The eighth meeting of the Regional Health Ministerial Advisory Panel (RHMAP) was held at the Ministry of Health on 21 May 2025. The meeting was chaired by Dr Richard Colbran, Chief Executive Officer, Rural Doctors Network. The Hon. Ryan Park MP, Minister for Health and Minister for Regional Health attended part of the meeting and heard from the Panel about issues of concern but also programs that are working well.
This meeting had a focus on paediatric and mental health services and models in rural, regional and remote ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø. There was a discussion around integrated healthcare models and partnerships in paediatrics space with various exemplars of work that is showing promise and improving access to care.
An overview of paediatric services and models in regional ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø was presented by Tish Bruce, Executive Director, Health and Social Policy Branch and Helen Goodwin, Chief Paediatrician, ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Health. They highlighted the importance of prioritising services that support children’s health, and the positive impact on future health outcomes and reduced care needs from quality healthcare for children and young people. Recruitment and retention challenges, as well as work underway to attract and retain the regional paediatric workforce, was discussed. This includes the ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Budget commitment of $17.9 million over four years which is supporting the expansion of paediatric allied health services, with more speech pathologists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists and social workers being employed in regional ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø. Gretchen Buck, Senior Manager, Children, Young People and Families Health Network explained work underway to improve coordinated care for children and families who need tertiary care.
Jacqueline Emery, Chief Executive Officer, Royal Far West; Megan Callinan, Chief Executive Officer, Marathon Health; Angela Firth, Executive Director, Allied Health Western ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø LHD (WNSLHD) and Cathy Marshall Director, Child, Youth and Families, WºÚÁϳԹÏÍøLHD presented on initiatives in their local health district. The importance of partnerships with non-government organisations was a feature of the discussion to address access gaps in rural areas, including to enable fly-in and fly-out of clinicians to provide services locally.
Some examples of initiatives in WºÚÁϳԹÏÍøLHD presented were:
The Panel also heard from Emma Field, Executive Director, Service Delivery, Murrumbidgee LHD (MLHD), and Associate Professor Dr John Preddy, Head of Department, Paediatrics MLHD and A/Prof Paediatrics UºÚÁϳԹÏÍø about innovation being implemented in MLHD. The Murrumbidgee Health and Knowledge Precinct Paediatrics Roundtable and the Murrumbidgee Paediatrics Collaborations are excellent local examples of partnerships across sectors to break down silos and ensure children receive timely, coordinated and integrated care.
Dr Corin Miller, a GP with paediatrics special interest based in southern ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø shared outcomes from the Djing.gii Gudjaagalali Kids Clinic in Eden. This clinic has had much success in diagnosing children early, whilst alleviating burdens on paediatric and primary care systems. Service model example documents were also received from Dr. John Kramer who has long-time experience serving patients requiring paediatric developmental services from his general practice in Woolgoolga.
Mental Health in rural ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø was also explored. Elizabeth Wood, Deputy Secretary, Health System Strategy and Patient Experience, Ministry of Health; Dr Murray Wright, Chief Psychiatrist, ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Health; Dr Brendan Flynn, Executive Director, Mental Health Branch, Ministry of Health; and Matthew Trindall, Director, Aboriginal Mental Health, Mental Health Branch, Ministry of Health provided an overview on mental health in regional, rural and Aboriginal communities. They provided information on mental health service reform currently underway which aims to enhance staff specialist psychiatrist roles and transition away from traditional ways of care through new models to deliver mental health services. The Central West ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Mental Health and Wellbeing Program​ was presented which is an exemplary project that focuses on care continuity for Aboriginal communities in the mental health system delivered by local Aboriginal people to lead change in their communities.
The Panel also heard an overview from Luke Sloane, Deputy Secretary, Rural and Regional Health, Ministry of Health of the current inquiries relevant to regional health in ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø and the work underway to address the recommendations and issues raised.
Vanessa Janissen, Chief Executive, ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Health Pathology, presented on Pathology services in rural and regional ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø. An overview of the evolution of laboratory pathology was provided and how change is required to meet community needs and expectations and provide more efficient services with the assistance of technology and artificial intelligence. Work is underway to attract and retain scientific workforce through traineeship programs, partnering with universities on student placements and upskilling local scientists to utilise digital readings and IT integration. The Panel was supportive of Point of Care Testing in rural areas, and agreed education and awareness for both clinicians and community is needed to ensure trust and confidence around the accuracy and benefits of this form of testing.
The Minister asked the Panel to consider maternity services at the next meeting planned for August 2025.