellbeing outcomes for all people in our region. Thank you to our partners, commissioned service providers, supporters and the communities we serve. Together, we are building a more inclusive and responsive healthcare system for all.
Mike Bosel, Chief Executive Officer
Fiona Evans, Board Chair
Our region
About the Brisbane South PHN region
The Brisbane South PHN region covers a large area south of the Brisbane River, including metropolitan, rural and remote island locations. Our boundaries align with those of Metro South Hospital and Health Service (Metro South Health), enabling the efficient transfer of valuable knowledge and skills between both organisations.
Spanning 4 Local Government Areas – including Logan, Redland, Brisbane and Scenic Rim – and 223 suburbs, our region is home to almost one-quarter of the Queensland population – more than 1.2 million people from different backgrounds and cultures. Our population is expected to reach 1.4 million people by 2032, with the fastest growth expected in the Logan–Jimboomba region.
Our region’s population is richly diverse:
- 1 in 3 people were born or have parents who were born overseas
- 1 in 5 people were born in non-English-speaking countries
- More than 240 languages are spoken
- Largest urban First Nations population in Queensland
- Largest population of Pasifika and Māori peoples outside of those countries of origin compared to other metropolitan PHNs in Australia
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