Farewell to our CEO

This week we farewell our respected, admired and loved CEO.  Amanda, joined GP down south in 2006 as a Program Coordinator for the South West.  She was a freshly minted migrant who had 17 years’ experience in the National Health Service in the UK under her belt. 

At that time the Organisation was still a Division of General Practice with core funding to deliver training and professional development for GPs in our designated geography.  Amanda remembers these days fondly and with a sense of admiration for how far we have come.  We have grown in staff numbers, program development and organisation structure.
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Most of that was achieved under Amanda’s leadership when she took over the reigns as CEO in August 2012.   It was just as the Divisions were defunded and Medicare locals were set up.  She was instrumental in maintaining GP down south as an independent and competitive Primary Health Provider during National Health Reforms from Divisions of General Practice to Medicare Locals and now Primary Health Networks.

She has said that service development is a driving force of her working life and she has seen the design and delivery of many strong programs which has seen GP down south develop as a leader in service provision.  Amanda oversaw the establishment, growth and cessation of Southern Forests Health, developed the Three Tier Youth Mental Health Program, guided the change over from MACAHs (Manjimup and Collie Aboriginal Health) to DSAH (Down South Aboriginal Health) and envisioned and steered the establishment of the Peel Health Hub. 

Amanda has been central in the development of the policies and procedures which led to GP down south successfully gaining accreditation for AS/NZS 9001:2008 by the Institute for Healthy Communities Australia Certification.  Guided and supported the organisation through changes in business structure, funding structure, accreditation achievement and developing business streams.

There is no doubt that Amanda’s strength in strategic development has been an asset to GP down south for at least the last decade.  Her focus on relationships has also ensured that the organisation maintains a strong profile with funders and other agencies.  Her professional approach has enabled GP down south to build robust relationships with other service providers and forge the way in a collaborative approach to program design and delivery.
 
To say she will be missed is a massive understatement.  She has led from the front.  Always put people first and has made each and every staff member feel valued.  All we can do is wish her the very best in her new role.