#CEOdesk

We invite you to stay up-to-date with the latest news and views from our CEO, Lizz Reay.
You can also follow her on Twitter: @NBMPHNceo

Apr 14 2025

Helping Shape the Future of Ageing

We were pleased to host our inaugural Healthy Ageing Conference at the Western Sydney Conference Centre in Penrith on Saturday 5 April. Over 100 health professionals attended, including general practitioners, nurses and allied health professionals.
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Mar 13 2025

Are You Good to Go? National Advance Care Planning Week

This Advance Care Planning Week, which runs from 17 March to 23 March, we’re encouraging everyone, regardless of age or health status, to start thinking about their future healthcare plans.
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Feb 27 2025

Medicare Mental Health Centres – New Name, New Look, Same Service

As announced in the 2024-25 Budget, existing Head to Health adult mental health centres are being rebranded as Medicare Mental Health Centres.
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Jan 22 2025

Have Your Say in Our Suicide Prevention Training Survey

Suicidal distress is a human response to overwhelming suffering, and we all can provide immediate help to people who are in suicidal distress.
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Dec 19 2024

Wishing you all a safe and happy festive season!

As Christmas approaches and many of us are busy wrapping presents to give to our loved ones, we're wrapping up our projects for the year, reflecting on everything we've achieved in 2024 and preparing for a successful 2025.
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Nov 28 2024

Your GP can be a safe place to seek support for domestic, family or sexual violence

We are proud to support the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence campaign, running from 25 November, International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, to 10 December which is Human Rights Day. This global initiative aims to raise awareness of domestic, family, and sexual violence, as well as highlight available support services for those affected.
 
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Nov 25 2024

Right Care, First Time, Where You Live

On Friday 8 November, I attended the last workshop for Right Care, First Time, Where You Live.  We are proud to be part of this research program that is focussed on improving the mental health of young people across Australia.
 
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Nov 22 2024

Help for your mental health is just a click away

We’re excited to announce that our Mental Health Help website has recently been upgraded.
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Nov 20 2024

Our 2023-2024 Annual Report

I am pleased to share our 2023-24 Annual Report, which showcases the outstanding efforts of our team and the positive difference our organisation is making to the health and wellbeing of our community.
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Oct 08 2024

We are encouraging locals to have their say in our Community Health and Wellbeing Survey

We are asking the community for their feedback and insights on their individual health experiences across the Blue Mountains, Hawkesbury, Lithgow and Penrith local government areas.
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Oct 03 2024

Mental Health Month – Let’s Talk About It

October is Mental Health Awareness Month, and this year’s theme ‘Let’s Talk About It’ encourages self-reflection and open conversations about our mental health and overall wellbeing.
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Oct 01 2024

Local domestic and family violence program expands to supporting victim survivors of sexual assault

On Thursday, 26 September, together with Federal Member for Macquarie, Susan Templeman MP, we launched the expansion of the Care and Connect domestic and family violence program to include sexual violence and child sexual abuse.
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Sep 26 2024

New Drug and Alcohol Support Service for Hawkesbury

This morning we had the privilege of visiting the new WHOS Hawkesbury, alongside Federal Member for Macquarie, Susan Templeman MP. 
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Sep 18 2024

Check in on Your Mental Wellbeing this ‘Get Ready’ Weekend

This ‘Get Ready’ weekend, we are encouraging the community to prepare their mental wellbeing, as well as their homes, for the upcoming bushfire season.
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Sep 17 2024

Health Professionals Gather for the 2024 Nepean Blue Mountains Clinical Paediatric Conference

Over 150 local GPs, GP registrars, practice nurses and allied health professionals gathered in Leura on Saturday 7 September, together with clinicians from the Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District, for the highly anticipated 2024 Nepean Blue Mountains Clinical Paediatric Conference.
 
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Sep 12 2024

RUOK? Today, tomorrow, any day

Today, our staff acknowledged RUOK? Day with an afternoon tea, creating a space for us to pause and connect over important conversations about our wellbeing.

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Aug 01 2024

Strategic Plan 2024-2029

After extensive consultation with staff, stakeholders and community representatives over past 12 months, we are pleased to launch our new 2024-2029 Strategic Plan.  
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Jul 17 2024

Urgent Care Service opens in North Richmond

This week we celebrate the opening of our NSW Health funded Urgent Care Service in North Richmond. This new Urgent Care Service will provide people in the Hawkesbury better access urgent but non life-threatening healthcare, when their normal GP is unavailable, and help to avoid unnecessary trips to the emergency department.
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Apr 22 2024

Innovative Youth Mental Health Program Will Help Provide the Right Care, First Time, Where you Live

Many young people in our region are struggling with their mental health and can find it difficult to access, navigate and engage with the services and programs that are available. Demand for mental health services is high, with general practice data for our region indicating that 14% of patients between 4-17 years have a coded mental health disorder. Population health data also indicates that our region has higher mental illness and suicide rates compared to the NSW state average.
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Apr 15 2024

Supporting Our Community Through Traumatic Times

The events of this past weekend have affected us in an unprecedented way. We are conscious of the impact of what occurred in Bondi Junction, not only on those directly affected, but also on our community as a whole in NSW, as we grapple to understand the gravity of this event. We extend our sincere condolences to the families of the victims, and our thoughts are with those impacted firsthand on the scene as they come to terms with the impact of the situation.
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Mar 12 2024

Live For Today, But Plan For Tomorrow

National Advance Care Planning Week is from Monday 18 March to Sunday 24 March and we are encouraging everyone, no matter your age or current state of health, to discuss your future healthcare plans with your loved ones and health providers.
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Mar 05 2024

headspace Hawkesbury Officially Opens

We were thrilled to officially open the new headspace Hawkesbury centre on Friday 1 March, together with the Hon Emma McBride MP, Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention and Assistant Minister for Rural and Regional Health, and Susan Templeman MP, Member for Macquarie.
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Feb 20 2024

Community Celebrates Flood Recovery at Festival on the Fields

On Saturday 10 February 2024, over 400 Hawkesbury locals enjoyed the Festival on the Fields event at Cougar Park, home of the Colo Soccer Football Club. This free event provided a well-deserved opportunity for the local community to come together and focus on some of the positive steps taken towards recovery following the devastation of the floods.
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Dec 20 2023

Wishing you all a safe and happy festive season.

It has been another busy year as we continued to learn what it means to return to 'a new normal' after the pandemic. In our region, many of our residents continue to feel the effects of the pandemic, and the multiple natural disasters we have experienced,on both their physical and mental health.
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Sep 20 2023

Taking University to the Streets of Katoomba

On Monday, we were proud to officially open The Street University Katoomba, together with Federal Member for Macquarie, Susan Templeman and Ted Noffs Foundation CEO, Matt Noffs. Elisa Manley, Executive Manager Strategy & Integration and several other staff, represented our organisation at this event.
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Sep 05 2023

Introducing Initial Assessment and Referral GP Training

We're excited to launch our Initial Assessment and Referral (IAR) Training program to assist GPs in our region in learning more about IAR and how it can benefit clinicians and patients.
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Aug 14 2023

Medicare Urgent Care Clinic Opens in Our Medical Penrith

Today, we were pleased to officially open the newest Commonwealth-funded Medicare Urgent Care Clinic in Penrith
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Jul 04 2023

headspace Hawkesbury plans well underway with a site now secured

In an exciting milestone, a suitable site has now officially been secured for headspace Hawkesbury which is due to open in December. 
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Jun 30 2023

Have Your Say in the GP Workforce Planning and Prioritisation Survey

Over time, we have seen a reduced number of registrar placements in our region. This has been due to less medical graduates entering Australian General Practice Training Programs (AGPTP). 
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May 15 2023

Be a Health Hero this Winter and Make Sure Your COVID-19 and Flu Vaccinations are Up-To-Date!

As winter approaches, we are urging the community to make sure their COVID-19 and influenza vaccinations are up-to-date.
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Apr 14 2023

Uniting to establish headspace Hawkesbury

Today were pleased to meet with Federal Member for Macquarie, Susan Templeman, and Uniting General Manager - Clinical Services, Shona Dutton, at headspace Penrith to celebrate Uniting NSW.ACT in their successful tender to establish and operate the new headspace Hawkesbury.  
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Apr 06 2023

Tender Now Open - Intergenerational Programs

We are excited to be funding a new and innovative Intergenerational Program across the Blue Mountains, Hawkesbury, Penrith and Lithgow areas. 
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Mar 23 2023

Embrace the Present but Plan for the Future

This National Advance Care Planning Week encourages us all, no matter our age or current state of health, to think about and discuss our future health care plans with our loved ones and health professionals.
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Mar 16 2023

Five Years and 500 HealthPathways

Our HealthPathways program, jointly delivered with the Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District (NBMLHD), has now passed the significant milestone of 500 pathways.
 
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Lizz Reay is the CEO of Wentworth Healthcare, provider of the Nepean Blue Mountains Primary Health Network. Previously Deputy CEO of Nepean Blue Mountains Medicare Local & Nepean Division of General Practice, she has an extensive background in public health.

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