> About us > Annual Report 2008 > Governance

OPERATE THE ORGANISATION TO THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF GOVERNANCE

Meet contractual obligations

All contractual obligations for reporting were met in 2008. The Report against the 2007 Annual Plan and the Annual Budget were sent to the Department of Health and Ageing on the due date of 15 February. The PHC RIS Annual Report 2007 was sent to the Department on 26 March 2008. It was uploaded onto the PHC RIS website on 14 May as soon as it received formal approval from the Department.

The Strategic Advisory Group met by  teleconference during 2008. Members were:

• Mr Robert Wells, Acting Director of the Australian Primary Health Care Research Institute and Executive Director of the ANU College of Medicine and Health Sciences
• Mr Kevin Broadribb, Director, Sucellus
• Rachel Yates (for Kate Carnell), Australian General Practice Network
• Professor Jon Emery, Head, Department of General Practice, University of Western Australia
• Professor Roy Goldie, Head, Faculty of Health Sciences, Flinders University
• Sally Ann Ducker, Julian Greer, and Gareth Sebar of the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing
• PHC RIS staff members Libby Kalucy (Chair), Ellen McIntyre, Ann-Louise Hordacre, Fiona Thomas, Simon Patterson, and Louise Baird.

Recruit, develop and retain suitably qualified staff

PHC RIS depends on skilled staff. In 2008 PHC RIS was able to maintain an appropriate complement of suitably qualified staff. Three staff members left during the year – Dr Gerhard Winter in January, Jess Tungthamthiti in May and Sheri Millar in July. Two new staff members joined PHC RIS – Ann Alfred in May and Amy McKay in June. In 2008 PHC RIS staff continued to develop their skills and abilities, by participating in more than 30 staff development activities.

Work collaboratively to establish and maintain productive relationships

PHC RIS maintains its prominent position in Australian primary health care through its collaborations and partnerships with many individuals and organisations. In 2008 this included working closely with the Primary and Ambulatory Care Division, the Australian Primary Health Care Research Institute (APHCRI), and the Australian Association of Academic General Practice (AAAGP) to convene the very successful GP & PHC Research Conference in Hobart in June 2008.

Production of the Snapshot of Australian primary health care research publication would not have been feasible without the support of APHCRI, AAAGP, the Department of Health and Ageing (DoHA), the National Institute of Clinical Studies (NICS) and the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC).

Implementing the innovative and well regarded display component of the on-line reporting system, was achieved through collaboration with a working group representatives from DoHA, Divisions, State Based Organisations (SBOs), and the Australian General Practice Network (AGPN).

I have just been looking at the NQPS indicators on your website. I just wanted to tell you how fantastic this section is and how useful the calculators section is! It’s great!
- APHCRI

PHC RIS continued to foster and develop its relationship with AGPN. As well as taking an active part on each other’s conference committees and working groups, PHC RIS worked with AGPN on data requirements for the Lifestyle Management Program, and to produce a co-badged publication What Divisions Do which was launched at the Australian General Practice Network Forum in Darwin in October.

PHC RIS Director, Libby Kalucy delivered the inaugural Ian Webster Health for All oration at the Centre for Primary Health Care and Equity Annual Forum in May 2008.

Ensure PHC RIS is prominent and visible

PHC RIS has been complimented on the appearance and consistency of its products by groups such as the Sax Institute. 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. PHC RIS used the creativity and originality of its talented staff members in 2008, together with the expertise of an external designer and printer to achieve high standards for both printed and electronic outputs.