Local stories showcase how we are ‘Working Together’

MPHN has released its 2022 Annual Report showcasing achievements over the 2021-2022 financial year under the theme of ‘Working Together’.

CEO, Melissa Neal said the storytelling approach in this year’s annual report allows for real successes and achievements to be showcased in a magazine-style report.

“Personal experiences are key to understanding the experiences and challenges rural and regional communities face in accessing health services,” Ms Neal said.

“We know data starts to tell us a story about these challenges and needs. But it is personal experiences which enrich and illustrate the full story.

“We gain these insights through various methods, one of which is our conversations and yarns on the couch activities. This year we visited 19 communities. Each highlighted challenges related to accessing housing and housing affordability. As we know, housing is fundamental to physical, mental and social wellbeing. When we look to address these needs it is important to look to our communities and healthcare providers to develop solutions.

“Collaboration with our partners underpins and is fundamental to all we do, and our annual report this year contains stories of how MPHN is already doing this work and I’m incredibly proud of what we have achieved over this financial year.

“The challenges of health pandemics and natural disasters have and clearly will continue to test us. But like all rural and regional communities, we see that innovations to meet these challenges often come from the grassroots, and I would like to acknowledge the important role we have in continuing to support community driven innovation,” she said.

Special thanks to Colin Rush OAM (community member), Melissa Billingham (MPHN employee), Deb Rudd (Douglas Hanley Moir), Naomi Richards (MPHN employee), Dr Ryan Bulger (Murrumbidgee HealthPathways Clinical Editor, Khalani and Delphine McKenzie (community members), and Lachaln Howard-Piffero (community member) for their involvement in the front cover image of the Annual Report.

Read the full 2022 Annual Report here.

Read the 2022 Financial Statements here.