Header image

Presidents' Breakfast | Sponsored by Department of Health and Aged Care

Friday, October 25, 2024
7:00 AM - 8:15 AM
Exhibition Hall 3

Overview

Secure your spot for the popular Presidents' Breakfast, featuring a panel of experts and Presidents who will delve into a range of current and topical health matters, key advocacy and policy topics in an interactive Q&A format. Don't miss out on the chance to hear from some of the industry's most influential voices and engage in insightful discussions. This exclusive event is in high demand and sells out every year, so make sure to secure your spot during registration. PLEASE NOTE: This is a ticketed event which will be noted on your name badge. Tickets can be purchased within the registration portal.


Details

Over the past 12-18 months, reviews of various elements of our primary care system have continued, following on from the Strengthening Medicare Taskforce. Final reports and recommendations will be a hot topic and at this year’s President’s Breakfast we will discuss some of the key reviews, and explore the impact on rural general practice and rural generalist medicine. Is it a bright future ahead or will it be more of the same, with a little lemon twist? Review reports: https://www.health.gov.au/resources/collections/review-of-general-practice-incentives?language=en https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/a-better-after-hours-system-review-of-after-hours-primary-care-programs-and-policy?language=en https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/working-better-for-medicare-review-final-report-and-appendices?language=en


Speaker

Agenda Item Image
Prof Mark Cormack
Review Lead
Scope of Practice Review

Panelist

Biography

Professor Mark Cormack was appointed to the Australian National University (ANU) College of Health and Medicine in 2020, following a long career in the Commonwealth, Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and New South Wales (NSW) Government services. His professional background covers early work as an allied health professional, and health services manager. Mark hasserved as a Chief Executive (ACT Health ; Health Workforce Australia) and Deputy Secretary (Commonwealth Departments of Health, Veterans’ Affairs and Home Affairs) and has had portfolio responsibilities covering a wide spectrum of public policy. In national health policy these included mental health, health financing, primary health care, workforce, public hospitals, health technology assessment, research, and health provider compliance. As Deputy Secretary Australian Department of Health he managed intergovernmental relations at the Commonwealth, State, and Territory levels, working on National Health Reform Agreements and numerous National Partnership Agreements. In the area of national program delivery, his work spanned Medicare, Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, National Blood Supply, Primary Health Networks, Public Hospitals, Private Health Insurance, and the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF). In the area of national health workforce, he led policy, planning, clinical training and workforce reform as the CEO of Health Workforce Australia. In international health, Mark was Australia’s delegate to the OECD Health Committee and WHO Western Pacific Region. He worked as Deputy Secretary in the area of border security, detention and visa compliance at the (then) Department of Immigration and Border Protection (now Home Affairs). He was also responsible for Australian Defence Force workers compensation, veterans’ policy and program delivery through the Department of Veterans Affairs. Mark, along with Associate Professor Ian Crettenden established the National Centre for Health Workforce Studies (NCHWS) at the ANU in 2022, and is currently undertaking a PhD at the ANU Crawford School of Public Policy, researching policy change through intergovernmental health financing agreements in Australia. Current appointments include • Independent Review Lead, Unleashing the Potential of our Health Professionals - Scope of Practice Review - 2023. (Appointed by Minister for Health and Aged Care) • Senior Adviser, National Centre for Health Workforce Studies, ANU • Non-Executive Director, Leukaemia Foundation of Australia • Associate Editor, Australian Health Review • Principal at MCA Consulting Mark’s areas of interest include public policy and administration; health system governance; health services program management, financing and delivery; health workforce and intergovernmental relations and agreements. Qualifications Master of Health Management, University of Wollongong, Bachelor of Applied Sciences, University of Sydney, Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Agenda Item Image
A/Prof Dan Halliday
ACRRM

Panelist

Biography

Dr Dan Halliday is a Senior Medical Officer - Rural Generalist based at Stanthorpe Hospital, Queensland, with special interest in obstetrics. Dan has maintained ongoing advocacy and representative roles supporting rural doctors and their communities. Dan is a Past-President of Rural Doctors Association of Queensland (RDAQ) and has held other executive positions on the management committee of RDAQ and is a past Director of Queensland Rural Medical Education (QRME). He is a current Rural Generalist Member on the Statewide Rural and Remote Clinical Network for Queensland Health, and has been appointed onto the Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service Clinical Council. He is acutely aware of the decline in health provision in small communities. From his obstetrics perspective, he sees this decline starkly illustrated by the closure of many rural birthing units. He has also experienced the machinations of a large health system in both crisis and recovery. Dan joined the College in 2006 and was the 100th registrar to train for Fellowship, which he gained in 2009. From then until now a Pre-vanguard Rural Generalist Trainee, now a Fellow, he has seen the gradual recognition that a national rural generalist program is the future for sustainable, equitable rural and remote health services. He believes that, with the development of the rural generalist pathway, we are now starting to generate genuine and widespread interest in rural medicine and begin the stabilisation of rural medical facilities across Australia. Dr Dan Halliday is a Senior Medical Officer - Rural Generalist based at Stanthorpe Hospital, Queensland, with special interest in obstetrics. Dan has maintained ongoing advocacy and representative roles supporting rural doctors and their communities. Dan is a Past-President of Rural Doctors Association of Queensland (RDAQ) and has held other executive positions on the management committee of RDAQ and is a past Director of Queensland Rural Medical Education (QRME). He is a current Rural Generalist Member on the Statewide Rural and Remote Clinical Network for Queensland Health, and has been appointed onto the Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service Clinical Council. He is acutely aware of the decline in health provision in small communities. From his obstetrics perspective, he sees this decline starkly illustrated by the closure of many rural birthing units. He has also experienced the machinations of a large health system in both crisis and recovery. Dan joined the College in 2006 and was the 100th registrar to train for Fellowship, which he gained in 2009. From then until now a Pre-vanguard Rural Generalist Trainee, now a Fellow, he has seen the gradual recognition that a national rural generalist program is the future for sustainable, equitable rural and remote health services. He believes that, with the development of the rural generalist pathway, we are now starting to generate genuine and widespread interest in rural medicine and begin the stabilisation of rural medical facilities across Australia. Dan's deliberations and decision on the College Board will be informed by formal governance qualifications - Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors - which he gained in 2012. Dan considers that he has been fortunate to be surrounded by passionate rural general practitioners and advocates in a range of forums. He is fully appreciative of the role that family plays in the support of colleagues practicing medicine, and readily acknowledges the support of his wife Cathy and their children Grace, William and Georgia.
Agenda Item Image
Prof Sabina Knight
Co-lead
GP Insentive Review

Panelist

Biography

Professor Sabina Knight AM is a Fellow of ACN, Rural Leadership Australia and CRANA. a career rural and remote health advocate and clinician she is the Director of the newly established JCU Central Queensland Centre for Rural and Remote Health in Emerald. Sabina has a background in remote area nursing, health workforce, policy and reform. She has held leadership roles in CRANA plus, the National Rural Health Alliance, Regional Woman’s Advisory Council and a range of advisory bodies. She served as Commissioner on the National Health and Hospital Health Reform Commission and recently was an Independent Reviewer for the Working Better for Medicare Review in thin markets. Sabina moved to Emerald following 11 years in Mount Isa leading the Murtupuni Centre for Rural and Remote Health. She has been recognised by her peers with 2 Aurora Awards, a Centenary Medal, the Ariotti Award, is a Member of the Order of Australia and last year was awarded QLD Life Sciences Woman of Influence Award.
Agenda Item Image
Dr Raymond Lewandowski
SMO
Cairns Hospital

Panelist

Biography

Dr Lewandowski is a Rural Generalist in Far North Queensland, and is an ACRRM Fellow with advanced skills in operative obstetrics and endoscopy. He currently works as a Senior Medical Officer providing endoscopy and gastrointestinal services in Cairns Base Hospital and obstetrics, endoscopy and emergency services in Innisfail Hospital. He spent the previous 12 years providing general practice, emergency, obstetrics and endoscopy services in Kingaroy, after immigrating from the United States in 2008 where he worked as a rural doctor in Missouri. Dr Lewandowski is President Elect of the Rural Doctors Association of Australia (RDAA) a past President of the Rural Doctors Association of Queensland (RDAQ), and former Director of the Rural Doctors Foundation.
Agenda Item Image
Mark Roddam
First Assistant Secretary, Primary Care Division
Department of Health and Aged Care

Panelist

Biography

Mark Roddam is the First Assistant Secretary of the Primary Care Division at the Department of Health and Aged Care. In his role he has responsibility for the Australian Government’s primary care policies and programs. Prior to this role Mark was First Assistant Secretary of the Social Policy Division at the Department of Finance. In previous roles in the Health portfolio he has been the First Assistant Secretary of the Mental Health Division and the Indigenous Health Divisions. Previous to Health, Mark worked in the Indigenous Affairs Group at the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet (PM&C). Before joining PM&C, Mark worked in the employment portfolio for 15 years on a variety of workplace relations and employment programs and policies.
Agenda Item Image
Dr Simone Raye
AIDA

Panelist

Biography

Dr Simone Raye is a proud Bardi/Jabbir Jabbir woman whose family is from the Dampier Peninsula in the Kimberley. Simone has spent much of her life on Garamilla, the land of the Larrakia, working as a GP. She attended The University of Newcastle for her medical degree and helped out in the early days of founding AIDA, becoming a foundational member. Simone is passionate about increasing the numbers of our Indigenous medical workforce and believes providing a culturally safe space for them to learn and work in is imperative. This not only helps our workforce but also helps deliver culturally safe and caring healthcare to all our patients, be they Indigenous or non-Indigenous.
loading