The Special Commission of Inquiry into Healthcare Funding will hold public hearings in Tamworth from 17 to 20 September 2024 at Tamworth Local Court.
The public hearings provide an opportunity for the Inquiry to hear from a wide range of witnesses, including representatives from the public sector, healthcare representative bodies, service providers and community members.
In the Tamworth hearings, the Inquiry will gather evidence about a range of healthcare issues relevant to the region and will include:
1. Funding challenges and opportunities for improvement, including the effectiveness and limitations of current funding models.
2. Healthcare workforce, including recruitment, retention, shortages and premium labour issues and the effectiveness and limitations of designated workforce programs.
3. Education and training opportunities and limitations.
4. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health services, workforce development and support programs.
5. Access to specialist healthcare, including public specialist outreach services and Specialist Networks that facilitate specialist virtual healthcare between metro and regional facilities.
6. Links and opportunities for collaboration between healthcare providers, including primary health care and networks, Local Health Districts, private healthcare and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations.
7. Innovation and new models of care to improve health outcomes for the people of NSW.
8. Processes and decision-making related to establishment and cessation of services including capital projects.
The Inquiry invites members of the public to observe proceedings by attending in person or by live streaming the hearings. Live streaming links will be available on the website.
Before the hearings, the Commissioner and members of the Inquiry team have been visiting the Northern NSW, Mid North Coast and Hunter New England LHDs to engage with local stakeholders and community members.
For more information including the Terms of Reference please visit the Special Commission website.