The tenth meeting of the Regional Health Ministerial Advisory Panel (RH MAP) was held on 29 October 2025 in Tamworth on Kamilaroi Country. Chaired by Dr Richard Colbran, Chief Executive Officer of Rural Doctors Network, the meeting was held at the University of Newcastle Department of Rural Health. In attendance was the Minister for Health and Regional Health, the Hon. Ryan Park MP, who engaged with the Panel on key issues affecting regional communities.
Integration was the focus of the meeting, aligning with Priority 5 of the NSW Regional Health Strategic Plan to improve coordination across primary, community and hospital care to deliver more connected, person-centred services in regional NSW. Discussions addressed enhancing cultural safety and strengthening partnerships.
Uncle Len Waters performed the Welcome to Country and Tracey Mccosker, Chief Executive of Hunter New England Local Health District (HNELHD), provided the panel with an overview of the District.
Professor Jennifer May, National Rural Health Commissioner presented to the panel and shared national perspectives on rural health reform. Professor May emphasised the need for collaboration with local communities, embedding First Nations Leadership, supporting rural multidisciplinary care and exploring integration and funding models to enhance the rural medical workforce.
Panel members also heard from Elizabeth Grist, Executive Director, Clinical Services, Nursing and Midwifery (HNELHD), who presented on the Glen Innes Midwifery Group Practice model of care. Launched in May 2024, maternity services were re-established offering local women safe continuity of care closer to home. The services have strong support from the Glen Innes community, and staff are benefiting from working within a supportive, tiered perinatal network.
Cindy Paull, Aboriginal Family Wellbeing Violence Prevention Coordinator, and Brooke Maisey, Media and Events Coordinator from the Tamworth Aboriginal Medical Service, presented on the co¬located clinic in Gunnedah. This culturally governed model of care is connected to both the community and the local health service. The clinic delivers a broad range of supports including mental health, chronic disease management, specialist care, health checks and domestic violence prevention.
Panel members visited Tamworth Hospital's birth simulation centre, key health worker accommodation and the Isolated Patients Travel and Accommodation Assistance Scheme (IPTAAS) office. Members gained insights into infrastructure and initiatives that support the rural health workforce and patient care.
Reflections from Panel members during the Minister's session included local successes and challenges and highlighted specific community needs for integrated care, workforce sustainability and engagement. Emphasis was placed on the importance of partnerships and planning to strengthen integrated approaches.
The meeting concluded with Panel reflections on key themes arising from the 2025 meetings and noted the progress in delivering outcomes that matter to regional, rural and remote communities.
Panel members were also provided with an out-of-session update on the implementation of the 44 recommendations from the Rural Health Inquiry and recommendations from the Select Committee Inquiries.
Planning is underway for the Regional Health Ministerial Advisory Panel meetings in 2026.