26/6/03
Community members from a diverse range of backgrounds have been chosen to represent the Pilbara and Gascoyne on the newly created District Health Advisory Councils, Health Minister Bob Kucera announced today.
Mr Kucera said the members - drawn from the community, consumers, agency providers and health services - would play a very important role in influencing health policies and developments.
"The establishment of these councils will give country people genuine input into health planning and decision-making," he said.
"Two advisory councils have been created in the region: one in the Pilbara and one in the Gascoyne, with 28 members selected from a total of 44 nominations.
"The final selection was made after much deliberation and will ensure that the voluntary membership represents widespread knowledge and skills.
"These councils will take us into a new era in community participation and, as such, country people will be in a better position to influence policy and health developments."
Mr Kucera said the advisory councils had been established to enable community members to have input and advocacy without the onerous legal and financial responsibilities associated with the previous health service boards.
"The establishment of a single, unified health system with strong community input is one of the many reforms the Gallop Government has introduced to help fix the health system," he said.
The key roles of the advisory council members will be to:
- consult with consumers and community members about relevant health issues;
- present the views and opinions of consumers and community members at the council;
- offer creative input in relation to the delivery of health services;
- become familiar with the priorities of the health services at a local, district and regional level.
- share knowledge and expertise; and
- consider the views of consumers and the community in service development and planning.
Mr Kucera said it was vital that community members had input into the way in which health services were delivered locally and within the region.
The Pilbara Advisory Council members are: Rosie Adeley - actively involved in the community. Her areas of interest include child and aged care, people with chronic diseases, and advocating for better health services.
Janet Brown - represents Hedland Well Women's Centre, a non-Government organisation funded by the Department of Health, which provide a community, based service for women in Port Hedland.
Sharlene Chilvers - has a wide knowledge on issues that affect people with disabilities and their families.
Amanda Circosta - Chairperson for Puntukurnu Aboriginal Medical Service, Jigalong Community.
John Collis - has been a General Practitioner in Karratha for 14 years.
Danielle Cooper - is a community member representing the Newman area.
Mark Hainsworth - has a special interest in consumer issues and capacity building for Government health services to respond to consumer needs.
Pat Harris - a consumer representative with special interest in aged care, adult health and women's health.
Darren Injie - Committee Secretary for Gumala Aboriginal Corporation, Paraburdoo.
Jennie Neuendorf - has an interest in health services for families and children.
Louise Russell - has a primary focus on health education in indigenous communities and has worked with young people and schools.
Bridget Schmildmann - a remote area nurse, with an interest in overall health issues of the Nullagine and surrounding areas.
Helen Shanks - actively involved in community, health and youth work. Her key areas of interest are community development and education awareness.
Natasha Stubbs - interested in the provision of health services, diagnostic and disease maintenance and injury/disease prevention or minimisation.
Louise Wightman - has an interest in expanding the choice of youth health services, community-based access for Aboriginal clients and maintaining existing women's health services in isolated communities.
Benny Woodley - an executive member of Mawarnkarra Aboriginal Health Service.
The Gascoyne Advisory Council members are: Erica Blyth - a team leader for Communicable Disease Control, Gascoyne Public and Community Health Unit.
Aloma Boyd - has interests in a range of areas including mental health, aged care, chronic disease, disability and children of mentally ill patients.
Kathleen Eddington - interested in all aspects of health especially community nursing, health promotion and prevention.
David Harding - experienced in aged, youth and family health care.
Michelle Hughn - a community settlement worker representing the Vietnamese community.
Ruth Lockyer - interested in disability and Aboriginal health care.
John Matten - representing consumers.
Del Mills - interested in the provision of all aspects of health, especially access to private and specialist services, high level care for the aged, dental health care, drug and alcohol abuse services, public health and education, and mental health.
John Newton - interested in all areas of health care including physical, mental and preventative health.
Frederick Platcher - president of the Exmouth Carers' Support Group and a keen advocate for improving access to health services for disabled people.
Kathy Radford - has many years' experience in the health industry both as a provider and a user.
Kim Whitehall-Holla - the Local Area Coordinator for Disability Services Commission in the Gascoyne Region.
Minister's office: 9213 7000
