Chairman opened the meeting at 7 pm

Numerous apologies presented and accepted

Chairman expressed cautious optimism re the potential for real Healthcare reform with the new
Labor government which was shared by meetings participants.

Agreed that HRG should invite Health Minister to the next HRG meeting. Also agreed that a health
spokesperson for the ‘Greens’ would be invited to an HRG meeting. Emphasis at meeting to be
place on Implementation strategies for health related political promises made.

A major disappointment was the lack of commitment to improving the oral health of Australians.

A wide range of issues were discussed by the group.

The looming crisis in Primary Care was emphasised with more than 70% of GPs set to abandon
bulk billing. While GPs wished to become more involved in prevention (advice on nutrition was
discussed) this is problematic in the current situation where the management of established
chronic disease is so demanding.

The value of well resourced Primary Health Networks (PHNs) was highlighted with their ability to
address a number of the social determinants of health. Addressing issues related to children’s
health was important. The model emphasises the importance of reaching out to families in
distress.

Evidence for the importance of children having a happy and healthy childhood with an emphasis
on psychological support that provides confidence was recognised by both geriatricians and
psychiatrists.

The breadth of the range of issues the HRG see as crucial to health was further emphasised by
the related discussion of he importance of compassion being a crucial element in the provision of
healthcare.

The workforce crisis associated with the shortage of nurses focussed on the importance and
urgency of attracting (and adequately remunerating) nurses to work in Aged Care homes. Crucial
to the improvement if care in such facilities would be the partnership between employed nurses
and GPs providing care to residents.

Much discussion focussed on the need for a politically acceptable model for creating an
instrument to drive needed reforms. Views were mixed on the likely success of an Australian
Healthcare Reform Commission with the associated politics being problematic. HRG has
supported such a Commission but the group agreed that more work needs to be done to improve
the chances of success.

The ongoing, indeed worsening crisis in Rural Healthcare was again emphasised and it was
agreed HRG would consider inviting rural clinicians to a future meeting.

The meeting concluded with a commitment to prepare a position paper on implementing
healthcare reform before meeting with the health minister to maximise the likelihood of
influencing the reform process