About us
Northern Territory Primary Health Network (NT PHN) is funded by the Australian Government to strengthen primary health care across the Territory.
Our role is to understand local health needs, plan for better services and fund local providers to deliver care where it is needed most. We also work to attract, develop and retain the health workforce, supporting health professionals and services to meet the needs of communities in the NT.
Primary healthcare is usually a person’s first point of contact with the healthcare system.
It includes care received outside hospital, such as seeing a GP, nurse, physiotherapist, midwife, pharmacist, dentist or Aboriginal Health Practitioner.
Strong primary healthcare helps people get support early, manage ongoing health conditions and access care closer to home.
In the Northern Territory, this is especially important because communities have different health needs, service access, workforce challenges and cultural contexts.
We develop needs assessments to understand the health needs of people and communities across the NT.
This involves using data, evidence and local insights to identify service gaps, access barriers and areas of greatest need. These assessments help guide where funding, planning and support should be focused.
We work with communities, healthcare providers, Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations, government and other partners to plan, design and commission primary healthcare services.
This means we fund services that are locally informed, evidence-based and designed to respond to community need.
NT PHN also operates as Rural Workforce Agency NT.
This means we support the recruitment, retention, training and development of the primary healthcare workforce across the Territory. This is important because access to care depends on having skilled health professionals available where they are needed, including in rural and remote communities
NT PHN is governed by a local Board, which provides strategic oversight and ensures our work is accountable, transparent and aligned with our purpose.
Good governance is important because NT PHN makes decisions about planning, funding and system support across a large and complex region. Board oversight helps ensure these decisions are responsible, evidence-informed and focused on improving primary healthcare outcomes for Territorians.
Who we are
Get to know the people who lead, govern and advise NT PHN, helping shape our vision and impact across the Northern Territory.
Our vision and strategy
Our vision is for a culturally safe, inclusive, person-centred and connected healthcare system that helps Territorians thrive.
Reconciliation Action Plan
Our RAP outlines the ways we build reconciliation into what we do and how we work. It covers four themes: relationships, respect, opportunities and governance. It outlines how we will track the progress we make towards reaching our goals.
Join us
Be part of a team making a real difference to the health and wellbeing of Territorians. Discover rewarding career opportunities, great employee benefits and a collaborative workplace culture.