Australia is a vast country made up of diverse communities who all have unique experiences and environments that impact their health and wellbeing. Yet the structures within our health system are not always well equipped to recognise this, to allow the flexibility that enables place-based solutions in response to local need.
Understanding and responding to local context is important in how we design and deliver VBHC initiatives. The Oxford Centre for Evidence Based Medicine recognises value ‘as a relationship between resources, outcomes and context.’ To embed value, we must focus on all aspects of this relationship.
This webinar will explore the systemic issues undermining the delivery of place-based, context driven solutions in health and care, particularly in the context of rural, remote and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities. It will explore the barriers and enablers to promoting the self determination of communities and explore case studies in which communities have been supported to come together and use data to collectively understand need, and drive the solutions to the wicked problems that impact their lives.
SPEAKERS
Sandy Gillies, CEO, Western Queensland PHN
Born and raised in Winton, Sandy Gillies has dedicated her career to improving the health and wellbeing of outback communities. A proud Gunggari woman, Sandy has drawn upon her lived experience and those of her family and communities to call on systemic change to improve the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Her experience as an Aboriginal Health Worker and Enrolled Nurse paved the way for more senior roles with the Queensland Mental Health Commission in 2013 and the Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council in 2015. Her commitment and ongoing drive to improve the health and wellbeing of Western Queenslanders led to her appointment in 2020 as an Adjunct Professor at the Murtupuni Centre for Rural and Remote Health at James Cook University. The following year, Sandy was appointed CEO of the WQPHN in recognition of her outstanding leadership and performance as Executive Manager since 2017. She was the first Aboriginal person to be appointed CEO out of the 31 Primary Health Networks Australia-wide.
Greg Sam, CEO, Royal Flying Doctor Service Australia (South Eastern Section)
Greg is an experienced CEO and Director, having worked in Senior Executive roles nationally and internationally in private, public and non-government sectors including significant experience in rural health. He is currently the CEO of the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia (South Eastern Section), and a Non-executive Director of Basketball Australia, Royal Far West and Youth Insearch. He has previously held Director roles with the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council and Palliative Care Australia.
Dr Alicia Veasey, Co-Chair, Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Clinical Network
Dr Alicia Veasey, a proud Torres Strait Islander Obstetrician & Gynaecologist, with a subspeciality in Paediatric & Adolescent Gynaecology, is committed to combating systemic racism and inequity in healthcare for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander People. In addition to her nursing and medical training, Dr Veasey has advanced degrees in Public Health, Health Management and Social Change Leadership. In 2023 when she was admitted as a Global Atlantic Fellow through the Atlantic Fellows for Social Equity.
In addition to her clinical commitments, Alicia plays a pivotal role in Queensland Health as the inaugural Co-Chair of the Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Clinical Network, where her focus lies in advocating for systemic cultural safety and health system reform, aimed at honouring the sovereignty and right to self-determination of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People. She is currently on the Editorial Advisory Board for the Australian Health Review journal, and has previously served on the Australian Indigenous Doctors’ Association Board of Directors, as well as a Delegate with the National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples. Her commitment and leadership were recently recognised with a University of Queensland 2023 Alumni Award for Indigenous Community Impact.
Residing on serene Bundjalung Country with her family, Dr. Veasey is not only a respected medical professional but also a proud mother of three and amateur surfer.
