Christmas and the Summer Holidays
In my last Primary Matters as CEO of Western Victoria Primary Health Network (WVPHN), I would like to wish everyone a happy and relaxing Festive season and New Years break. For many of us, the summer holidays are a period to reflect on the year that was, but also a time to rest, replenish and reset so that we can continue to strive for a healthier western Victoria in 2024.
Organisationally, we’ve had a few changes of late. I’d like to congratulate Professor Susan Brumby, who was recently made Chair of the WVPHN Board after our previous Chair, Lynne McLennan, stepped down at the end of her term. Susan has been on the Board since 2015 and was the Deputy Chair and brings a huge amount of expertise and experience to the role of Board Chair.
While WVPHN is recruiting for its new CEO (see the advertisement here), the Board has announced that Andrew Giddy, Executive Director Strategy and Engagement at WVPHN, will be Acting CEO as of Monday next week. Andy will do an excellent job of managing the organisation while we seek a new leader in early 2024.
Save the Date – 2024 Primary Care Conference
We’ve just announced that WVPHN’s biggest training event of the year, our annual Primary Care Conference, will take place on the weekend of 25-26 May at the Goods Shed in Ballarat. The theme for the event will be: ‘Transforming primary care’. We will release more information about topics and speakers in the new year, but we’d love to see as many western Victorian health professionals as possible attend as it’s a great opportunity to learn and also to mix with peers from across our region. The feedback from last year’s event has been excellent and we are excited to explore the multiple ways in which we will need to transform primary care to meet the health needs of our region with you and other health experts.
WVPHN Office Closure
Finally, I wish to remind you all that WVPHN will close for the festive break from 2pm on Friday 22 December and will reopen 9am Tuesday 2 January 2023.
Stay safe and have a fantastic break.
Rowena Clift, CEO WVPHN
13 December 2023