Expressions of Interest sought from GPs, aged care providers, mental health providers, pharmacy, allied health providers, geriatricians, local government, researchers, consumer peak bodies and consumers for membership of the NWMPHN Older Adults Expert Advisory Group.
Background
Advisory groups have been established by North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network (NWMPHN) to provide a platform for leaders and experts in the region to inform and support the work of the PHN. These groups will share insights, promote innovation, and help identify and prioritise what is important to our communities.
Aged care is one of seven national PHN priorities. In addition, older adults have been identified by the organisation’s board as a key priority population for focused strategic capability development in 2021-2024. This is in response to an ageing population, growing demand for services, evidence of suboptimal outcomes for older people, and the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 outbreaks in Residential Aged Care Facilities (RACFs) across the region.
NWMPHN’s role in enabling improved outcomes for older people has been focused on discreet activities that address particular issues, such as disproportionate use of hospital services, end of life care and more recently, mental health. In developing a more strategic approach to identifying and addressing population health needs of older adults, NWMPHN will take a healthy ageing approach to support the process of developing and maintaining the functional ability that enables wellbeing in older age.
What is involved?
It is anticipated the activity will commence in late November 2021 and will conclude on 30 June 2023. Expert Advisory Group (EAG) members will:
- Participate in four (4) meetings per year via teleconference or in person. Meetings may be scheduled after-hours to maximise EAG members’ participation and will not exceed 1 ½ hours in duration.
- Undertake preparation in advance of scheduled meetings to optimise their active contributions to the EAG.
- Respond to requests to review documents or provide feedback to NWMPHN relevant to their fields of expertise, between and in addition to scheduled EAG meetings.
- Contribute to an annual review of the EAG, including participating in or providing feedback for relevant planning activities.
- EAG members may also be invited to voluntarily participate in workshops, seminars, or other activities during usual business hours.
- Please note the first meeting will be held on Tuesday, 30 November at 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm via Microsoft Teams.
Who can apply?
Members of the Expert Advisory Group will be appointed to ensure broad representation of skills, knowledge and sectors, and for regional coverage wherever possible.
The Expert Advisory Group Chair will be appointed at the discretion of NWMPHN and will be a GP with an interest in gerontology and aged care, or a geriatrician.
The Expert Advisory Group will be comprised of eight (8) members in addition to the Chair and NWMPHN representatives, and may include representatives from:
- General practice
- Aged care (residential aged care and/or community care)
- Hospitals and/or Aged Care Assessment Services teams
- Allied health
- Pharmacy
- Mental health (e.g. North West Aged Psychiatry and Assessment Team)
- Consumer representatives (e.g. culturally and linguistically diverse communities, LGBTIQ+ community, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community)
- Local government
- Relevant peak bodies (e.g. Dementia Australia, COTA Vic, Carers Victoria)
- Researchers in the field of ageing and health
Additional members may be appointed to the group at the discretion of NWMPHN, to contribute specialist knowledge or to address gaps in the group’s representation.
Members will be asked to disclose any conflict of interest that may impact upon their participation or limit their contribution to the group.
How to apply
Expressions of interest (EOI) are now open and documentation is available below.
Please complete the application form available on our website and below and email it to tenders@nwmphn.org.au
This EOI will close at 5.00 pm, Friday 12 November 2021.
Download:
Older Adults Expert Advisory Group members EOI application form
For more information contact:
Sarah O’Leary
Director, Integrated Care
Phone: (03) 9347 1188 Email: agedcaresupport@nwmphn.org.au
