Batemans Bay to host public hearings on Healthcare Funding

The Special Commission of Inquiry into Healthcare Funding will hold public hearings in Batemans Bay on Thursday the 15th and Friday the 16th August 2024 at the Batemans Bay Soldiers Club.

The public hearings will aim to provide an opportunity for the Inquiry to hear from a wide range of witnesses, including representatives from the public sector, healthcare representative bodies, service providers and community members.

In the Batemans Bay hearings, the Inquiry will gather evidence about a range of healthcare issues relevant to the region and will include:

1. Funding challenges and opportunities for improvement.
2. Healthcare workforce, including recruitment, retention, shortages and premium labour issues.
3. Education and training opportunities and limitations.
4. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health services, workforce development and support programs.
5. Access to specialist healthcare, including public specialist outreach services and Specialist Networks that facilitate specialist virtual healthcare between metro and regional facilities.
6. Links and opportunities for collaboration between healthcare providers, including primary health care and networks, Local Health Districts, private healthcare and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations.
7. Innovation and new models of care to improve health outcomes for the people of NSW.
8. Issues relating to the construction of Eurobodalla Regional Hospital and Batemans Bay Community Health Facility and the closure of services at Batemans Bay Hospital.

The Inquiry invites members of the public to observe proceedings by attending in person or by live streaming the hearings. Live streaming links will be available on the website.

In the days before the hearings – up until Wednesday the 14th of August – the Commissioner and members of the Inquiry team will visit health facilities and engage with local stakeholders and community members in Bega, Cooma, Bombala and Batemans Bay.

For more information including the Terms of Reference please visit the Special Commission website.