Glen Innes Health Hub launches

Melina Morrison, CEO of the Business Council of Co-operatives and Mutuals, spoke at the launch of the Glen Innes Health Hub this week, joining local leaders and partners to mark an important milestone for rural and regional healthcare. The event showcased how the Better Health for the Bush initiative and the CARE model are being put into practice in Glen Innes.

The Glen Innes Health Hub is a gateway to essential health services for regional and rural communities and is a one-stop-shop for people who have questions, need information or have concerns about their health. The Hub is a Better Health for the Bush initiative, delivered by the Primary Health Network (PHN) in partnership with Rural Fit. The Better Health for the Bush Framework (developed by the PHN, Hunter New England Local Health District and The University of New England) comprises two innovative models of care – the Small Town Engagement Model (STEM) and the Comprehensive Approach to Rural Engagement (CARE). The implementation of the CARE model in Glen Innes via the Health Hub aims to address the unique health needs of the region.

Another part of the CARE model being piloted by the PHN in Glen Innes is the Glen Innes CARE Co-operative. Formed in May 2025, as part of the Care Together program, the Glen Innes CARE Co-operative Ltd will ensure services reflect community priorities and build local capacity in thin healthcare markets. Through this model, residents are empowered to actively shape service delivery, fostering trust, ownership, and long-term engagement. In recognition of its grassroots impact, Regional Australia Bank has welcomed the CARE Co-operative into its Community Partnership Program, further supporting the wellbeing of regional communities.

Melina said “Thank you to the Hunter and New England PHN, CEO Richard Nankervis, and the team, and the community of Glen Innes for the invitation. What you are doing is truly pioneering and I have no doubt will be a template for other communities to adopt.

Communities know what’s best for them when it comes to the care they need and how the services should be delivered, and the community in Glen Innes is no different.

When you put decision making power in the hands of local people they make good decisions. They also make effective and rational decisions that work in the best interests of the whole community. The benefits are obvious, happier and more cohesive communities, more productive and efficient services, and empowered and vocationally satisfied care workers.

That’s why we have been delighted to partner with the Hunter and New England PHN and local people to help form the new Glen Innes Care Co-operative which forms the community voice that will help codesign the health care services around local knowledge and local needs.

We’ve been able to offer this support through the Commonwealth Care Together program funded by the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing and delivered by the BCCM.

Care Together is Australia’s only Commonwealth assisted program to help regional and remote communities to explore co-operative solutions to the delivery of care services. This new care co-operative is one of a series of pilots of community led solutions to care delivery challenges around the country from the Wheatbelt in WA, to far North Queensland in Bowen, to Bega, Eurobodalla and Murrumbidgee in country NSW.

Eight in ten Australians is a member of a co-op of mutual and now the Glen Innis community can join another co-op which exists for their benefit. On behalf of Australia’s nearly 2,000 strong co-operative movement – welcome to the co-operative family.

I’d like to congratulate the HNE PHN and the Chair, Alison Sheridan, and board of the care co-op on this tremendous progress.

Thanks to our local partner, Regional Australia Bank, which is a member owned bank, for their assistance, a great sign of cooperation amongst co-operatives.”

Photo by Dave Robinson