After a decade as the inaugural Chair of Melbourne Primary Care Network, it’s time for me to pass the baton to others.

My ‘take homes’ of what MPCN has achieved during my time are too many to document. However, I believe our biggest impact is how we do our work.

By this, I mean how we support our values, the translation of those values to effect and how, by example and leadership, we influence other parts of the health system to develop and reform. 

We adopted and disseminated the concept of the triple, then quadruple and now quintuple aim of health care. This is our commitment to improve health outcomes, patient experience, cost, provider experience and equity. 

We commission, contract, measure and report on this framework. It’s our most important lever. In Australia it started at MPCN, and is gaining traction as more health service funders, policy makers and providers adopt this critical driver. 

We deeply and meaningfully collaborate with community, experts and providers to achieve insight and in every facet of what we decide to do, and then how we do it. The community, peak bodies and clinicians lead our health needs analyses. Clinical and community councils, expert advisory groups and people banks inform our understanding and responses to health issues. Clinicians lead our HealthPathways, professional development and provide support to health professionals and practices. Collaboration is in our DNA.

Another of our trademarks has been our responsiveness. During the depths of the COVID-19 pandemic, where system failures resulted in the ‘Towers Lockdown’ and outbreaks in residential care homes, we brought together government, hospital, community health, general practice and pharmacy to lead a cross-sector response that recognised and included the centrality of general practice and primary care.

We supported and developed methods for communication, triage and referral systems, boosting capacity for effective response across the primary care sector. Our model was adopted across the state and in many parts of the nation.

But as always, our work has many foci. Along with supporting general practice and primary care, we are deeply involved in understanding where the needs lie for the community.

We co-design, fund and commission services in areas such as mental ill health, drugs and alcohol, allied health, aged care and child and maternal services.

From “cradle to grave” is an expression often heard in health sector circles. I’m proud to say that NWMPHN is supporting providers to improve the health of our community through every stage of life.

Critical to this is research into the social determinants of health. We know that health equity cannot be achieved without truly understanding and addressing the non-medical factors that influence outcomes.

I leave my position at MPCN optimistic of a future where health and community services work together to do just that.

In my time I’ve seen that our values, people, governance, systems and relationships have made us a reliable and trusted set of hands. We get done what needs to be done. We also inform, advocate for, and assist change and reform when needed.



The foundation of MPCN and the PHNs is a legacy I’m proud, honoured and privileged to have played my part in.

But although this is a wrap for me, for MPCN the work is just hitting its stride. It is work that I know everyone is ambitious to be a part of, and that the new Chair, Damian Ferrie, will lead with enthusiasm and excellence.

And I will continue to find a few corners to try a make a difference to the things that matter to me.

For if not now, when? For if not us, who?

My heartfelt thanks to those with whom I have worked, and from whom I have learnt much.  The wonderful staff at MPCN, my brother in arms for a decade, MPCN CEO Christopher Carter, my fellow wise Directors – current and past, members of our Councils, other PHN Chairs and CEOs, stakeholders and government colleagues.

And to those who work tirelessly in the most important place, with patients and the community – in providing care and in advocating for improvements. Thank you!