Government Announces Regional Health Advisory Panel

The NSW Government took a step toward rebuilding essential health services across regional and rural NSW when it announced the Regional Health Ministerial Advisory Panel on Tuesday, October 10.

The panel will focus on building the regional health workforce, strengthening community engagement and improving the health and well-being of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

The NSW Rural Doctors Network, Chief Executive, Dr Richard Colbran will chair the panel, with the first meeting scheduled for this month.

Dr Colbran said the panel provided an important opportunity to champion the integrated nature of the rural health system and support the delivery of the NSW Regional Health Strategic Plan.

“I’m confident the panel will play a key role in supporting the measures required to ensure our communities can access the care they need - not just today but in the coming decade,” Dr Colbran said.

“In NSW there are tremendously talented and committed professionals across the health and social care system, who work well with the Government, private and not-for-profit providers to achieve excellent outcomes for their communities.

Members of the panel will be appointed for up to three years.

Minister for Regional Health, Ryan Park said the important advisory body brought together a wealth of knowledge, experience and expertise across a range of areas from clinical care and health service delivery to community engagement and culture and change management.

“It’s these key connections and local experiences we’ll be drawing on to help us improve health outcomes for people living in our regions, ensuring their postcode doesn’t decide the level of healthcare they receive,” Mr Park said.

“I’ve said this many times before, you can build hospitals and health care facilities, but this alone won’t deliver the care our regional communities need without a strong, supported health workforce.

“Retention and recruitment of experienced staff will be one of the key focus areas for this new advisory panel.

“I am excited to be working with Dr Colbran and the panel as we build on the great work happening in hospitals, health services and local communities across regional NSW every day.”

The panel represents communities and organisations from regional, rural and remote NSW and includes a significant representation of people from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

Members of the first Regional Health Ministerial Advisory Panel include:

• Dr Richard Colbran (Chair) - Sydney. Dr Colbran is the Chief Executive Officer of the NSW Rural Doctors Network. He is an experienced executive officer of not-for-profit (NFP) and charity organisations that specialise in health and social services and an advocate for social leadership.
• Anna Barwick - Walcha. Mrs Barwick is a practising pharmacist, diabetes educator, asthma educator researcher and pharmacist immuniser. She was the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia 2021 NSW Pharmacist of the Year, the 2022 NSW Premier’s Woman of the Year.
• Karen Booth - Sydney. Ms Booth is the President of the Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association. She is a Registered Nurse working as a primary healthcare nurse and manager in general practice for 25 years. She has held multiple ministerial appointments to federal government health policy groups.
• Christine Corby AM - Walgett. Mrs Corby is the Chief Executive Officer of Walgett Aboriginal Medical Service and Brewarrina Aboriginal Medical Service. She is responsible for the day-to-day staff management, service delivery and the development of future programs.
• Cr Rick Firman OAM - Temora. Cr Firman has a passion for rural and regional health. Having beein in local government for 19 years, as Mayor of Temora since 2012, he has immersed himself in enhancing local health services from a Council perspective and as a chair of the Temora Local Health Advisory Committee.
• Kelly Foran - Glen Innes. Ms Foran is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Friendly Faces Helping hands Foundation and Community Innovation Coordinator (Glen Innes and Tenterfield) for Hunter New England Health. She sits on a number of boards and is involved with community consultation.
• Louise Fox - Goulburn. Mrs Fox has 18 years’ experience working in regional and rural health with a background in Allied Health. She is the District Director - Integrated Care and Allied Health for Southern NSW Local Health District.
• Laura Hand-Ross - Deniliquin. Ms Hand-Ross has 14 years’ experience working in the Mental Health Drug and Alcohol landscape across several levels of management and clinical leadership. She is the Aboriginal Coordinator - Toward Zero Suicides and Mental Health Drug and Alcohol for Murrumbidgee Local Health District.
• Prof Jennifer May AM - Tamworth. Prof May is a practising rural clinician who has worked in rural and regional locations. She works as a GP VMO at Tamworth and Tamara Hospitals and is the current Diretor University of Newcastle Dept of Rural Health.
• Shana Quayle - Dapto. Ms Quayle is the Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council of NSW. She has held various policy and program management positions with AH&MRC.

• Topics:

• Health & Wellbeing