Melissa Tait

Northern NSW Local Health District

Northern NSW Local Health District (NNSWLHD) is working towards being the leading regional local health district in Australia. "A healthy community through quality care" NNSWLHD provides a diverse range of public healthcare to over 300,000 residents across the district through 12 hospitals and multi-purpose services, 21 community health centres and other facilities. NNSWLHD covers a large area in north eastern NSW extending from Tweed Heads in the north to Tabulam and Urbenville in the west and to Nymboida and Grafton in the south, an area of 20,732 square kilometres. In 2011 the estimated population within NNSWLHD was 288,241, and is projected to increase by an estimated 16.3% by 2031.The population of persons aged 65 years and older is expected to increase by approximately 71% in the same period. People of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage make up 4.5 per cent of the population in Northern NSW compared to 2.9 per cent for all NSW. The District delivers a broad range of health services in state-of-the-art facilities, with access to general and specialist services. Staff are connected to best-practice medical care throughout Australia thanks to a growing network of training opportunities and relationships with local and metropolitan tertiary education providers. NNSWLHD is undertaking major capital projects at several facilities, which will support staff and clinicians in providing excellent care to the District's communities well into the future. Continued developments in Information Communication Technologies and Integrated Care have also resulted in improved patient outcomes and hospital services.