The ninth meeting of the Regional Health Ministerial Advisory Panel was held virtually on 13 August 2025, chaired by Dr Richard Colbran, Chief Executive Officer of the Rural Doctors Network. The Minister for Health and Minister for Regional Health attended the meeting and heard from the Panel about key challenges and successful programs delivering improved health outcomes in regional NSW.
The focus for the meeting was maternity services and models of care in regional, rural and remote NSW. The presentations and discussions highlighted integrated healthcare approaches, cross-sector partnerships, and initiatives to improve access to care. The Deputy Secretary, Health System Strategy and Patient Experience and Executive Director, Health and Social Policy Branch outlined strategies guided by A Blueprint for Action - Maternity Care in NSW and the 2023 Inquiry into Birth Trauma, including aims to build service capability, streamline referral and transfer pathways, and expand shared care and continuity models.
The Principal Advisor of Midwifery, Nursing and Midwifery Office described regional training pipelines for undergraduate and postgraduate midwives, noting more than 160 postgraduate positions have been funded since 2011 and 35 Aboriginal midwives graduating through cadetships. The Executive Director, Workforce Planning and Talent Development provided an update on NSW Health’s contribution to the National Maternity Workforce Strategy, due in 2026, and gave an update on the relocation bonuses to support recruitment of midwives to regional areas.
Guest presenters were invited to share with the Panel current initiatives to improve maternity services, in particular for Aboriginal women and families living in regional, rural and remote NSW. The Director of Intelligence at the Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council provided an update on progress toward Closing the Gap Target 2, which seeks to improve healthy birth outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander babies. He outlined programs including the First 2000 Days Framework, Aboriginal Maternal and Infant Health Services and Building Strong Foundations, emphasising that strong partnerships with Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations, supported by continued investment, are essential to advancing culturally safe, community-led care.
Executives from Waminda – South Coast Women’s Health and Wellbeing Aboriginal Corporation shared details of the organisation’s 41-year history in providing holistic, culturally safe care, highlighting collaboration with Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District, workforce decolonisation training, and the establishment of a Birthing on Country centre. The Executive Director of Clinical Services detailed Tresillian’s support for parenting in the first 2000 days across 19 centres, providing outpatient and residential programs, collaboration with child and family health nurses and Aboriginal health workers, and practical support for families.
The Panel also heard from the Deputy Secretary, Rural and Regional Health about current Inquiries relevant to regional NSW and the work underway to address the recommendations and issues raised. Within this session, the Lead on the Special Commission of Inquiry into Healthcare Funding also provided an update into the Inquiry findings and recommendations relevant to healthcare delivery across regional, rural and remote NSW.
The Panel will next meet in Tamworth on 29 October 2025.