Primary health care – developments and innovation 

#CHF Talks webinar series

An information and discussion webinar

Primary health care reform is in the spotlight. Draft recommendations from the Ministerial Primary Health Reform Steering Group are out for consultation. The Group is advising the Minister on The Australian Government’s Primary Health Care 10 Year Plan.

The primary care setting is where consumers access the majority of their health care. If the recommendations are taken up, the changes to primary care could be some of the most significant since the introduction of Medicare.

Many exciting developments and innovations are already happening in primary health care that could be more widely implemented. Many of these are described in the Steering Group’s recommendations. Get a sense of some of these from the experts.

Download the discussion paper

We are delighted to have clinical, Primary Health Network, rural and Aboriginal health experts join us to describe innovations they are leading and their aspirations for primary care reform.

listen to the replay

Panelists for the webinar are:

• Dr Steve Hambleton, Co-Chair, Primary Health Care Reform Steering Group
• Dr Dawn Casey, Deputy CEO, National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO)
• Mr Ray Messom, CEO, Western Sydney Primary Health Network
• Dr Gabrielle O’Kane, CEO, National Rural Health Alliance

Single Health care destinations: Aboriginal Controlled Community Health Organisations (ACCHO)s have been delivering a biopsychosocial model of care for decades. Dawn Casey will discuss how this has worked and how it can be applied in other healthcare settings.

One system focus: Ray Messom will speak about the work WentWest are leading on collaborative commissioning and intersectoral action in child and family health, as well as some other developments of interest to consumers such as Primary Care Insights.

Accessible Primary Health Care in rural Australia: Dr Gabrielle O'Kane, CEO of the National Rural Health Alliance will discuss the challenges of access to services in rural Australia and a new model for health care to make primary health care more accessible for people living in rural Australia.

Modernising and future-proofing Medicare: Dr Steve Hambleton, Co-Chair, Primary Health Care Reform Steering Group will conclude with some practical steps that could be implemented to improve consumers’ experience of primary care.

Facilitated by:

Leanne Wells
CEO, Consumers Health Forum of Australia

Contact: Tammy Wolffs, Senior Policy Officer
Email: t.wolffs@chf.org.au

The webinar is aimed at health consumers and patient groups and will be of interest to researchers, health professionals and journalists reporting on health issues. 

About the Speakers

Dr Dawn Casey PSM

Dawn Casey is a Tagalaka traditional owner from North Queensland. She is Deputy CEO at the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) and currently co-chairs the COVID-19 Indigenous Advisory Committee.

Dawn was responsible for managing the design and construction of the National Museum of Australia and the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies through a world first project delivery alliance contract.

Ray Messom

Ray is the CEO of WentWest which leads primary healthcare system integration in Western Sydney. Ray has also worked with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Canada and PwC Australia where he advised government, private, NGOs and academic sectors across Australia and Canada on several transformational reform agendas. With over 15 years of experience as a health economist - in roles across academia, government and the private sector – Ray has built a reputation for delivering positive outcomes in the midst of complex problems.

Dr Gabrielle O'Kane

Gabrielle O’Kane, CEO of the National Rural Health Alliance and a dietitian, has worked as a clinician in outback private and public practice in NSW for more than 35 years. She is an Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Canberra’s Health Research Institute and has been responsible for commissioning and governing drug and alcohol services for the South East NSW Primary Health Network, Coordinaire.

Dr Steve Hambleton MBBS FAMA FRACGP (hon) FAICD

Steve Hambleton is a General Practitioner in Brisbane and a former State and Federal President of the Australian Medical Association. Dr Hambleton is the Chief Clinical Adviser to the Australian Digital Health Agency and serves on the Boards of Avant Mutual Group Limited, the Digital Health Cooperative Research Centre and Mercy Community Services.

In October 2019 Dr Hamilton became co-chair of the primary health reform steering group to set a vision and path to guide future primary health care reform for the next 10 years, as part of the Government’s Long Term National Health Plan.