Opportunity to make a difference to health in the Murrumbidgee

Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network (MPHN) is now welcoming community members and clinicians to apply for membership to its Community Advisory Committee and Clinical Councils.

MPHN’s Executive Integration and Partnerships Narelle Mills said the Clinical Councils and Community Advisory Committee provide the organisation advice and guidance on local health issues and priorities.

“The advice and guidance provided by the Community Advisory Committee and Clinical Councils directly inform the work of MPHN and how we respond to the local health issues or concerns they identify,” Ms Mills said.

“For this recruitment we are looking for people who are passionate about improving health outcomes in your communities, whether you’re a consumer of health or a clinician. We are specifically looking for community members who have experiences and skills around the health and wellbeing for the population groups of LGBTIQ+, culturally and linguistically diverse, veterans, First Nations, child and maternal, and young people.

“For our Clinical Councils we are looking to clinicians who have experience in general practice, mental health, allied health, aged care, pharmacy dental and nursing. If you’re a community member or clinician with skills and experiences in these areas I would certainly encourage you to apply.

“We have multiple positions available and we are keen to ensure we have diversity in these advisory groups so they are representative of the communities we serve,” she said.

Border Clinical Council Chair and member, Dr Marion McGee said she felt her 35 years of experience as a general practitioner provided her with a unique insight into health needs, systems and process, and is please she joined when the opportunity presented itself.

“I had the incredibly refreshing experience of being listened to and that people were actively acting on the suggestions that we were making. I could say something, and the PHN would listen and come back with a strategy and ask ‘what do you think about this’, and I would say ‘that’s fantastic!’,” Dr McGee said.

Garth Hungerford, Chair and member of the Community Advisory Committee said he got involved to help find solutions for issues in the community that weren’t being addressed.

“I was seeing our health outcomes in regional, rural and remote areas were not as good as our city cousins and I wanted to escalate that at a local level so we could have some influence on access to primary healthcare for our communities,” Mr Hungerford said.

Clinical Councils and the Community Advisory Committee meet quarterly, and meetings are in person and online. Members are remunerated in accordance with MPHN’s Stakeholder Payment Policy.

For more information about this opportunity visit mphn.org.au/get-involved