Murray PHN North East (NE) region covers eight Local Government Areas (LGAs) including Albury, Alpine, Benalla, Indigo, Mansfield, Towong, Wangaratta and . The North East region services the communities of Cobram, Yarrawonga, Goulburn Valley, Kilmore and Broadford, and Alexandra. The population of the eight LGAs is approximately 170,780 with a total land mass of 16,522 sq km. The North East region has 47 general practices, one large regional health service, and a range of small rural health services. The North East office is located in Albury.

City of Albury Benalla Shire Population: 50,243 Population: 12,044 Population: 13,719 Land mass: 306 sq km Land mass: 4,788 sq km Land mass: 2,352 sq km

Indigo Shire Mansfield Shire Towong Shire Population: 15,372 Population: 8,185 Population: 5,889 Land Mass: 2,040 sq km Land Mass: 3,843 sq km Land Mass: 6,674 sq km

NORTH EAST REGION EAST NORTH

Rural City of Wodonga North East region Population: 27,197 Population: 38,131 Population: 170,780 Land Mass 3,644 sq km Land Mass: 433 sq km Land Mass: 24,079 sq km

Staff profile

PROFILE PROFILE The North East team has a wide range of experience in health, health promotion, education, service system redesign and project management. This diverse mix of professionals with varied backgrounds and extensive networks work together to support general practice while enhancing the health experience of the community through facilitating integration of the health system.

North East Regional Manager Richard McClelland This role provides leadership to the team as they work in partnership with general practice, community services and hospitals to support population health planning and delivery of effective and efficient health service. Richard has strong connections to the North East and border regions having lived in the area and worked in executive and management positions with Murrumbidgee Local Health District and its predecessor Greater Southern Area Health Service.

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Medical Advisor Dr Wendy Connor The medical advisor will ensure the needs of general practice are identified and addressed and will provide a pivotal role in working with the Clinical Council and Community Advisory Council to inform and collaborate for the needs of the North East Region.

Health Systems Coordinator TBA Our health system is complex and multi-faceted and often presents as confusing to the patient and to the general practice workforce. The primary purpose of this position is to work with all health services within the North East region to assist in identifying key relationships and systems that need to be coordinated in order for the patient to better navigate the health system.

Primary Health Services Coordinator Natalie Gipp This position works with services that the Murray PHN has contracted to provide services to our community. The position monitors and reports the outcomes delivered by the organisations who provide the contracted service.

Primary Care Coordinators Morgan Aldridge and Tammie Long Primary Care Coordinators support general practice to improve front line health service delivery. The positions support quality improvement initiatives and coordinated care.

Workforce Development Officer Kirrian Steer

This role is critical to ascertaining and understanding the professional development needs of general practice. The Workforce Development Officer coordinates CPD events, and looks at merging themes in the primary care health sector.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health program ensures quality outcomes for the target population. Key components of the program include coordinated care, facilitating access to health care providers, identifying access issues for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and recommending strategies to address the access issues.

Aboriginal Outreach Worker TBA Indigenous Health Project Officer TBA

Administration Support Sue Elias Administration Support is the first point of contact for enquiries at North East reception.

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Partners in Recovery (PIR)  Manager – Jenny Donnelly  PIR Project Officer – Catherine Mather  PIR Intake Triage Clinician – Rachel Harvey

PIR is a key initiative of the Australian Government’s national mental health reform plan. PIR aims to improve the systemic response to people with severe and persistent mental illness with complex service needs. PIR is governed by 11 partner organisations, a consumer and carer member, and led by Murray PHN.

Further information about the initiative is available at humepir.org.au

Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

A range of CPD events are facilitated based on health priorities and local needs. The CPD calendar can be found on our website murrayphn.org.au or by registering as a stakeholder and receiving our weekly newsletter.

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