LHAC members from throughout the region are being joined by board members, executive and senior management from Murrumbidgee Local Health District (MLHD) and Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network (MPHN).
The two-day forum started yesterday, with delegates arriving from Wednesday evening.
As host of the forum, Deniliquin LHAC was assigned with setting the theme and chose ‘strengthening and empowering LHACs’.
It is a nod to the Regional Health Division of NSW Health report ‘Strengthening local health committees in regional NSW’, which was in response to an inquiry into rural, regional and remote healthcare.
“In choosing the theme for this forum, we wanted a program that would feed into strengthening our LHACs,” Deniliquin LHAC chair Lourene Liebenberg said.
“Together with MLHD and MPHN, specific workshops were identified that would provide LHAC members with opportunities to grow their skill sets around leadership, advocacy and influencing those who make decisions.”
The program for day one yesterday included updates from board chairs and CEOs of both MLHD and MPHN.
This was followed by four focused workshops, delivered by experts in the field, aimed at empowering LHAC members to best use their voices as advocates.
One was titled ‘Advocating for impact: Influencing decision makers’ and delivered by Regional Health Division principal advisor communications and external relations Lynn Lelean.
“Lyn has been to all of our forums since the establishment of the Regional Health Division of New South Wales, and has an excellent understanding of the work we do,” Mrs Liebenberg said.
“The workshops all hit the mark in terms of empowering LHAC members and LHAC committees as a whole”.
Apart from presentations, workshops and panel discussions, the LHAC forum is a fantastic opportunity to network with MLHD and MPHN decision makers and for LHACs to share ideas, projects and advocacy issues with each other.
A social event was hosted at The Depot last night, and Mrs Liebenberg said LHAC members were excited to share this “unique attraction in Deni” with the delegates.
The program continues today with a presentation from Deni LHAC, a panel discussion including four LHAC chairs, and an opportunity for all LHACs to share the work they are doing in their own communities.
“We are all unique in the way we work and represent our communities, and it is a great time to reflect on what we are doing well and what we could be adding into the mix to have even stronger voices in advocating for our communities,” Mrs Liebenberg said.
“Deni LHAC would like to thank Edward River Council for its support of this event, as well as the Deni Ute Muster and many other businesses who have contributed.
“We have encouraged our visitors to visit our unique venues and businesses while in Deni, and we hope their experience will bring them back for more.”
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