30 October 2024
SWSPHN 2024 Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Showcase

South Western Sydney Primary Health Network (SWSPHN) held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Showcase at the Ottimo House in Campbelltown on Thursday, 24 October. 

The event showcased our services, innovations, collaborations and commitment to improving the health of our community. It also highlighted the progress and challenges encountered in this diverse and growing region’s health sector. 

Dr Vince Roche, Clinical Council Chair, former SWSPHN Board member and Southern Highlands GP, introduced the 2024 AGM and Showcase event and welcomed our special guests, including Federal MP for Hughes Jenny Ware, SWSPHN Board Members, representatives from South Western Sydney Local Health District (SWSLHD), valued stakeholders and service providers. 

Keynote speaker Dr Angela Smith.
Keynote speaker Dr Angela Smith.

Dr Angela Smith, a social researcher at the Centre for Western Sydney, delivered the keynote address, sharing her insights on the future of the region’s health workforce. 

As a human geographer, Dr Smith focuses on the relationship between people, place and movement and is currently researching issues of equity and spatial justice across Greater Sydney.  

In her address, Dr Smith discussed Western Sydney’s cultural and linguistic diversity. 

“People from 170 different countries call Western Sydney home, speaking over 100 languages, making it the most multicultural place in Australia and one of the most diverse regions in the world,” she said. 

“The multilingual nature of our workforce is particularly noteworthy, with 41 per cent of workers speaking a language other than English. 

“This linguistic diversity is a significant asset for our community in the context of a localised economy.” 

SWSPHN CEO, Dr Keith McDonald PhD, introduced the showcase event, saying “Like all good show bags, it’s designed to give you a few tasty samples of what we offer”.  

One initiative highlighted at the AGM was My Care Partners, a program addressing the region’s high incidence of chronic disease by providing coordinated care for patients with complex health needs. 

SWSPHN Service Support Manager Jennifer Green spoke about the hard work and dedication behind the program and highlighted some goals and outcomes. 

“My Care Partners has been about 10 years in the making and has been the combined blood, sweat and occasional tears of a number of dedicated people who believe My Care Partners can make a difference for the people of South Western Sydney and their care providers,” she said. 

“In South Western Sydney, we have a high incidence of chronic disease in our population. Patients who have complex health needs typically suffer from multiple chronic health conditions, functional limitations and unmet social needs. 

“A shared vision was formed to create My Care Partners as a medical neighbourhood model of care, to improve coordination between the patient’s medical home, primary community services and acute care.”  

 As a result of the My Care Partners Wave One pilot, total hospital admissions for registered patients have been reduced by 38 per cent, and emergency department presentations have been reduced by 28 per cent. 

Ben Neville, SWSPHN’s Integration and Priority Populations Manager, leading a panel discussion.
Ben Neville, SWSPHN’s Integration and Priority Populations Manager, leading a panel discussion.

Ben Neville, SWSPHN’s Integration and Priority Populations Manager, led a panel discussion about the health alliances and their strategic importance.  

The panel consisted of SWSLHD’s Acting Director of Population Health, Maria Beer, Wollondilly Shire Council’s Manager of Community Services, Michelle Sheehan, and Dr McDonald. 

The discussion emphasised the value of strategic alliances in advancing regional health outcomes.  

Ms Beer highlighted the importance of collaboration within the alliances. 

“For us to be able to work together, it’s just so amazing to have the PHN support council and us, and when you put three organisations together, you’re just going to see some amazing things,” she said. 

Ms Sheehan emphasised the alliance’s opportunity to examine the health outcomes for our entire community. 

“It’s an incredible opportunity to collaborate with the PHN and LHD to work towards better health outcomes for our community. Being such a regional and remote community which is largely spread out, it gives us an opportunity to reach different areas across the community which are testing and trialing different projects,” she said. 

Dr McDonald said the partnerships were essential for achieving better health outcomes. 

“Working with council and other non-health entities who have a very important role to play in healthy public policy helps us to have a health influence on more general policy in the region,” he said. 

Another topic highlighted at the AGM was palliative care and SWSPHN’s efforts to improve access and education. 

SWSPHN Integration and Priority Populations Coordinator Kate Noble highlighted the Core Palliative Care Medicines – Building Collaborative Partnerships with Community Pharmacists project. 

SWSPHN 2023-2024 Annual Report.
SWSPHN 2023-2024 Annual Report.

The project ensured participating pharmacies maintained a sufficient stock of core palliative care medicines to provide initial urgent supplies to patients or carers, and minimised delays in access to these medications. 

The Core Palliative Care Medicines map was also highlighted, which helps patients and caregivers quickly locate pharmacies with core palliative care medicines. 

Dr McDonald also highlighted SWSPHN’s important Employee Value Proposition (EVP), sharing a short video highlighting one of SWSPHN’s dedicated staff members. 

Dr Vince Roche concluded the showcase by celebrating the efforts of all involved and expressing optimism about the future of healthcare in South Western Sydney. 

Following the showcase, Board members met for SWSPHN’s AGM, at which our 2023-2024 Annual Report was released. The report highlights even more of the significant work undertaken by our dedicated and passionate staff during the last financial year. 

 

 

 

SWSPHN Integration and Priority Populations Coordinator Kate Noble highlighting palliative care.
SWSPHN Integration and Priority Populations Coordinator Kate Noble highlighting palliative care.
SWSPHN Board Chair, Dr Matthew Gray, (left), MP Member for Hughes, Jenny Ware (middle), SWSPHN CEO, Dr Keith McDonald PhD (right).
SWSPHN Board Chair, Dr Matthew Gray, (left), MP Member for Hughes, Jenny Ware (middle), SWSPHN CEO, Dr Keith McDonald PhD (right).