Provider Connect Australia ^TM (also known as PCA™) is a free initiative of the Australian Digital Health Agency (the Agency) that allows you to update your business information and choose to automatically send those updates to your connected business partners such as:

• Healthcare directories, booking and review services
• Primary Health Networks
• Professional bodies and associations
• Public health services
• Secure messaging and information exchanges

As a key change enabler of the National Digital Health Strategy, PCA™ provides a secure, fit for purpose, and connected digital solution designed to remove the administrative burden of running a healthcare provider organisation.

Long term, PCA™ will save time, reduce human error, and remove the hassle of filling out multiple forms.

One year after its launch, PCA™ continues to make significant strides in supporting Australia's healthcare landscape. Earlier this year the Australian Podiatry Association (APodA) became the first peak body to register for PCA™, marking a milestone achievement for the service. Joining healthcare technology company Foxo, APodA's registration underscores the crucial role of PCA™ in streamlining relationships between healthcare providers and removing administrative burdens. With PCA™, maintaining accurate information about services and practitioners becomes more efficient, reducing paperwork and improving overall accuracy.

According to Australian Digital Health Agency Acting CEO Peter O'Halloran, the inclusion of APodA highlights the broader impact of PCA™: "Our initial focus has been on supporting GPs and pharmacies to register, but they are not the only healthcare providers that face large amounts of paperwork whenever health professionals join or leave their employment."

For those that are looking to connect with preventative and wellness healthcare providers, Health Hunter has recently onboarded to PCA™ as a business partner. As a digital health platform their mission is to “connect patients with a network of leading preventative health and chronic illness providers, apps, and services - including the ability to search by specific health concern (i.e. autoimmune disorders, mental health, endometriosis, gut issues). These are doctors, specialists, or allied health practitioners that have particular expertise in these areas, who are committed to helping you proactively manage your health and wellbeing".

How to Register and Stay Informed

You can self-register with PCA™ in your own time. Visit digitalhealth.gov.au/pca to learn more about:

• How it works
• How to register
• Its growing network of participating business partners.

The Agency also offers a dedicated support team that can assist you with registering for PCA^TM, they can be contacted on (02) 6223 0741, option 3 or via email MyHealthRecordConnections@digitalhealth.gov.au

We'd like to thank you for your patience as we work through the finer details of the transition process.

North Queensland community groups and organisations are invited to apply for community wellness and suicide prevention grants valued at up to $50,000. 

Northern Queensland Primary Health Network (NQPHN) recently announced the grants to support community groups and organisations’ pitch-ready and ready-to-launch initiatives aimed at addressing social determinants of suicide and priority populations in the North Queensland region, from St Lawrence in the south to the Torres Strait in the north, and west to Croydon and Kowanyama. 

The grants form part of the Department of Health and Aged Care's Targeted Regional Initiative for Suicide Prevention (TRISP) program which funds Primary Health Networks (PHNs) for community-based suicide prevention activities that respond to the needs of their communities. 

Applications opened on Thursday 2 May and close on Monday 13 May at 12pm.  

In the past 12 months, NQPHN has actively engaged with a diverse and inclusive range of stakeholders and community members regarding community wellness and suicide prevention and has been inspired by the community-based initiatives created by and for the community. 

Eligible groups and organisations can apply for one of two types of grants: 

• ‘Project Pitch’ initiatives from organisations and groups who have a working concept or idea, but who need support and capacity building to be project ready. 

• 'Project Ready’ initiatives that are already developed and ready to be activated.  

The grant idea could be as broad as activities that reduce stigma, local sporting clubs engaging with their members in meaningful ways, or neighbourhood centres providing drop-in options for people having a challenging time, among other activities. 

Rather than focusing on traditional service delivery approaches, both the pitch-ready and project-ready grants focus on community-led and innovative initiatives.  

More information on the grants and application process can be found here. 

Those with questions are encouraged to email grants@nqphn.com.au. An NQPHN representative will then email the question and answer within three business days to everyone registered. Questions submitted after 4pm, Thursday 9 May will not be answered.