Appendix 1 - PHC PCG Terms of Reference

The purpose of the group is to:

  • Advise on policy priorities for AGPN/the Network. The groups initial priority focus will be consideration and development of a blueprint for regional Primary Health Care Organisations (PHCOs)
  • Act as a Network consultative group for AGPN/Network policy development
  • Provide a mechanism for comprehensive Network input into policy development and to provide advice to the AGPN CEO and Board
  • Contribute Network expertise, intellect and experience on policy issues that directly impact on the Network particularly as we move into a time of significant reform.

Roles for the PHC PCG: 

  • To act as a “think tank” to help advance policy analysis and proposals for priority PHC issues and reform of relevance to the Network, especially in relation to development of a blueprint for PHCOs
  • Contribute to the design of pragmatic policy solutions
  • To act in the longer term as a “knowledge incubator” to explore and develop insights, knowledge, and/or approaches to PHC policy within the Network
  • Contribute to information exchange to inform policy development by sharing information about best practices pertinent to policy development of both immediate and emerging issues
  • Input into AGPN’s policy planning, proactive position statements and submissions
  • Assist to champion agreed policy positions
  • Provide comment on the translation of policy into practice / implementation within the Network
  • Articulate/interact with other policy consultation forums including GPNLG, the AGPN Board, other Network policy consultative groups
  • Communicate with the Network about its discussions and progress through an agreed communication strategy such as communiqués, blogs and the like
  • Undertake dissemination of newly developed policy ideas, including consultation within their own Network circles to harness network opinion/promote Network policy solutions - and in this way act as a two-way conduit for policy ideas
  • Contribute to the evidence base for Network policy development

Membership:
Members of the PHC PCG will consist of members of the General Practice Network across Australia. A group of about 10 to 12 members is envisaged.

Members will be selected as individuals on the basis of their ability to contribute knowledge, experience and intellectual capacity and will not act as representatives of specific agencies. It is however, important that the group includes a spread of thinkers who can provide perspectives across various elements of PHC and the Network including:

  • Business operations (eg CEOs / CFOs)
  • General practice and primary health care models of care (both clinicians and administrators eg GPs, PNs, PMs and allied health)
  • Health service design and development
  • Organisational development and change management   
  • Governance (eg Board Directors/Chairs) 
  • Community and consumer matters 
  • CQI / research-evaluation/performance monitoring (eg academics and/or researchers) 
  • Population health 
  • Local, state and national level health systems and partnerships as well as metropolitan, rural and remote aspects of health

Term of appointment:
Members will be appointed for 12-18 months initially.  The PHC PCG can request that additional members are co-opted as the need arises. A system for reviewing terms of reference and for renewing membership will be considered at the Group’s first meeting.   

Costs associated with travel to meetings will be funded by AGPN. Airfares will be best fare of the day, and a motor vehicle allowance for those travelling by car will be made at ATO rates. (These rates can be found at here. AGPN will convene and fund the teleconferences.


Relationship to GPNLG:
The consultative group will advise the AGPN CEO and Chair. All major national Network policy will continue to be taken forward through GPNLG prior to ratification by the AGPN Board as per the current process. 


Communication with the Network;
A communiqué will be developed after each face to face meeting of the Group for distribution to the Network. Meeting summaries will also be provided to the GPNLG and the AGPN Board. Other Consultative Group communications to the Network will be incorporated into broader AGPN communications or as decided by the Group. General information about the Group will be available through the AGPN website.


Secretariat:
To be provided by AGPN.


Schedule of Meetings:
Up to two face to face meetings each year, with additional meetings held by teleconference are anticipated.


Conflict of Interest
Significant conflict of interest (COI) issues are not envisaged. However should they arise, members are requested to state their COI which will then be dealt with on a case by case basis.