Engagement

CESPHN engages with key stakeholders through a range of formal and structured mechanisms, including our Community and Clinical Councils, Member Chairs meetings, Clinical Leaders Network, and External Representatives program. These forums provide valuable insights that help shape our planning, decision-making and service delivery. 

Each year, CESPHN convenes a Strategy Workshop, bringing together stakeholders to provide input into organisational priorities and future planning. We also host the Primary Health Awards, recognising excellence, innovation and achievement across the primary health care sector. 

To support continuous improvement, CESPHN evaluates its engagement activities through an annual stakeholder survey, ensuring feedback informs future engagement approaches and strengthens our relationships with stakeholders and the community. 

This year, CESPHN launched its Community Engagement Strategy 2026-2029, which outlines our approach to strengthening partnerships with communities, consumers and people with lived experience. The strategy recognises that meaningful community engagement leads to better health outcomes, supports a stronger focus on prevention, and helps ensure the services CESPHN commissions and supports are responsive to the needs of people living and working across central and eastern Sydney. 

Aligned with CESPHN’s Stakeholder Engagement Framework, the strategy focuses on three key goals: 

CESPHN shared information about its services at community events, including the Thrive Together Forum, Babana Community mental health and wellbeing and suicide prevention days, Babana Men’s Group, Cronulla Sharks NRL Community Day and Digital Health events at local shopping centres.   

The Community and Clinical Councils were consulted on both the Needs Assessment and Community Engagement Plan, providing valuable insights to inform planning and decision-making. As part of the Expressions of Interest process for the 2026 intake, a strong focus was placed on recruiting members with diverse backgrounds, experiences and skillsets. As a result, the Community Council now comprises seven community representatives, strengthening its breadth of perspectives and community voice. 

On 10 June 2026, CESPHN held its annual Strategy Workshop, bringing together more than 100 stakeholders, including clinicians, sector partners and community representatives, to help shape regional priorities. The workshop focused on Community Aged Care and Health Misinformation, particularly immunisation. Expert presentations by Professor Julie Leask and Associate Professor John Cullen informed interactive discussions on current challenges and opportunities. Participants highlighted the importance of improving system navigation, strengthening coordination, supporting trusted communication and implementing practical, sustainable solutions. Workshop insights will guide CESPHN’s ongoing engagement, planning, advocacy and commissioning activities, supporting better health outcomes for communities across central and eastern Sydney. 

The CESPHN Primary Health Awards celebrate outstanding individuals and organisations driving innovation and positive change across the region. In 2025, the awards held special significance as they marked CESPHN’s 10th anniversary, recognising a decade of supporting better health outcomes and strengthening primary health care across central and eastern Sydney. 

The 2025 award winners showcased excellence across a range of priority areas, including improving access to GP-led ADHD assessment and management, exploring virtual reality training to build medication competency in aged and community care, and strengthening community engagement through the Waterloo Social Housing Tenants Survey. CESPHN continues to work with Aboriginal Health Award winner Tribal Warrior to support and showcase the impact of its important work in the community.  

Together, these award-winning initiatives are enhancing access to care, building workforce capability and amplifying community voices across the region while reflecting the innovation and collaboration that have characterised CESPHN’s first 10 years.