PHC RIS OPERATES THE ORGANISATION TO THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF GOVERNANCE

Maintain systems for effective governance

All contractual obligations for reporting were met in 2009. The Report against the 2009 Annual Plan, the Annual Budget and the 2009 Annual Report were sent to the Department on completion. The Annual Report was uploaded onto the PHC RIS website as soon as it received formal approval from the Department.

Strategic Advisory Group

The Strategic Advisory Group met by teleconference and via email focusing on PHC RIS in 2009 and beyond, the PHCRED review and the 2009 GP & PHC Research Conference.

Strategic Advisory Group members are:

• Professor Jon Emery, Head, Department of General Practice, University of Western Australia
• Mr Robert Wells, Director of the Menzies Centre for Health Policy and the Australian Primary Health Care Research Institute at the Australian National University
• Mr Kevin Broadribb, Director, Sucellus
• Professor Michael Kidd, Executive Dean, Faculty of Health Sciences, Flinders University
• Ms Rachel Yates, Australian General Practice Network
• Representatives from the Department of Health and Ageing, Vicky Murphy, Hitendra Gilhotra and Jeanette Mathe
• PHC RIS executive staff Libby Kalucy (Chair), Ellen McIntyre, Simon Patterson, Fiona Thomas, Ann-Louise Hordacre and secretariat Louise Baird.

Recruit, develop and retain suitably qualified staff

Four staff members left during the year – Dr Sara Howard in May, Dr Ann-Louise Hordacre in July, Sarah Nisbet in June and Amy Hoffmann (nee McKay) in September. Four new staff members joined PHC RIS – Rachel Katterl, Nova Reinfeld-Kirkman, Linda Isherwood and Belinda Lunnay. PHC RIS staff continued to develop their skills and knowledge by attending numerous development activities.

Collaborations and partnerships

In 2009 PHC RIS worked with individuals within organisations including the Department, the Australian Primary Health Care Research Institute, the Australian Association of Academic Primary Care, PHCRED funded university departments of General Practice and Rural Health, AGPN, Divisions of General Practice and State-Based Organisations.

Ensure PHC RIS is prominent and visible

PHC RIS has been complimented on the appearance and consistency of its products. The Marketing and Promotions Group is responsible for this visible identity of PHC RIS which is becoming particularly important as the information world goes digital. The use of the PHC RIS logo, as well as related icons for each product, contributes to the prominently visible identity.