Lucille Chalmers - CEO, Darling Downs and West Moreton PHN
Since stepping into the role of CEO in January 2022, it has been an honour to witness and contribute to the significant work of Darling Downs and West Moreton PHN. Looking back on this year, some key themes come to mind: adaptability, resilience and innovation.
In the 2021-2022 financial year, our PHN has remained firmly connected to our dual purpose of being an effective commissioner of health services, and a source of localised support to the remarkable primary care professionals who work to keep our communities healthy.
The impact of COVID-19 continued throughout the year and we experienced widespread flooding across Darling Downs and West Moreton. Our PHN has adapted to each new challenge with vigor while continuing to look toward the future.
Our PHN has supported primary care by translating national and state approaches to COVID-19 and various other issues into effective localised communications and solutions. Our staff continuously adapted to the shifting priorities and pressures on the health system, as well as the differing needs of rural and metropolitan health care. Meet and Greet networking events returned, along with our GP Chapter meetings, Project ECHO sessions and a variety of educational workshops, which all allowed us to reconnect with the local primary care workforce.
We have influenced the vaccine rollout across the region with three vaccination buses delivering approximately 900 COVID-19 and flu vaccine doses during the financial year. These efforts have contributed to the high COVID-19 vaccination rate across our region.
As we all know, the impact of the pandemic and multiple natural disasters will have a lasting impact on mental health outcomes. The demand for mental health support continues to grow and our primary care system is under strain. In May 2022, we shared the excellent news that our PHN has received Australian Government funding for Head to Health services. We have already launched the phone line and are facilitating the co-design process for a satellite service in Kingaroy and a service centre in Ipswich.
Despite the unpredictable nature of the last two years, our PHN continues to deliver on the business-as-usual. Our people strive for best practice, embrace change, and welcome innovation. In early 2022, we redeveloped our Commissioning Framework to ensure we can maximise the impact of our commissioned programs. We have also experienced internal growth as we take on new and exciting commissioning projects.
Thank you to the local primary care workforce who continue to care for our community. I would also like to thank our Board of Directors for their strategic direction and vision throughout the year, and the Clinical Council and Community Advisory Committees for their support and insight. Finally, thank you to the staff of the PHN for your unwavering determination to make a positive impact.
Sincerely,
Lucille Chalmers
CEO
Darling Downs and West Moreton PHN
Dr Tony Bayliss - Chair, Darling Downs and West Moreton PHN
It is with great pleasure that I present to you the 2021-2022 Annual Report for Darling Downs and West Moreton PHN.
This has been another significant year of growth as we have continued to support primary health care professionals to improve the health outcomes of our community. I am pleased to report that we commissioned a total of $35.11 million in primary health care services this financial year.
In January 2022 we welcomed Lucille Chalmers to the role of CEO for Darling Downs and West Moreton PHN. Lucille brings a wealth of knowledge and experience from her career in the health sector and is already taking the PHN from strength to strength. I would like to extend my sincerest thanks to our previous CEO, Merrilyn Strohfeldt, who retired in November 2021. The success of our PHN, both now and into the future, is much in thanks to Merrilyn’s efforts.
In late 2021 we launched our 2021-2023 Strategic Plan – our guiding light as we enter a new chapter of growth. Our strategic priorities are enhancing primary care, creating innovative solutions to meet health needs, integrated and collaborative care, and outcome-based commissioning. These priorities will ensure we direct our resources in ways that make the most effective impact.
The Strategic Plan provides a framework for all other initiatives, including several new strategies that were launched this year to target the specific health needs of our communities. Our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Strategy is already in action, shaping our efforts to improve access and health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples living in the Darling Downs and West Moreton PHN region. In collaboration with West Moreton Health, we developed Healthy Minds, Healthy Lives – our joint strategy for mental health, suicide prevention and alcohol and other drugs, and Feel Well Live Well – our joint strategy for older person’s health and wellbeing.
We continued to build connections directly into our community through our TALK ABOUT campaigns. These campaigns allow us to hear first-hand about the health care experiences of our communities. Combining this information with our data allows us to build a better picture of how we can direct our resources to maximise our impact.
This year we sadly lost one of our valued Board members with the passing of Kevin Rose. Kevin was a Barrister of the Supreme Court of Queensland and Regional Manager of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service (ATSILS). He had a significant impact across West Moreton and Darling Downs as an advocate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and those living in rural and remote regions. Kevin’s legacy will live on in the hearts and minds of our community.
Thank you to my fellow Board members and the PHN Executive Leadership Team and staff for their dedication and contributions over the last 12 months. I would also like to acknowledge the partnership with our health service delivery partners who continue to work with us to improve access to primary health care across the region.
I hope you enjoy hearing about our achievements in the 2021-2022 Annual Report and I look forward to our continued work in the year ahead.
Sincerely,
Dr Tony Bayliss
Board Chair
Darling Downs and West Moreton PHN
Contact Us
P: 07 4615 0900
Darling Downs office
Level 1, 162 Hume Street (PO Box 81),
West Moreton office
Level 5, World Knowledge Centre, 37 Sinnathamby Boulevard, Springfield Central QLD 4300
Acknowledgement of Country
The Darling Downs and West Moreton PHN wishes to acknowledge Australia’s Aboriginal people as the Custodians of this land. We pay our respect and recognise their unique cultures and customs and honour their Elders past, present and emerging.
