Community Advisory Group

The Northern Queensland Primary Health Network (NQPHN) Community Advisory Group (the Group) covers the Cairns, Cape and Torres, Townsville, and Mackay regions.

Group members are comprised of health service users, consumers, carers, and community members, and act as a critical friend to NQPHN by bringing community perspective to advise the planning of activities and priorities. The Group’s advice is aligned with NQPHN’s Health Needs Assessment and local and Commonwealth priorities.

The aim of the Group is to enable health system improvement and reform in local regions and for identified community groups. They ensure that community ideas drive improvements in person-centred care to deliver better health outcomes that are locally-relevant and aligned to local care experiences and expectations.

The Group also guides and advises NQPHN to improve its social impact, cultural security, and patient safety of programs it commissions throughout the region.

As champions of change, members maximise and leverage their own community networks to improve health outcomes through coordinated care.

The Community Advisory Group plays a key role in helping to guide NQPHN in ensuring activities are connected to and supported by the communities it serves.

Name Role Region
Deb Rae (Independent Chair) Consultant, Author, and Coach, Deb Rae Solutions Mackay
Deni Casey Community Member Mackay (Clermont)
Elizabeth Warren Manager/Programs Co-ordinator, Yamadi Aged & Community Care Service Mackay
Jean Rogers Community Member Townsville
John Furnell Councillor, Burdekin Shire Council Townsville (Ayr)
John Kennell Health Worker Coordinator (Programs) | Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health, Mackay Hospital and Health Service Mackay
Karin Campbell Community Member Cairns (Tablelands)
Matthew Moloney Senior Project Officer, Dept of Women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, and Multiculturalism Cairns
Natasha Rivett Deputy Chief Executive Officer, ARC Disability Services Cairns
Petra van den Berg Contractor, Queensland company Rural Health Connect Townsville
Sibbo Sengabo NDIS Support Coordinator Townsville
Jeff Stewart-Harris NQPHN Boad Representative, Board Chair Townsville
Sharon Kelly NQPHN Board Representative, Deputy Board Chair Mackay