THE communities of the Mid North Coast are set to benefit from two new passionate health care professional’s appointments to the Board of Healthy North Coast.

A Healthy North Coast spokesperson said they are excited to welcome local residents Kerry Stubbs and Graeme Innes to the Board of Directors.

Healthy North Coast CEO Julie Sturgess said she was delighted to be welcoming Graeme and Kerry.

“Their expertise in the fields of law, social justice, advocacy, and high-level government and administration would add value and diversity to the organisation’s strategic direction.

“They will add to the richness of experience of our other board members a specialist anaesthetist, a dentist, two GPs, and a senior public administration executive,” she said.

“Together, they will help Healthy North Coast continue its drive to take a leading role in the ongoing health reform and improvement that is clearly needed in our region and nation.

“We will strive to succeed in not just ‘meeting’ but ‘exceeding’ our goal of delivering the Primary Health Network program in our regional footprint, from Port Macquarie to Tweed Heads, and the New England Tableland.

Kerry Stubbs is currently Deputy Chancellor of Western Sydney University.

She has previously been CEO of Northcott, one of Australia’s largest not-for-profit disability service organisations, and Executive Director of St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney.

Graeme is a well-known human rights lawyer and former commissioner at the Australian Human Rights Commission for almost a decade.

He was Australia’s Race Discrimination Commissioner for three years and has more than 40 years of board, finance and business management experience.

Both share a deep passion for the health sector and are keen to contribute to their local communities.

“I have had a lot of experience in community health services, disability and mental health services, and in palliative care. I’m also particularly interested in Aboriginal health issues and initiatives,” Kerry said.

“I believe I can contribute something of value in understanding those issues from both the provider’s and consumer’s side.”

Graeme said he is looking forward to bringing his knowledge and skills to Healthy North Coast.

“Health is a critical issue in all of our lives and the pandemic has really brought that to the top of everyone’s mind.

“I hope that I can bring a deep knowledge of the community sector, experience in governance, and a wide network of connections at all levels of state and federal government to the organisation.”

“We believe our communities are the ultimate beneficiaries of Healthy North Coast’s successes and we are immensely proud to be delivering the PHN program.”

Healthy North Coast delivers the North Coast Primary Health Network (PHN) Program on behalf of the Australian Government working alongside community members and health professionals to improve access to well-coordinated quality health care.

 

By Sandra MOON