The PHN Southern Alliance is a collaborative body of eight PHNs across three states that aligns efforts and drives primary care reform.
Our vision is to expand the collective capabilities of Alliance PHNs, to achieve best possible health outcomes for local communities.
The Alliance provides a platform for PHNs to coordinate national, state and region-wide projects, work cohesively across the sector, streamline operations, and enhance collective impact.
Working groups meet regularly at CEO, senior executive and program levels, across PHN operations including mental health, workforce development and support, and population health data and insights.
Our purpose
Maximise capabilities
Foster thought leadership, best practice, innovation, evaluation, scoped research and translational capabilities across the sector and with partners.
Strategic engagement
Engage and partner with funders, private investors, providers and other organisations with an interest in primary care.
Harness collective opportunities
Agree on investment strategies and new revenue opportunities.
Collective infrastructure
Provide a mechanism for collective views and vision, fostering insight, and taking a shared approach across the PHN sector.
PHN Southern Alliance purpose statement
Publication
PHNs working together to create healthier communities
The PHN Southern Alliance Chair is formally responsible for overseeing and leading the work of the Alliance, and acts as the primary senior contact.
Chair responsibilities include leadership and oversight of jurisdictional efforts, including strategic engagement and development. Key roles are formalised in the Alliance’s governance arrangements. Efforts are supported by the Deputy Chair. The PHN sector leadership role is a one-year appointment, effective for a calendar year.
The PHN Southern Alliance General Manager operates in a senior policy capacity, working closely with the Chair and Deputy Chair.
Craig Wilding – PHN Southern Alliance Chair
Craig has more than 30 years’ experience in health care, including leadership and senior management roles across aged care, community care, allied health, medical imaging, mental health, and primary care.
Craig is the CEO of Western Victoria PHN.
Matt Jones – PHN Southern Alliance Deputy Chair
Matt has worked in quality management in the Victorian acute health system, as a senior public health policy officer with the Victorian Department of Human Services and in Aboriginal health in the Northern Territory, Queensland and Western Australia.
Matt is the CEO of Murray PHN.
Judy Perkins – PHN Southern Alliance General Manager
Judy is a health-sector leader with extensive experience in operational performance and service improvement across the Victorian Department of Health. She brings a collaborative, system-focused approach to her work, and is known for navigating complex stakeholder environments and delivering practical solutions that strengthen systems, services, and community impact.
CEO forum
Prof Michelle McKay
CEO, Adelaide PHN
Janine Wilson
CEO, Eastern Melbourne PHN
Michael Spencer
Acting CEO, South Eastern Melbourne PHN
Amanda Proposch
CEO, Gippsland PHN
Chris Carter
CEO, North Western Melbourne PHN
Lucy O’Flaherty
CEO, Primary Health Tasmania
PHN publications
PHNs use a commissioning approach to procure health care services and decide what to commission based on the priority needs of residents in their region.
Each PHN also works with community members to help plan, design and evaluate the services we fund and the programs we deliver.
View our Submissions page to find white papers, government inquiry responses and other publications produced by the PHN Southern Alliance and the PHN Cooperative.
