​The NSW Government is today taking another important step to rebuild essential health services across regional and rural NSW with the announcement of the Regional Health Ministerial Advisory Panel.

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

The 10-member panel will be chaired by NSW Rural Doctors Network, Chief Executive Dr. Richard Colbran.

The panel will hold its first meeting in mid-October, with members appointed for up to three years.

Minister for Regional Health, Ryan Park said:

“This important advisory body brings 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.

“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.”

Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Health Dr Michael Holland said:

“This panel will be crucial to ensuring people living in rural and regional areas have a voice on health services for their communities.

“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.”

Dr Richard Colbran said:

“This panel provides 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.

“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.”

Regional Health Ministerial Advisory Panel

• Dr Richard Colbran (Chair) – Sydney
  Dr Colbran is 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.
• Mrs 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.
• Ms 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.
• Mrs Christine Corby AM – Walgett 
  Mrs Corby is the Chief Executive Officer of Walgett Aboriginal Medical Service and Brewarrina Aboriginal Medical Service. In these roles 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 been 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 chair of the Temora Local Health Advisory Committee.
• Ms Kelly Foran – Glen Innes
  Ms Foran is 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.
• Mrs 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.
  
• Ms 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 general practice in remote, rural and regional locations. She works as a GP VMO at Tamworth and Tamara Hospitals and is the current Director University of Newcastle Dept of Rural Health.
• Ms 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.