Three outstanding organisations have been recognised as finalists in the Excellence in Primary Care category of the 2026 Western NSW Primary Health Excellence Awards.
The award recognises organisations that demonstrate system-level leadership in delivering coordinated, sustainable, and high-quality primary care. It celebrates initiatives that strengthen integration, improve access, support better health outcomes, and contribute to a more connected primary health system.
This year’s finalists, Mission Australia’s The Way Back Universal Aftercare Service, the Royal Flying Doctor Service (South Eastern Section), and Orange City Council’s My Care Future program, have each demonstrated leadership, innovation, and collaboration to address significant healthcare challenges across regional and rural NSW.
Mission Australia – The Way Back Universal Aftercare Service
For the past five years, Mission Australia has delivered The Way Back program in Western and Far West NSW, an aftercare service supporting people following a suicidal crisis.
The service demonstrates how primary care, hospitals and community organisations can work together to provide coordinated, person-centred support during one of the most vulnerable periods in a person’s life.
Mission Australia has played a leadership role in implementing the Universal Aftercare model across a large and geographically diverse region. The organisation also contributed to the co-design of the NSW Universal Aftercare Service Model, helping ensure the approach reflects the realities of rural and regional communities.
A key strength of the model is its focus on continuity of care with individuals engaged within 24 to 48 hours following a suicidal crisis and supported through coordinated care planning. Connecting people with GPs, mental health services and community supports reduces fragmentation across the healthcare system and improves care experiences.
The service has delivered strong outcomes. Evaluation data shows a 24% reduction in psychological distress and a 32% reduction among First Nations clients. Suicidal thoughts reduced by up to 59.5%, while overall wellbeing improved significantly.
Mission Australia’s success is built on strong partnerships with Primary Health Networks, Local Health Districts, Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations, GPs, and community service providers. Through collaboration, innovation and evidence-based practice, The Way Back is improving outcomes for individuals and families while strengthening the mental health care system across regional NSW.
Orange City Council – My Care Future
Orange City Council is helping people make informed decisions about their future healthcare through the My Care Future program, which takes advance care planning beyond traditional healthcare settings and into the community.
Created to address low awareness and uncertainty surrounding advance care planning, the program is making information and support more accessible for people across regional NSW.
The program provides practical guidance through strong partnerships with WNSW PHN, Orange Aboriginal Medical Service, Dubbo Connecting Community Services, and local health networks.
The program has delivered 27 workshops and received 231 survey responses. Participants rated the relevance and usefulness of workshops 4.48 out of 5, while facilitator knowledge achieved a score of 4.87 out of 5.
A comprehensive communications and engagement campaign reached more than 13,000 people, and generated 4,000 website visits, resulting in 151 expressions of interest from community members seeking support.
By helping people understand their healthcare choices and encouraging conversations with family members and healthcare providers, My Care Future is improving health literacy and supporting more informed decision-making.
Strong governance, cross-sector collaboration, and a train-the-trainer approach are helping build local capacity and create a model that can be expanded across the region.
Royal Flying Doctor Service (South Eastern Section)
For 90 years, the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) has helped ensure rural and remote communities can access essential healthcare, regardless of where they live.
Today, RFDS delivers an integrated model of care across more than 80 communities in NSW. Services include aeromedical retrievals, primary healthcare clinics, mental health and alcohol and other drug programs, dental services, virtual care, and child and family wellbeing initiatives.
A defining strength of RFDS is its ability to connect different parts of the health system. Patients can move more easily between prevention, primary care, emergency care, and follow-up support, improving continuity of care and reducing service fragmentation.
The organisation supports more than 1.8 million people across NSW and delivers approximately 93,000 episodes of care each year. Through outreach clinics, telehealth services, and community-based programs, RFDS helps identify health issues earlier and improves access to ongoing care.
RFDS works closely with NSW Health, Local Health Districts, WNSW PHN, Aboriginal Medical Services, and local communities to identify service gaps and respond to emerging needs.
Its multidisciplinary approach and commitment to partnership, innovation and workforce development continue to strengthen healthcare access and improve health outcomes for rural and remote communities across the state.
Together, the finalists in the Excellence in Primary Care category demonstrate how innovation, collaboration and system-level leadership can improve access, strengthen integration, and deliver better health outcomes for communities across Western and Far West NSW.
We will be celebrating our finalists across all six categories at the Western NSW Primary Health Excellence Awards gala event in Dubbo on 12 November. For more information and tickets, visit our website.
