Date
Cost
Available to
Continuing Professional Development
CPD Hours unavailable
NWMPHN invites accredited general practices in the Melton local government area to attend a market briefing on the upcoming select request for tender (RFT) for the Health Care Neighbourhood Project
This session will provide an overview of the project, funding, eligibility requirements and the tender process, and offer an opportunity to better understand what participation would involve for general practices.
About the opportunity:
NWMPHN will soon seek to commission three general practices to deliver the Health Care Neighbourhood
Work alongside a multidisciplinary neighbourhood care team to co‑design and implement a model of care tailored to their practice context and patient cohort.
Each successful general practice will receive $49,950 (excluding GST) over a 16‑month period. Funding for an additional 12 months may be available, subject to Commonwealth priorities.
The select request for tender (RFT) is expected to open on 16 March 2026, with submissions closing on 8 April 2026 at 3:00 pm AEDT.
All accredited general practices located in the Melton LGA are eligible to apply.
What is the Health Care Neighbourhood Project?
As part of the Australian Government’s Strengthening Medicare reforms, primary health networks across Australia are building multidisciplinary care teams to deliver high-quality continuity of care to address people’s health needs.
With funding from the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, NWMPHN is commissioning multidisciplinary care from allied health professionals and general practices to improve the health of under-served patients.
The Health Care Neighbourhood Project focuses on the Melton local government area, where residents experience high rates of complex and chronic conditions.
NWMPHN will commission:
- Three general practices, and
- One neighbourhood care team,
to work collaboratively with patients and community members to co‑design and deliver a multidisciplinary model of care that aligns with each practice’s way of working.
The intended long-term outcomes include:
- Participating GP practices and allied health clinicians develop capability, and sustain the model of care beyond the life cycle of the project.
- Broader acceptance that the multidisciplinary model of care is a good way of working and is integrated into general practice.
- Improved chronic disease management, leading to better patient outcomes, reduced hospital admissions and improved integration.
Use of funding
The funding will be used to support the practice participation in the project, and for activities related to multidisciplinary care not currently funded via MBS. The funding is not for direct patient care; practices will utilise MBS items for this. Patients participating in the project must be bulk-billed.
The neighbourhood care team
The neighbourhood care team – also commissioned by NWMPHN -- will comprise a clinical care coordinator and a social worker.
It will be highly mobile and spend one day a week with each of the three participating general practices. It will assist staff in assessing patient need, delivering care, supporting patient self-management, and coordinating access to other allied health and support services in the local area.
Eligibility and locations
Accredited general practices located within the Melton LGA are eligible to apply. Practices will need to nominate a lead GP, a practice nurse and an administrator for the project.
Applicants must demonstrate:
- Capacity to participate in co-design and implementation of the Health Care Neighbourhood Project.
- Commitment to collaborate with NWMPHN, the neighbourhood care team, patients and other community members.
- Agree to utilise supplementary funding to support the delivery of enhanced multidisciplinary care at no cost to patients. This funding is designed to cover services and activities that are not funded through standard MBS arrangements. All patients involved in the project must be bulk billed.
Communication and enquiries
All questions must be submitted in writing via the Tenderlink forum once the select request for tender opens. NWMPHN cannot respond to questions asked outside of this forum.
If your practice needs support to register for Tenderlink, please contact the Tenderlink support team for assistance. The team is available from 8:30am to 5pm Monday to Friday on 1800 233 533 or support@tenderlink.com to assist your registration process.
