Murrumbidgee HealthPathways: Local knowledge, national impact
HealthPathways page views from 371 users across the Murrumbidgee during 2025–2026
Pages reviewed, with 41 localised to help clinicians access practical, locally relevant information at the point of care
Aged care pathways worked on, including 44 reviewed and 11 localised for the region
Murrumbidgee HealthPathways continued to put practical, evidence-based information at clinicians’ fingertips in 2025-2026 while increasingly sharing the region’s expertise on a state and national stage.
Designed for use at the point of care, HealthPathways helps general practice and primary care teams assess and manage conditions and connect patients with the right local specialists and services.
During the year, the Murrumbidgee team reviewed 100 pages, localised 41 and recorded 68,201 page views from 371 users. Murrumbidgee’s expertise is increasingly shaping care beyond the region, with the team leading development of four NSW-wide and three national HealthPathways pages.
One of the year’s major achievements was becoming the national lead region for the My Health Record pathway. Developed collaboratively with the Australian Digital Health Agency, HealthPathways teams nationally and led locally by Lead GP Clinical Editor Dr Elizabeth Campbell, the resource brings practical information about My Health Record together in one place.
It covers support information such as training and technology, residential aged care, consent and MBS billing, as well as resources relevant to multicultural, First Nations and LGBTQIA+ communities.
For MPHN HealthPathways Manager Olivia D’Souza, the achievement demonstrates what can happen when local clinical knowledge is combined with national collaboration.
“HealthPathways is a remarkable tool for healthcare professionals,” Ms D’Souza said. “With one point of access, they can have practical, up-to-date information at their fingertips at the point of consultation. Healthcare is complex and by working collaboratively we can make a difference for our healthcare professionals in our communities by providing them with clinical knowledge to promote best- practice care and deliver better care for patients.”
The team’s national leadership also extended to other areas of clinical care. Senior GP Clinical Editor Dr Jane Goddard, who has been involved with Murrumbidgee HealthPathways since its beginnings in 2018, led development of the national Chlamydia HealthPathways page in collaboration with subject matter experts from ASHM.
“With chlamydia being one of the most common STIs in Australia, it’s important that GPs and registrars have the information they need to assess and manage it in primary care,” Dr Goddard said. “It's great that we can share our knowledge Australia wide but also work in collaboration with other HealthPathways teams to share both regional and national knowledge.”
The team finished the year with another national milestone, becoming the lead region for the Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis HealthPathways page – its first project contracted with the Juvenile Arthritis Foundation of Australia.
“Leading the Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis page nationally shows that expertise developed here in the Murrumbidgee can help support clinicians and ultimately patients well beyond our region,” Ms D’Souza said.
At the same time, the team continued to strengthen resources for clinicians closer to home. GP Clinical Editor Dr Marietjie Van der Merwe led a comprehensive overhaul of the Older Adult Suite, working with Murrumbidgee Local Health District and MPHN aged care teams to review 44 pages and localise 11. The result is more practical, point-of-care information for GPs, registrars, residential aged care staff, nurses and allied health professionals.
Together, the work reflects the growing reach of Murrumbidgee HealthPathways: drawing on local knowledge to strengthen care across the region, while increasingly contributing that expertise to better healthcare nationally.
A lifetime of connection and contribution
After decades contributing to primary healthcare across the Murrumbidgee, Dr Jane Goddard has stepped down from her role with Murrumbidgee HealthPathways.
For Dr Goddard, involvement has never been about recognition. It has simply been part of being a GP.
“Whatever you’re involved in, you should be participating and contributing, you shouldn’t just be taking,” she said. “I don’t know that I’ve been particularly innovative, but I like to think I’ve facilitated or supported a certain number of initiatives.”
That understated description belies a long contribution. Jane was involved with the former Division of General Practice, served on numerous clinical and advisory groups and, in 2018, became one of the original GP Clinical Editors for Murrumbidgee HealthPathways. In 2025-2026, she also developed the national Chlamydia HealthPathways in collaboration with subject matter experts from ASHM.
HealthPathways particularly resonated with Dr Goddard because it brings reliable, localised information to clinicians when they need it and connects them with services across the health system.
“We can’t all be an expert in every area,” she said. “We can go to this resource on our medical desktop and then we can see, okay, who do I refer to? What do I need to do first? What resources can I give my patient? It’s all there – it’s a fantastic tool!”
Asked to nominate her greatest contribution, Dr Goddard again resisted the spotlight.
“I think it’s all about communication and connection. I think that’s probably my biggest thing. I’m a communicator.”
MPHN thanks Jane for her decades of generosity, commitment and service. Her contribution can be seen not only in the pathways, committees and initiatives she helped shape, but in the stronger connections between clinicians and services across the Murrumbidgee. As Jane steps back from HealthPathways, that legacy of sharing knowledge, supporting colleagues and making healthcare work better for patients will continue.
