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MedConnect | Greater Sydney health landscape

28 June 2023
6.00pm – 8.00pm AEST
The Parramatta Engineering Innovation Hub
This event has ended

Greater Sydney is growing at an exponential pace – both in terms of its powerhouse economy and diverse, aspirational population. This presents great opportunities, but also challenges – particularly in providing quality care to the expanding population, which is ageing and faces increasing rates of chronic diseases.

There are ongoing efforts to build and support healthcare infrastructure, education, and medical research and precincts in Greater Sydney. Close cooperation between communities, universities, government, and local healthcare districts (LHDs) is crucial to reap the benefits of these major investments.

Uncover the future of healthcare in Greater Sydney and join UNSW Medicine & Health for an expert panel discussion that delves deep into the ever-changing landscape of this thriving region. Gain valuable insights, network with colleagues and learn how health is evolving in step with the shifting Greater Sydney context.

Speakers
Professor Valsamma Eapen, Academic and child psychiatrist at UNSW Medicine & Health and South West Sydney Local Health District

Professor Valsamma Eapen

Academic and child psychiatrist at UNSW Medicine & Health and South West Sydney Local Health District

Prof. Eapen is an internationally recognised expert in childhood mental health and neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism and Tourette Syndrome. 

She is Professor and Chair of Infant, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at UNSW Sydney; Head of the Academic Unit of Child Psychiatry South West Sydney; and Director of BestSTART-South West Child Health Academic Unit, Ingham Institute.

Dr Mike Freelander MP, Federal Member for Macarthur and paediatrician in Campbelltown

Dr Mike Freelander MP

Federal Member for Macarthur and paediatrician in Campbelltown

Mike has been a paediatrician in Campbelltown for 37 years and has dedicated his life’s work to making sure local children get the best start in life. 

As the Federal Member for Macarthur, Mike has long advocated for better healthcare and economic, environmental and infrastructure outcomes for his electorate.  

Mike has increasingly seen his patients and their families face issues of access to healthcare, work, housing and education. It is these issues that drove Mike to run for the Federal seat of Macarthur in 2016, which he won, and was re-elected in 2019 and 2022.

Amanda Larkin

Amanda Larkin

Chief Executive of South Western Sydney LHD

Amanda Larkin has more than 30 years of experience in health service management. Amanda leads more than 15,000 staff at the South Western Sydney Local Health District as the Chief Executive, appointed in 2011. Amanda provides strategic leadership and sound governance to achieve safe, equitable and quality health care for the growing and diverse population of South Western Sydney, stretching from Bowral to Bankstown.

Amanda serves as a Board Member of the Ingham Institute of Applied Medical Research, Health Infrastructure, eHealth Council, Board of Trustees Western Sydney University and is the Chair of the Sydney Partnership for Health, Education, Research and Enterprise (SPHERE).

Tegan Taylor

Tegan Taylor (Host)

ABC health and science reporter and co-host of the ABC’s multi-award-winning Coronacast.

Tegan also co-hosts ABC Radio National’s Health Report and hosts the live event series and radio/podcast Ockham’s Razor. She’s been known to pop up on Radio National Life Matters, Triple J and in the Best of Australian Science Writing. In 2020, Coronacast won a Walkley Award and the Eureka Prize for Science Journalism. Tegan was previously a producer on the ABC's national digital newsdesk, a journalism lecturer at The University of Queensland and, long ago, a newspaper reporter.