Agenda
Wodonga Regional Health Summit
When: Friday, March 1, 2024, 8am to 1pm
Where: The Cube Wodonga, 118 Hovell St, Wodonga
How does our regional community get the health services it needs now and into the future?
Purpose: Empower the region through unified advocacy, leveraging our collective influence to champion for the funding of a premier regional health service that caters to the cross-border community, solidifying our position as having the leading healthcare provider beyond Sydney-Melbourne.
Today’s summit is about exploring what are the health challenges for Albury-Wodonga and the wider region,, when are these critical, what are emerging and need intervention now, what do we need to address these, what can we collectively do to improve health outcomes in the Albury Wodonga region.
Our aim today is to explore the strengths, address the challenges and propose solutions.
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What
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Who
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Registration
7.30am to 8am
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Registration for all attendees. (Breakfast for invited guests)
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How did we get here?
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Opening address: The power of regional leadership in healthcare advocacy
Cr Ron Mildren – Wodonga Mayor
A strategic and high-level exploration of the influential role regional leadership plays in shaping the future of the healthcare system. The importance of leveraging collective power to champion for a premier regional health service, specifically tailored to meet the diverse current and future needs of the cross-border community.
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Current state
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Healthcare excellence: catalyst for regional prosperity
Susi Tegen, National Rural Health Alliance
Explore the pivotal role of an outstanding health service as a magnet for population growth, driving economic benefits through a flourishing healthcare employment sector. Delve into the symbiotic relationship between a robust healthcare sector and a diverse employment landscape, contributing significantly to the region's Gross Regional Product, with far-reaching benefits that extend to the nation. Explore unraveling the economic impact and strategic importance of fostering excellence in healthcare for sustained regional and national growth.
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Holistic health: bridging gaps for future well-being
Matt Jones – CEO Murray PHN
The importance of primary healthcare and how it relies on a strong and effective acute health system. And what are the emerging health needs and gaps being seen in the community health sector.
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Navigating extreme challenges: Practitioner's journey in the cross-border health service
Dr David Clancy, Border Medical Association
Gain insights from a practitioner's lens of the lived experiences from the frontline of a challenging healthcare working environment. Uncover the realities, and lessons learned in delivering care under demanding circumstances. Join Border Medical Association’s candid exploration of the unique perspectives that shape their concerns to the current and future plans for the cross border health service.
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How do we get there?
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Panel 1 – Catalysing change: Collaborative insights for place-based healthcare
Join our expert panel spanning health and tertiary education as we dissect the transformative power of collaboration and research in crafting a place-based healthcare system for Albury Wodonga. Explore key topics, including challenges in workforce growth, collaborative education, cross-industry partnerships, and innovative operating models to foster enduring partnerships. Delve into the collective impact achievable when diverse sectors unite, sharing knowledge and resources to optimise community health outcomes shaping a future where sectors with similar needs converge for efficient, effective, and equitable healthcare solutions.
Facilitated by: National Rural Health Alliance CEO Susi Tegen
Panellists:
- La Trobe Rural Health School – Professor Jane Mills
- UNSW Rural School of Medicine – Director Border Regional Training Hub Dr Phillip Steele
- RDAA – Peta Rutherford
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Audience Q&A
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Morning tea break
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Panel 2 – Government perspectives: Navigating public health challenges
Overview: Join our panel of federal and state government representatives for a concise exploration of mechanisms ensuring government responsiveness to public concerns, with a focus on transparency and public engagement. Listen to perspectives on policy levers addressing health inequities, viable funding alternatives for future-proof health services in a growing region, and the pivotal role of planning and data in shaping funding allocations and service direction for a cross-border health service. Explore the perspectives of the role of an intergovernmental agreement in fortifying governance for a cross-border health service. Recognizing the region's substantial scale and current constrained funding, explore avenues to secure investments that align to a regional catchment area of its size, ensuring the delivery of top-tier integrated health facilities and services tailored to the demands of a growing population.
Facilitated by: Member for Indi Dr Helen Haines
Panellists:
- Federal Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care Ged Kearney
- NSW Parliamentary Secretary for Health Dr Michael Holland MP (Member for Bega)
- Shadow Minister for Health Georgie Crozier MP
- Dr Amanda Cohn MLC
- Dr David Clancy, Border Medical Association
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Audience Q&A
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Future state
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Next steps
Facilitator
A wrap-up and facilitated discussion around the outcomes and way forward following today’s summit.
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Thank you
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Closing address
Wodonga Mayor Cr Ron Mildren
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