Login | Site Map | Contact | Search  
Rural Health Workforce Australia is the national peak body for advocacy and representation on Australian rural and remote health workforce issues. RHWA represents Rural Workforce Agencies in all states and the Northern Territory of Australia. Rural Health Workforce Australia is the national peak body for advocacy and representation on Australian rural and remote health workforce issues. RHWA represents Rural Workforce Agencies in all states and the Northern Territory of Australia.

RHWA Board

Mr Jim Birch AM

Jim lives in Adelaide, South Australia and has been Chair of Rural Health Workforce Australia since July 2007. Jim is a partner at Ernst and Young and was previously Chief Executive of the Department of Health in South Australia. Jim is a member of the Audit Committee. 

Mr Bill Hamill

Bill, a qualified accountant, lives in Warooka, South Australia and is managing director of his own company, the Regional Small Business Network. Bill is Chair of the Audit Committee and is a member of the Rural Workforce Agency Board in South Australia.

Mrs Karen Emmott

Karen, a grazier, lives in Noonbah Station, Queensland. She has a Diploma in Nursing.  She joined the Board of Rural Health Workforce Australia in September 2008.

Dr Tony van der Spek

Tony lives in Bendigo, Victoria, where he practises as a GP in the Bendigo Division of GPs. Tony is a Board Member of Rural Workforce Agency Victoria.

Dr Rick Newton

Rick joined the Board of RHWA in May 2008. He is a rural GP in Tullamore, NSW and is Chair of the Rural Workforce Agency in New South Wales.

Dr Ameeta Patel

Ameeta is a GP living in Alice Springs and joined the Board in November 2009.  Ameeta has worked in a range of primary health care settings, including as a medical educator, in Aboriginal medical services, women's health services and with the RDS Rural Women's GP Service. 

Dr Karl Staer

Karl lives in Esperance, Western Australia where he practises as a GP with an interest in surgery and obstetrics. Karl also undertakes regular work in East Africa and is passionate about unity and equity. Karl is a member of the Rural Workforce Agency Board in Western Australia.

Dr Jim Wilson

Jim has been on the RHWA Board since 2006. Raised in the United States, Jim is now a senior partner and GP at the Scottsdale Doctors Surgery in Tasmania.