22 October 2009

Inverell Local Health Advisory Committee Chair Bob Dasey was one of 14 community members involved in Hunter New England Health’s annual Joint Community Engagement Forum this week.

This Forum was held at Muswellbrook RSL Club on Tuesday, 20 October, and brought together representatives from Local Health Advisory Committees and Community Forums on Health from throughout the Area. 

Area Health Advisory Chair, Associate Professor Lyn Fragar, and HNE Health Chief Executive Dr Nigel Lyons led the day-long discussions, along with HNE Health Director of Communication and Stakeholder Engagement Carina Bates.

Forum participants received a presentation on falls prevention and brainstormed ways they could help educate communities to reduce the number of falls among target groups. They also discussed support tools that might help enhance relationships with their local communities, and received an update about HNE Health’s efforts with Caring Together; The NSW Health Action Plan - which is implementing the recommendations from Commissioner Garling’s Report.

Each health facility within Hunter New England Health has a Local Health Advisory Committee whose members serve as a conduit between the health service providers and the community. Local Health Advisory Committees perform a vital role in advising and assisting the health service to continually improve services.

Community Forums on Health provide feedback and advice to Hunter New England Health about local health services in their respective regions, and are involved in monitoring, planning and the evaluation of services. Forums also help promote health and well-being in the community.  

Pictured: Bob Dasey (Inverell LHAC), Jenny Hawkins (Bingara LHAC), David Conway (Warialda LHAC) and Jennifer Lecky (Muswellbrook LHAC) with Associate Professor Lyn Fragar and HNE Health Chief Executive Dr Nigel Lyons.

(HNE-2031)

Contact: Carisa Green

Phone: (02) 6767 7135 or 0428 106 183