While Western Victoria Primary Health Network was launched in its current structure in July 2015, the background to our organisation goes much further back and is a story of consolidation and partnerships.
1993-2011
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We started as the GP Association of Geelong which was founded by Dr George Golding (1941-2005) in 1993. He was also the first CEO of the association.
During his life, Dr Golding devoted his time and expertise to educating and mentoring medical students, registrars and GPs. Following his death in 2005, the association launched the Dr George Golding Memorial Trust in his memory. Each year, a scholarship of $5,000 is awarded to a Deakin University Medical School student to help towards their education. The annual scholarship continues to be awarded by Western Victoria PHN in conjunction with the George Golding Trust Committee. |
2011-2015
In 2011, the GP Association of Geelong was restructured into Barwon Medicare Local following a Commonwealth Government review of the regional primary health care structure.
Barwon Medicare Local was part of the initial tranche of such organisations. Great South Coast Medicare Local was launched in 2012 and Grampians Medicare Local was established in 2013.
In early 2015, the Commonwealth Government announced it would further reshape how primary health care was delivered and foreshadowed the creation of Primary Health Networks to align more closely with state Local Hospital Networks.
2015 Onwards
In April 2015, the Commonwealth Government announced the amalgamation of Barwon, Great South Coast and Grampians Medicare Locals. The new Western Victoria Primary Health Network was launched on 1 July 2015, as one of 31 PHNs around Australia.
Our Chief Executive Officer is Rowena Clift, who was appointed in May 2020. Lynne McLennan has been the Board chair since October 2015.
We have tw Clinical and Community Advisory Councils to further build our collaboration with GPs and members of the community across our region.