“During her time at Bupa, Liz has fostered strong and mutually beneficial relationships with our government stakeholders and been a true champion of innovative, customer-centric healthcare.

“I want to personally thank Liz for her contribution and dedication to Bupa and wish her and her family well for the future,” Mr Stone said.

Given this, and the significant growth and establishment of new businesses within Bupa’s Health Services portfolio, two new Executive leadership roles will be created to support healthcare delivery and government services.

Guneet Sawhney will take up the role of Managing Director, Healthcare Services, and Glenn McPhee, the role of Managing Director, Government Services, reporting into APAC CEO, Nick Stone.

Mr Stone said: “Bupa has ambitious plans to scale and expand our health provision footprint to create services that better meet the changing needs of our customers.

“The decision to create these two focused leadership positions will ensure we have additional executive oversight in these critical areas as we head into 2026.”

Guneet has been with Bupa for more than a decade, most recently leading our Dental, and Optical & Hearing businesses. Guneet is a passionate customer advocate and has contributed significantly to shaping the success of our healthcare provisioning business, putting patients at the centre of everything we do. Glenn joined Bupa this year as Director, Bupa Medical Visa Services and Government Partnerships, bringing with him extensive operational and government contract experience, including as a member of the Australian Defence Force for more than 15 years.

“I look forward to Guneet and Glenn continuing to build on the great momentum that has been established in our health provisioning business, leading our hard-working teams to deliver the best healthcare for our customers along with our Government and Defence partners,” Mr Stone added.

Bupa will open its first Mindplace mental health clinic this month as part of a plan to open a further 9 clinics by the end of the year and have approximately 60 clinics by 2027. Mindplace will offer a safe, empathetic space with introductory psychologist matching consultations, integrated telehealth options and practical digital resources. Every Mindplace clinic and the services they provide will be open to all Australians, not just Bupa customers.

Bupa APAC CEO Nick Stone said Bupa’s significant investment into mental health compliments the investment already made into primary care and virtual care services, and reflects Bupa’s continued focus on integrated, connected care that helps join up healthcare services for Australians.

“By launching an extensive network of Mindplace mental health clinics, Bupa intends to play a pivotal role in meeting the ballooning demand for mental health support in our community. Our ambition is to work in partnership with the services already provided by the public system to ensure all Australians can access the mental health support they need,” Mr Stone said.

“This is a critical time for private providers to work with Government and public providers in meeting escalating demand and advocating for better solutions to help address Australia’s mental health crisis.

“Declining levels of mental health and difficulties accessing care are amongst the most pressing health challenges of our time, so the time is right for us to offer complementary in-person and virtual services, to help provide Australians with more choice in how they manage their mental wellbeing.

“Bupa’s commitment to mental health is not new, as we have been investing in mental health for many years through digital services like ThisWayUp and via the Bupa Foundation, which funds mental health programs from partners such as Kids Helpline and the Black Dog Institute.”

Mr Stone said we know mental wellbeing is deeply interconnected with physical health, social wellbeing, and resilience noting Australian government data that suggests 2 in 5 people will experience a mental health disorder in their lifetime, with 1 in 5 in the next 12 months.

The launch of Mindplace further supports Bupa’s investment in primary care in local communities, with more than 20 Medical Centres becoming part of Bupa’s primary care network since 2024, offering integrated GP and broader allied healthcare services, three of which also operate as Urgent Care Clinics. 

Bupa Health Services Managing Director, Liz Curran, said these Medical Centre acquisitions and new openings demonstrate Bupa’s commitment to investing in primary care and GPs through support and training opportunities.

“It’s been a busy 12 months, but we are on our way to achieving our ambition of making healthcare easier, more connected, and more accessible for everyone, not just Bupa customers,” Ms Curran said.

“Over the coming year, we aim to roll-out further Medical Centres across Australia to boost GP accessibility and ensure more people can get the right care in the ‘right place’ at the right time.

“GPs are the backbone of the Australian health system and know the needs of their patients better than anyone else. We want to work with them to make sure they have innovative tools, including digital, and support to thrive and offer the best possible patient care,” Ms Curran said.

Bupa is also supporting in-person care with digital services through Blua, which offers Health Insurance customers access to 3 gap-free 24/7 doctor consults and integrated online chemist delivery services.

Ms Curran said Bupa supported full clinical autonomy for all medical practitioners which is fundamental to delivering optimal health outcomes.

The growing network of Bupa Medical Centres and Mindplace mental health clinics helps support the careers of existing and aspiring GP and mental health professionals who will be able to build their expertise with the option of working across the broad spectrum of Bupa’s Health Services offerings.

“This includes Medical Centres, Medical Visa Service clinics, Australian Defence Force Healthcare provisioning and Blua telehealth, giving them variety and flexibility in their careers,” Ms Curran said.

Bupa continues to consult closely with Federal and State governments, medical professionals, and key stakeholder groups to ensure it meets the needs of a growing, ageing population while supporting the Australian health system. 

Bupa’s Technology team also developed solutions that enabled the servicing of customers across Apple Business Chat, Interactive Voice Response, WhatsApp and 2Way SMS. These tools gave busy customers the ability to communicate with a real person wherever they choose and enjoy the same level of expertise and options they would receive over the phone or in-store. 

Bupa ANZ Chief Information Officer, Sami Yalavac said these achievements were made possible as a result of ongoing investments into remote digital technologies that predate the pandemic.

“This proactive approach to innovation meant we were able to rapidly support our people and customers at a time when they needed it the most,” said Sami.

In the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Technology team also developed a dedicated aged care app and have 250 COVID-safe iPads ready to be used for aged care residents to connect with their families when in-person visitations were interrupted.

Uncovering new working efficiencies has also been a major focus for Sami’s team who continue to leverage automation and artificial intelligence technologies. This includes the development of an ‘Overseas Student Health Cover enrolment bot’ which has autonomously processed 22,900 new overseas student enrolments during and outside of business hours since October 2019.

“We have taken significant strides forward in 2020 amidst challenging circumstances and I am truly proud of how my team has collaborated, innovated and rallied around our purpose of helping our customers live longer, happier, healthier lives,” said Sami.

Media reference number: 20/101

Couple warm breath with cool winter air and you have the perfect recipe for the dreaded foggy glasses, with frustrated spectacle-wearers constantly having to clean the moisture away from their lenses.

Fear not, as there are ways to stop the fog and keep your glasses clean and clear. Our expert team of Optometrists at Bupa Optical & Hearing have some helpful and easy tips to help reduce foggy glasses.

Create a seal

Most masks have a metal or plastic strip at the top which is meant to be bent to the shape of the bridge of your nose – ensure this strip is fitting firmly and securely.

Put your glasses on after your mask and sit the bottom of the frame over the top of the mask – this will help to secure the mask against your face.

Improvise if your mask is too big

If your mask is too big you can try putting a tissue folded horizontally under the top of the mask, across the bridge of your nose and cheeks – this may help to firm up the fit of the mask and even absorb some of the warm air from your nose and mouth.

Something else you can try is surgical tape – place tape across the top of the mask to secure it to your face. You can find surgical tape at your local pharmacy.

Make sure your glasses fit

To help hold the seal at the top of your mask it is important your glasses fit well. If they are loose, the seal may break, and fog will return. Head to your local Bupa Optical & Hearing store and our team members can do a free frame adjustment for a better fit.

Dry soap rub

A useful trick is to use a bar of dry soap, rubbing it over the front and back of the lenses. Gently clean the lenses using a soft cloth. The soap leaves a thin film on the lenses, which is a barrier to the fog developing.

Anti-fog sticks and sprays

There are a range of anti-fog sprays and sticks available, which like the soap, create a thin film on your lenses to reduce fog build-up. These can be found at pharmacies and sports stores where bikes and motorcycles are sold.

Have you thought about contact lenses?

A great way to beat foggy glasses is to use contact lenses! Book an appointment or come in store to see if you can leave the fog behind with contact lenses.

Bupa Health Insurance members receive 20% off contact lenses, sunglasses, lenses and add-ons at Bupa Optical and Hearing as well as $100 off frames over $350 and $50 off frames up to $350.

Visit bupaoptical.com.au to view our full range and to find your nearest store.

With COVID-19 restrictions beginning to ease outside of the Melbourne area, the majority of Bupa’s Health Insurance stores, Dental practices and Optical & Hearing stores have re-opened, and our aged care homes are gradually reopening to visitors again.

Please make sure you check online to see what’s open and the new safety measures that are in place before visiting us. Details of Bupa’s Health Insurance stores can be found here, Optical & Hearing stores here, Dental practices here, and our aged care homes’ current visitor arrangements here. 

We hope you can come and see us soon – we’ve missed you!

“It’s important that patients return to see their dentist and have their teeth and gums examined, as regular dental check-ups, scale and cleans, and procedures such as fillings are essential to avoiding more serious dental work in the future,” Dr Kavita Lobo, Clinical Director of Bupa Dental, said.

“When left untreated, tooth decay and gum disease can damage the tissues in the mouth, which can lead to irreversible damage."

“Many of the conditions that affect the oral cavity are largely preventable. We know many Australians had to postpone their usual dental check-up because of the COVID-19 restrictions. With dental practices open again, we strongly encourage people to book in to see their dentist and maintain good oral health care,” Dr Lobo said.

Bupa’s priority remains the safety and well-being of our patients, our people and the wider community. In line with this commitment, all of Bupa’s dental practices have implemented a number of standard and COVID-19 specific measures to help minimise any risk of exposure within one of our dental practices. These include:

• Strengthened cleaning procedures, including actively promoting the regular use of antibacterial hand sanitiser and surface wipes;
• Stringent personal hygiene measures for our people;
• Touch free temperature checks for our patients;
• Scheduling and managing patients to limit the time they will spend in a common area and unnecessary contact with others;
• The use of personal protective equipment (PPE) for all treatments, such as masks, protective eyewear, gloves and appropriate protective outerwear;
• Our team members are to stay home if they have been in contact with a confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19 or are feeling unwell; and
• Requesting patients reschedule their appointment if they have been in contact with someone confirmed or suspected to have COVID-19, have travelled internationally in the last 14 days, or are or have recently been unwell, including experiencing any flu-like symptoms.

“Bupa is doing everything possible to ensure that our dental practices are safe, adhering to stringent infection control measures, and our dentists are here to help their patients look after their teeth,” Dr Lobo said.

Media reference number: 20/068

Hisham El-Ansary, Chief Executive of Bupa Australia and New Zealand, said, “We want to thank our customers, patients and care home visitors for their understanding and cooperation throughout the lock-down period – we know it hasn’t been easy. We also thank our dedicated frontline workers, who have delivered quality care to those in need every day.” 

In line with government and health advice, Bupa has planned a phased reopening, prioritising the safety of its customers, residents and people.  

Bupa began reopening its 75 health insurance stores on Monday 1 June, with locations in Queensland, the ACT, South Australia, the Northern Territory and Western Australia now open. NSW stores reopened on Tuesday 9 June, to be followed by Victorian and Tasmanian stores the following week. 

All optical and hearing stores in Queensland, South Australia, Victoria and NSW are also open for business. 

Customers will be asked to follow strict hygiene and physical distancing measures to minimise any risk of infection. Store opening times are available on the Bupa Health Insurance and Bupa Optical websites.  

Bupa’s dental practices are now seeing patients for all dental services, again with strong infection control and safety measures in place. Customers can call their local Bupa Dental practice for further information.  

Similar precautions are in effect at Bupa’s 72 aged care homes which are open to limited visitors. All visitors will need to have had a flu vaccination, in line with Government requirements.

Media reference number: 20/066

In an Australian first, more than one and a half million Bupa customers* now have access to a suite of clinically proven Online Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) courses with a guaranteed 100 per cent rebate upon course completion through their Extras cover.

A new partnership with online mental health treatment provider THIS WAY UP (TWU) will allow Bupa members* to access online programs for common mental health difficulties like stress, worry, anxiety, and depression.

Bupa’s Managing Director of Health Insurance, Dr Dwayne Crombie, said “the initiative is a great example of thinking about alternative ways to deliver healthcare to meet the needs of members while achieving equally compelling clinical outcomes”.

“Research has demonstrated that internet based Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (iCBT) delivered via accredited programs such as THIS WAY UP is effective in treating anxiety and depression,” Dr Crombie said.

“We know that two commonly cited barriers to receiving mental health support are limited access and the associated costs. Thanks to Bupa’s partnership with THIS WAY UP we can now address both – courses are available online 24/7, with 100 per cent of costs covered for eligible Bupa members.”

On average, 80% of people who complete one of THIS WAY UP’s courses benefit substantially, with 50% no longer being troubled by anxiety or depression.¹

Almost half of all Australians aged 16-85 years will experience a mental health disorder at some time in their life.²

“Internet-based treatment allows consumers to undertake treatment at a place and time that is suitable and convenient to them; this may be outside of normal business hours, or undertaken over the weekend. We know that for our members located in regional and remote areas of Australia, access to online health services can be a key enabler to receiving such support.”

Developed by a team of leading St Vincent’s clinical psychologists and psychiatrists, these courses teach specific coping skills to manage symptoms of anxiety and depression and are designed to mimic a course of CBT treatment you'd typically receive when seeing a clinician face-to-face. All courses on offer have been proven to reduce symptoms through clinical trials conducted by the Clinical Research Unit for Anxiety and Depression (CRUfAD), with the results published in leading scientific journals.

THIS WAY UP is part of the Clinical Research Unit for Anxiety and Depression (CRUfAD), a joint facility of St Vincent's Hospital and the University of New South Wales established to reduce the impact of anxiety and depressive disorders on individuals.

THIS WAY UP’s Clinical Director, Dr Mike Millard, welcomed the partnership.

“The mission of THIS WAY UP has always been to ease the burden of mental illness through providing clinically-proven mental health interventions in a way that is accessible to more Australians.

“It is often difficult to seek and access mental health treatment. By enabling individuals to enrol in our courses anytime anywhere, without the need to obtain a referral or waiting in line for the next available slot, we encourage consumers to access the therapeutic tools they need sooner than they might be able to otherwise.

“By further removing the barrier of treatment cost, we are certain that THIS WAY UP’s partnership with BUPA will empower more individuals to take action towards regaining their mental health. We commend Bupa for taking such a leadership role in funding innovative care beyond hospital walls”

*A benefit can only be paid after completion of a Bupa recognised Online CBT course. On selected Domestic and International Extras and Package Covers, including Advantage OSHC Cover. Yearly limits, fund rules and waiting periods apply.

1. THIS WAY UP. Available from: thiswayup.org.au/about-us/research
2. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Mental health services in Australia. Available from: www.aihw.gov.au/reports/mental-health-services

Dr Cheryl Carcel, Clinical Research Fellow at The George Institute for Global Health, said that while growing numbers of countries have introduced policies and practices which require the integration of sex and gender analyses in competitive research grants and/or publications in journals, few equivalent policies or practices exist here.

“While all Australian Government departments and agencies were required to align their business practices with guidelines on the recognition of sex and gender by 1 July 2016, we found that eight of Australia’s top ten research funding agencies and four of our top ten journals still did not have policies on the collection, analysis and reporting of sex- and gender-specific health data,” she said.

“Australian medical research has fallen behind North America and Europe in recognising sex and gender as a key determinant of health, and its importance for health research and improved health outcomes.”

“Failure to keep pace with the rest of the world will see Australia become increasingly less competitive when applying for funding from international bodies and reduce international partnership opportunities with overseas organisations,” Dr Carcel added.

Head of Public Health and Medical Director at Bupa Australia Dr Zoe Wainer said that across a broad-range of health areas, data have been collected from men and generalised to women, but a growing body of research shows that this approach was no longer appropriate.

“We know that differences exist between men and women for conditions that cause the greatest health burden in Australia and globally including cancer, cardiometabolic disease, mental illness and substance use, and dementia.”

“While Australian researchers are at the forefront of expanding the global knowledge base on sex and gender differences in health, we clearly need to do better in translating that into practice,” she said.

Amongst the paper’s authors are representatives of leading educational institutions, including UNSW, University of Sydney, University of Melbourne, Monash University, University of Queensland, Macquarie University and La Trobe University as well as the Australian Human Rights Commission and The National Heart Foundation.

Dr Wainer added that it was time for stakeholders across the board to ensure that health research and the medical profession that relies on it reflects current evidence to deliver the best health outcomes and most efficient care for Australians.

“We’re calling on universities and other training institutions, learned academies and professional societies, governments, medical and health research funders, peer-reviewed journals and industry to address this gap in medical research and ensure that Australian science continues to be world leading,” said Dr Wainer.