• Board Applications Now Open

About SEMPHN

South Eastern Melbourne Primary Health Network (SEMPHN) has the key objectives of:

• Increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of medical services for patients, particularly those at risk of poor health outcomes, and
• Improving coordination of care to ensure patients receive the right care in the right place at the right time.

We achieve these objectives by working directly with general practitioners, other primary health care providers, secondary care providers and hospitals to ensure improved outcomes for patients.

The seven key priorities of SEMPHN are Mental Health, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD), Aged Care, Population Health, Workforce Health Development, and Digital Health.

SEMPHN stretches from St Kilda to Sorrento to Bunyip, including the major population hubs of Clayton, Dandenong, Moorabbin, Caulfield, Cranbourne, Frankston and Pakenham.

About the Board Positions

At South Eastern Melbourne Primary Health Network (SEMPHN), we care about health outcomes for people in the South East of Melbourne. The SEMPHN Board is one which embraces alternative thinking, innovation, strategy, influence and strong governance. We are seeking to enhance the diversity of our board to compliment the skills and experience required for the effective oversight and governance of SEMPHN’s activities.  Applications are now invited for three Board positions, two generalist non-executive board directors and one General Practitioner non-executive board director.

SEMPHN is committed to diversity in our workforce and board members, where we can learn from life experiences and the perspectives of our people, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, religion, cultural background, disability, or sexual orientation. Knowledge and experience in best practice corporate and clinical governance structures, policies and processes (particularly in the not-for-profit context) will be welcome.

Non-executive board directors (2)

We are seeking experienced people with broad skills and expertise, with strong finance or commercial experience, strategy creation or policy development, amongst others. People working in primary care in the SEMPHN region who have a strong governance background are encouraged to apply for these positions.

General Practitioner non-executive board director (1)

We are seeking a suitably qualified General Practitioner non-executive board director and in line with SEMPHN’s priority areas, we are particularly interested in applications from GPs with an interest or specialty in mental health, alcohol and other drugs, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, population health, health workforce, digital health and aged care. 

How do Board appointments work?

The current SEMPHN Board may comprise up to nine directors, including three specific General Practitioner positions whose terms expire on a three-yearly basis (staggered in the first triennium). This means that there is one GP director position as well as one non-GP director position elected each year. Retiring directors have the right to apply for reappointment. This provides for an annual cycle of Board renewal, with the Board’s Nominations Panel reviewing applications prior to the Annual Meeting in November each year.

Advice to candidates

It is strongly advised that all candidates read the constitution https://www.semphn.org.au/Board/2020/SEMPHN_Constitution_v05_211118__FINAL_002.pdf and the skills matrix prior to applying. People who can demonstrate a strong commitment to primary care in the south eastern Melbourne catchment, either at a regional, state or national level, with a strong governance background are encouraged to apply for these positions.

There are six Board meetings every year. Candidates need to be able to attend Board meetings either in person or virtually, every two months.  Board meetings during the pandemic will be held virtually or in-person as appropriate to government direction or restrictions.

If you would like more information about being a member of our Board, please contact Rachel Portelli at [email protected] using the subject line: Board Members enquiry via EthicalJobs.

SEMPHN promotes a workplace that values fairness, respect and social and cultural diversity. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and people from different cultural backgrounds are encouraged to apply.