About Us
Making a difference by building healthier communities through a connected and responsive primary health care system
ABOUT US
Darling Downs and West Moreton PHN is an initiative of the Australian Government, funded by the Department of Health, and is one of 31 Primary Health Networks across Australia.
We are a not-for-profit organisation who partners with community organisations, health care providers, hospital and health services, and state and federal governments to improve primary health care services in our communities.
We work within the Darling Downs and West Moreton region to better understand, support and improve the health of people living in our region.
We bring together GPs, general practice staff, allied health professionals, hospital and health services, Aboriginal Medical Services, community service providers, Elders and community members to identify the services that are needed the most, and then we fund programs and services based on these needs.
We also support primary health care providers, like GPs, practice managers, practice nurses and allied health professionals, to improve the care they provide
to their patients.
Our seven key priorities are:
We are committed to working with our partners to ensure we fund programs and services that best build healthier communities.
OUR REGION
Our PHN covers the Darling Downs and West Moreton region which includes 12 local government areas (LGAs). The major communities in our region are Ipswich and Toowoomba, plus the surrounding communities located in the Lockyer Valley, Scenic Rim, Somerset, South Burnett, Cherbourg, Southern Downs, Goondiwindi and Western Downs LGAs. Our region also includes communities located in the Banana Shire and Brisbane.
We work with two hospital and health services that cover our region, Darling Downs Health and West Moreton Health. The size (98,000km2) of our region and remote populations present a number of challenges for ensuring people living in our communities can access the health care they need.
Regional Snapshot
32
hospitals and centres managed by Darling Downs Health and West Moreton Health
#1 ranking
in Australia by community members who felt their GP spent enough time and showed respect
62
residential aged care services, 71 homes care services and 104 home support outlets
Our Governance
Our PHN is governed by our Board of Directors, Clinical Council and Community Advisory Committees. This is to ensure we fund health care solutions that provide the best value for money.
Our Board
We are led by a highly qualified Board who have a wealth of knowledge with demonstrated hands-on experience working within our region.
Dr Tony Bayliss – GP/Chair
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Annette Scott - Executive Director/Deputy Chair
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Dr Andy Mellis – GP
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Dr Graham McAllister - Medical Superintendent and GP
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Kevin Rose – Barrister
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Bob Hogarth - HR/Strategic Consultant
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Dr Vladislav Matic - GP
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Megan O’Shannessy - CEO of Queensland Rural Medical Education
Button- John Minz (retired 24 October 2019)
- Dr Pat Stuart (retired 24 October 2019)
- John Williams (retired 31 July 2019)
Our Clinical Council
Our Clinical Council provides the Board with clinical recommendations and advice on the unique health needs of communities in regional, rural and remote areas. This helps us to make the best possible decisions when funding programs and services.
- Dr Andy Mellis - GP (Chair)
- Dr Antony Bayliss - GP (Deputy-Chair)
- Alicia Edwards – Physiotherapist
- Cameron Foote – Pharmacist
- Cassandra Tratt - Indigenous Hospital Liaison West Moreton Health
- Prof Geoff Mitchell - Professor of General Practice and Palliative Care
- Helen Mees – Consumer
- MaryEllen Muller - Registered Nurse (retired 9 September 2019)
- Melissa Sankey - Clinical Nurse Community Health/Dementia Advisor
- Rica Lacey - Director Indigenous Health Darling Downs Health
- Dr Theresa Johnson - GP Liaison Officer
- Dr Tanusha Ramaloo - GP Liaison Officer
Our Community Advisory Committees
Our Community Advisory Committees provide the Board with local and relevant perspectives on health issues from a community and consumer perspective.
We have two Community Advisory Committees representing our communities:
Darling Downs
- Dr Graham McAllister - Chair
- Bree Sauer - Community Representative
- Charlie Rowe - Community Representative
- Jim Madden - Community Representative
- Louisa Handyside - Community Representative
- Louise Judge - Community Representative
- Cr Neil Meiklejohn - Community Representative (retired 3 June 2020)
- Rochelle Jesser - Community Representative
West Moreton
- Kevin Rose - Chair
- Brenda Moloney - Community Representative
- Kim Stanton - Community Representative
- Olivia McMahon - Community Representative
- Peter Tully - Community Representative
- Uncle Milton Walit - Community Representative
- Samantha Caves - Community Representative
- Megan Collis - Community Representative
- Colin McNamara - Community Representative
Our Members
Our PHN was originally formed in 2015 under a partnership between Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service and GP Connections. To support primary health service integration, foundational changes to the organisation’s structure were undertaken in 2017 with additional organisations approved for membership.
Current Organisational Members include:
Remuneration & Governance Committee
The Remuneration, Executive Management and Governance Sub-Committee provides the Board of our PHN with active involvement, guidance and advice on:
- CEO and executive recruitment;
- CEO performance management;
- succession planning;
- remuneration for the Board, committees, councils and executive (including the CEO when required); and
- strategic human resource governance, including remuneration, recruitment and performance frameworks.
Compliance Audit & Risk Management Committee
Our Compliance, Audit and Risk Management (CARM) Committee reports directly to the Board and provides oversight, independent assurance and assistance around company risk, control and compliance frameworks.
