Raising Awareness of Ovarian Cancer in February and Beyond

February is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, a critical time to raise awareness about this condition. In Australia, approximately 1,815 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer each year1. Unfortunately, due to the vague and often non-specific symptoms, most cases are not diagnosed until the cancer has reached an advanced stage, making treatment more challenging and outcomes […]

Encouraging Stronger Connections: Building Community in Western Sydney

Western Sydney is one of Australia’s most culturally diverse regions, with 58% of residents speaking a non-English language at home1. Almost half of the population were born overseas, and some face challenges in feeling connected to their local communities. As mental wellbeing plays a crucial role in overall health, it’s vital to create spaces where […]

Helping Keep Community Safe During Extreme Heat

  Western Sydney is naturally hotter than other areas of Sydney, typically experiencing temperatures 6-10 degrees hotter than the rest of the city. Ongoing development within Western Sydney means that the region experiences a higher urban heat island effect than other parts of Sydney. These conditions combined with exponential population growth mean that our region […]

2024: End of Year Reflections from Our CEO

It’s an honour to reflect on all we have achieved as a team this year. Since stepping into the CEO role in July, I have been inspired by the passion and expertise of our staff, partners and community; who have consistently come together to support the health and wellbeing of our region. Together, we have […]

Introducing the Western Sydney General Practice Nurse Support Toolkit

Nursing in a general practice setting is a rewarding and dynamic area of the nursing profession which can often require different knowledge and skills than hospital or community nursing. In the Western Sydney area alone, there are approximately 350 general practices, with most of these practices employing a nurse. The nurse role provides the opportunity […]

Highlights from the Inaugural Western Sydney Primary Health Network Provider Forum

Don Mulholland Aboriginal Cultural Worker, The Shed; Praniti Giri, Contracts Coordinator, WentWest (Western Sydney Primary Health Network) Daniel Parker, Accredited Exercise Physiologist, Still Standing Program; Kieran Mahony, Contracts Manager, WentWest (Western Sydney Primary Health Network) and Jean Blair, Aboriginal Outreach Worker, Western Sydney Integrated Care Team. This week, we invited our commissioned providers to attend […]

Tackling Inactivity and Inequity: Key Insights from the 2024 WSYD Moving Symposium

Last week, we were proud to sponsor and speak at the 2024 WSYD Moving Symposium. The event was attended by participants from across academia, sports science, community and health sectors with the vision of talking inactivity and inequity in Western Sydney. Inactivity leads to high rates of diabetes, cardiovascular disease and obesity, and costs Western […]

Mental Health Support: A Response to the Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza

The Australian Government has launched mental health and community wellbeing support services to address the psychological harm and community distress caused by the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the Gaza region. As the Western Sydney Primary Health Network, we are collaborating with Central and Eastern Sydney, Northern Sydney and South Western Sydney Primary Health Networks (PHNs) […]

Fostering Wellbeing this World Diabetes Day

World Diabetes Day (WDD) is an annual event celebrated on November 14, aiming to raise awareness about diabetes, its impact and the importance of prevention and management. 63% of people with diabetes say that the fear of developing diabetes-related complications affects their well-being and 28% of people with diabetes find it hard to remain positive […]

Annual Review 2023-2024: Partnerships

We are delighted to share our 2023-2024 Annual Review: Partnerships. WentWest, the Western Sydney Primary Health Network, has been a part of the Western Sydney community for over twenty years. During this time, we have changed and evolved as an organisation is response to the unique needs of our region, however, our vision of building […]