Through our GP Enhanced Primary Care Project (EPC), we help enhance the relationship that patients have with their GP. Our EPC officers work alongside GPs to ensure maximum care and support is provided.

The service aims to support people who are living with, or at risk of acquiring, HIV and/or hepatitis C as well as all gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender clients, irrespective of HIV status.

The EPC service also works with people who wish to address:

• Mental health or psychological issues (including anxiety, depression or a diagnosed mental illness)
• Housing stress
• HIV/STI-related concerns
• Alcohol or drug use
• Social, financial or legal issues
• Domestic violence

EPC staff recognise that it can be frustrating to try to navigate the system of services when patients have a multitude of issues at play in their life.

EPC: A ‘one stop shop’

EPC can make a significant contribution to better health outcomes by:

• Facilitating longer appointments to address the multitude of issues on hand and elicit more detailed information
• Improving direct communication and partnership with GPs about the non-medical issues in a patent's life
• Maximising use of limited GP time
• Assisting referral to allied health practitioners

EPC services

EPC officers are social workers and assist your GP in providing the following services:

• Care coordination and support
• Referral to appropriate services including:
  • Government agencies (eg. Centrelink, Dept of Housing)
  • Community organisations
  • Government organisations such as local HIV teams
  • Sexual health clinics
  • Mental health services
  • Alcohol and other drug services 
• Advocacy for clients to access benefits and/or services 
• Health promotion and the provision of information on health and wellbeing for client groups 
• Short term interventions to prioritise issues and set goals

Surgeries with EPC staff 

Our EPC service is currently based at:

• Taylor Square Private Clinic
• Holdsworth House Medical Practice
• East Sydney Doctors

Make an appointment 

In order to access EPC, you will need to contact one of the GP surgeries listed above.

More info

Contact: ACON's Enhanced Primary Care Team

Tel: (02) 9206 2000
Free Call: 1800 063 060
Hearing Impaired: (02) 9283 2088

Email: epc@acon.org.au

Web: Article - Making Care Our Business