Hunter New England Central Coast
primary health network
partnership and engagement team
HIGH-PERFORMING TEAM PROGRAM
OrganisationAL Profile
Hunter New England Central Coast Primary Health Network (HNECC PHN) is one of 31 PHN’s established by the Australian Government to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of primary health care services.
Covering a diverse region that spans urban, regional, and remote communities, from the Central Coast to the New England Tablelands, HNECC PHN works to improve health outcomes by supporting local health professionals and strengthening service integration.
With a strong focus on community needs, collaboration, and innovation, HNECC PHN partners with healthcare providers, community organisations, and all levels of government to deliver equitable, person-centred care across the region.
Its work is grounded in evidence, driven by data, and committed to ensuring all people have access to the right care, in the right place, at the right time.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
HNECC PHN engaged the Australian Leadership Academy (ALA) to design and deliver a bespoke high-performing team program to strengthen the cohesion, capability, and collective effectiveness of the Partnership and Engagement Portfolio Team.
Delivered in Newcastle, NSW, the program focused on key areas of team development, including personal responsibility and accountability, shared values, and building a high-performing team culture aligned around trust, healthy conflict, commitment, and collective results.
A defining feature of the program was ALA’s agenda-setting methodology, which enabled the Partnership and Engagement Portfolio Team to surface its most critical adaptive challenges and future-focused priorities. This ensured the program remained grounded in real-time organisational needs and directly supported the team’s ongoing success.
As a result of the program, the Partnership and Engagement Portfolio Team strengthened alignment around shared priorities, deepened trust and accountability, and developed a clearer, collective focus for how the team works together. The program supported more effective collaboration, improved team effectiveness, and enhanced the team’s capacity to navigate complexity and deliver impact.
HNECC PHN
Partnership and Engagement Portfolio Team
partnership and engagement team
Program Feedback
ALA’s leadership program was
motivational and challenging?
98% strongly Agree
ALA’s approach supported the needs of the Partnership and Engagement Team?
96% strongly Agree
The Partnership and Engagement Team actively participated in the program?
98% strongly Agree
ALA’s leadership facilitator was
credible and effective?
100% strongly Agree
“the importance to work as a collective, engage in lively robust meetings, reflecting regularly and seeking feedback”
Sydney Cruikshank
Professional Development Officer
“great day…
the recognition that values underpin
our work”
Jenny Pearson
Professional Development Officer
“leaning in, collaborating,
commiting to where we want
to be”
Natalie McLeod
Professional Development Officer
“I thought it was excellent,
Active and entertaining,
The session pack was supportive and informative and the information
was engaging.”
Michael Pope
Executive Manager Populations, Access and Performance
Program outcomes:
To what extent would you recommend the Australian Leadership Academy?
96% highly recommend
Personal Responsibility and Accountability
The team enhanced self-awareness and personal accountability, taking ownership of their impact, demonstrating consistent professionalism, acting with intention, and reflecting on how their behaviour contributes to overall team effectiveness and culture.
Team Effectiveness
Team culture was strengthened through alignment around trust, healthy challenge, accountability, and shared achievement, improving collaboration, coordination, problem-solving, and collective performance across projects, priorities, and day-to-day team interactions.
Shared Team Values
The team clarified, embraced, and embedded organisational values into everyday practices, using them consistently as a framework for decision-making, guiding behaviours, strengthening collaboration, and reinforcing a shared sense of purpose.
Unified Team Vision
The team developed a shared, aspirational vision and committed to working collaboratively, fostering alignment, trust, cohesion, accountability, and a collective sense of direction to drive results and organisational impact.
Collaboration and Contribution
Team members prioritised positive contribution, open communication, and application of program insights, strengthening relationships, supporting one another, and enhancing both individual performance and the collective success of the team.
“Absolutely amazing.
Very insightful
and a lot of fun.”
Phoebe James
Professional Development Officer
