At Coolamon, there is a particular concern about skin cancer, while in Junee residents are talking about aged care and in Wagga, the big health issue is the hospital redevelopment.
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These issues have all come to the attention of the Murrumbidgee Local Health District and Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network through community groups called local health advisory committees.
Each of the 33 areas in the Murrumbidgee area with a hospital has one of these committees, which MLHD marketing and community engagement manager Setchen Brimson said provide a vital link between communities and the health services.
Ms Brimson is encouraging interested people to apply for a position on the committee in their own communities.
“We need a broad cross-section of people to fully represent the community,” she said.
Ms Brimson said each individual advisory committee addressed the unique needs of residents in their own communities.
“In Deniliquin, whenever someone applies for a health job, the LHAC members take on a tour of the community,” she said.
Kerry Geale, the chairperson of the Wagga Local Health Advisory Committee, became involved because he was looking for new interests, but also wanted to learn more about the health system.
“I didn’t understand the health system, I didn’t know how it worked, so it was an opportunity to not only find out how it works, but to get some more community input into the system,” Mr Geale said.
For more information on how to apply for a position on an advisory committee, email MLHD-FeedBack@health.nsw.gov.au or call 02 5943 2010.
