Professor Susan Nancarrow Susan is Professor of Health Sciences at Southern Cross University. Since training as a podiatrist, Susan has over 20 years’ international experience as a health services researcher with expertise in health workforce reform, service delivery and organisation. In particular, she works with health services to help them think differently about how they organise and deliver care to provide solutions to enhance health care from the patient’s perspective. She is particularly committed to regional and rural health issues, community health, and capacity building. Recent research projects have explored the use of the NBN to provide telehealth to keep older people independent at home; primary health care integration; the use of social media to engage with health service users; and the recent Victorian Allied Health Workforce Research Project.
Professor Hal Swrissen Professor Hal Swerissen is a Fellow in the Health Program at Grattan Institute, Emeritus Professor of Public Health at La Trobe University and a non executive director of the Bendigo Kangan Institute and the Murray PHN. He has an extensive and distinguished record of achievement in health policy research and analysis. He has held senior executive positions as Pro Vice Chancellor (Regional) and Executive Dean of Health Sciences at La Trobe University. He has been a senior advisor to Commonwealth and State governments and has conducted a range of policy and research studies and inquiries. He has published more than 100 academic papers and research reports. He consults with industry and government on health, human services and education.
Associate Professor Carol McKinstry Following a career as an occupational therapist and as a senior management in clinical risk and quality improvement, Carol crossed over to academic while completing her PhD in 2005. Carol currently is associate professor leading the La Trobe University’s Rural Health School Occupational Therapy Education Program based at the Bendigo Campus and Head of the Rural Department of Allied Health. Carol teaches evidence-based practice and research subjects as well as coordinating project-based and service-learning placement subjects. Her research is primarily focused on developing an allied health workforce to meet the challenges of the future, particularly for communities in rural and regional communities. Increasing research capacity and use of evidence by allied health professionals is another focus of current research projects. Carol is currently Vice President of Occupational Therapy Australia, Chair of the Rochester and Elmore District Health Service and Bendigo Football Netball League boards, and board member of charities BEAM and CircusAid.
Sharon Downie - Department of Health and Human Services
Sally Harris - Chair Loddon Mallee Allied Health Network Reference Group
Concurrent sessions speakers - Allied Health practitioners and assistants from Loddon Mallee area - details to come