Primary Health Strategy
Biographical information about members of the National Primary Health Care Strategy External Reference Group
This section of the site provides information about members of the National Primary Health Care Strategy External Reference Group.
Chair:
Dr Tony Hobbs
Dr Hobbs is a GP Obstetrician at Cootamundra in the NSW Riverina district, where he has promoted an innovative model for integrated primary care. He is also the Immediate Past Chair of the Australian General Practice Network.
Members:
Mr Peter Fazey
Mr Fazey is a specialist musculoskeletal physiotherapist. He has worked primarily in private practice for 25 years and is currently a lecturer in manual therapy and the clinical programs coordinator at the University of Western Australia, Centre for Musculoskeletal Studies. Mr Fazey is also National President of the Australian Physiotherapy Association and a Fellow of the Australian College of Physiotherapists.
Professor Mark Harris
Professor Harris is a leader of primary health care research in Australia with a broad range of interests including, health system development especially integration of health services (within primary health care and between primary and secondary care), and the prevention and management of chronic diseases especially diabetes and cardiovascular disease. He is also a Professor of General Practice at the University of NSW.
Associate Professor Noel Hayman
Associate Professor Hayman is the Clinical Director of the Inala Indigenous Health Service in Brisbane. His interests include primary health care access and service delivery in indigenous communities especially improving the access of Indigenous people to mainstream health services and medical education. He is also the Secretary of the Australian Indigenous Doctors Association (AIDA).
Professor Claire Jackson
Professor Jackson’s interests include health service integration, models of primary care and governance. She practises in Inala Queensland and has had general practice experience in urban and rural Australia and overseas. Prof Jackson is also a Professor in General Practice and Primary Health Care at the University of Queensland.
Ms Judy Liauw
Ms Liauw is a community pharmacist. She has been the Director and Manager of Westside Pharmacy, Ulverstone, Tasmania since 1985. Ms Liauw is a National Councillor on the Pharmacy Guild of Australia and holds other positions including the Chair of the Guild’s Women and Young Pharmacists Committee. She is also a Member of the Pharmacy Board of Tasmania and the Chair of the Australian Association of Consultant Pharmacy from July 2008.
Professor Lyn Littlefield OAM
Professor Littlefield is a clinical psychologist with over 20 years of experience as a clinical academic and in mental health in hospital and community settings. She has devoted much time to working towards improving health, and particularly mental health, services in these areas. Prof Littlefield is the Executive Director of the Australian Psychological Society and the Honorary Executive Officer of Allied Health Professions of Australia. She was previously the Head of the School of Psychological Science at La Trobe University and the inaugural Director of the Victorian Parenting Centre.
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Ms Anne Matyear
Ms Matyear is a general practice nurse. Her interests include optimising the role of nurses in general practice and increasing the contribution of general practice nursing in the formulation of public health policy. Ms Matyear is the current President of the Australian Practice Nurses Association and a Member of the Board of Directors at the Ipswich and West Moreton Division of General Practice.
Mr Mitch Messer
Mr Messer has made a strong contribution to Australian health care over many years as a consumer representative. He is a consumer member of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee and a former member of the Governing Committee of the Consumers’ Health Forum of Australia. He is also a founding member and current Chairperson of the Genetic Support Council of WA (Inc.), President of Cystic Fibrosis Australia and Worldwide, and a Trustee of the Australian Cystic Fibrosis Research Trust.
Dr Rod Pearce
Dr Pearce is a General Practitioner who has been an advisor for the last 20 years to local, state & federal Governments on general practice issues. Dr Pearce continues his involvement with many local & national Committees including Australian General Practice Accreditation Limited, and Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation. He is also the current Federal Chairman of the Australian Medical Association Council of General Practice.
Dr Vasantha Preetham
Dr Preetham is a practising GP in Perth, Western Australia. She was invited to contribute to the discussion around developing a long term national health strategy at the Prime Minister's Australia 2020 Summit in Canberra in April 2008. Dr Preetham is also the Immediate Past President of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners.
Professor Hal Swerissen
Professor Swerissen is an expert on health policy with an extensive research record in the design and development of primary health and community services. Professor Swerissen is currently the Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences and Professor of Public Health at La Trobe University and is also the Australian Institute for Primary Care’s Director of Research and Development.
Dr Barbara Vernon
Dr Vernon is an Australian birth reform advocate with a strong interest in improved provision of maternity services, particularly enhancing women’s access to primary care by midwives. She is also the Executive Officer of the Australian College of Midwives.
