Cervical Cancer Awareness Week: Help Prevent Cervical Cancer
Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable cancers with most cervical cancers occurring in people who have never screened or do not screen regularly (1). This Cervical Cancer Awareness Week, encourage your patients to complete a Cervical Screening Test. Ask them: when was their last test? Cervical Screening Saves Lives Replacing the Pap test […]
Increase Testing Rates this World Diabetes Day
More than half of Western Sydney’s population is overweight and at risk of developing type 2 diabetes. (1). This World Diabetes Day, Western Sydney Diabetes is calling on health professionals to consider annual HbA1c testing for all at-risk adults – under MBS Item 73839. Remember risk is much higher for people who: Are overweight or obese […]
It Takes a Village: Strengthening Health Partnerships in Cumberland
The recent Cumberland Health Care Neighbourhood Networking event brought health professionals together to strengthen trust and improve outcomes for children and families. The evening focused on collaboration – exploring challenges and opportunities for providers working side by side to ensure every child and family can thrive. It was a powerful reminder that it truly takes […]
Mental Health Referral Spoke Strengthens Service Navigation
The WentWest Mental Health Referral Spoke is an innovative, free service designed to support complex mental health and psychosocial referrals. Operating via the Medicare Mental Health phone line and GP referrals, the service enhances access and continuity of care. Since 2025, nearly 600 referrals have been processed by the WentWest referral team, with an average processing time of no […]
Whalan Medical Centre Achieves Remarkable Turnaround in Cervical Cancer Screening Participation
Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable forms of cancer, yet screening rates in Western Sydney remain significantly below the national average. With local data showing only 29% of eligible individuals participating in screening; compared to the national benchmark of 70%; the gap is both concerning and urgent to address. Whalan Medical Centre has […]
Health Professionals Be Alert for Malaria in Western Sydney
Western Sydney health professionals should be aware of malaria cases in people recently arrived from Africa. The World Health Organisation (WHO) African region was home to 94% of malaria cases (246 million) and 95% (569,000) of malaria deaths in 2023 (1). Recommendations Screen and test all refugees who have travelled from or transited through a malaria-endemic area within […]
Western Sydney Community Dementia Forum 2025
You’re Invited: Let’s Talk About Dementia When: Friday 19 September 2025 Where: Workers Blacktown, 55 Campbell St Blacktown Time: 9:00am to 2:00pm Join us for a welcoming and informative morning dedicated to understanding dementia. Whether you’re personally affected or simply curious to learn more, this event is a great opportunity to connect, share, and discover […]
Impact West Primary Care Summit 2024
Program 8:30am Registration 9:00am Official greeting: Dr Norman Swan, Welcome to Country: Aunty Julie Jones and Opening remarks: Andrew Newton, CEO, WentWest 9:30am Keynote Speaker: Dr Daniel Nour, founder of Street Side Medics 10:00am Community-driven solutions: Health and social priorities: Citizens Assembly members and Dr Coralie Wales, Relationships to Partnerships lead, WentWest 10:45am Networking morning tea […]
Remarkable Success of Place-Based Organisation Improving Community Health Outcomes
Jelly Magirazi, Senior Commissioning and Contracts Manager, WSPHN; Angela Van Dyke, CEO, North West Community Services; Kieran Mahony, Contracts Manager, WSPHN; Cnr Brad Bunting, Mayor, Blacktown City Council; Michelle Quinn, Executive Director, WSPHN The North-West Sydney corridor has been a rapidly growing region, home to a population of over one million people. Parts of Blacktown […]
Launch of the Western Sydney Citizens’ Assembly
Andrew Newton, CEO at WentWest, Professor Glen Maberly, Director at Western Sydney Diabetes, Professor Di O’Halloran, AO, Chair of the WentWest Board, Professor Penny Abbott, Western Sydney University, Professor Anne-Marie Hennessey, Western Sydney University Western Sydney is an incredibly diverse region, home to 1,080,817[1] people with 57%[1] of the region using a language other than […]