Our People

Discover the people that make Hunter Primary Care great. Select a section to skip to below to learn more about our team.

Meet our Board

Meet our Executive team

Meet our Primary Mental Health Services team

Meet our NDIS team

Our Board

The Hunter Primary Care Board comprises eight experienced members who provide strong governance and leadership for our organisation.

The Board is responsible for setting the strategic direction, monitoring performance, ensuring compliance and overseeing risk management to support the delivery of safe, effective and sustainable primary healthcare.

Photo of Hunter Primary Care Chair, Mr Richard Anicich AM

Mr Richard Anicich AM – Chair

BCom, LLB, FAICD

Dr Sarah Bayley – Deputy Chair

BMed, BN, FRACGP, GAICD

Mr Steven Adams

AdvDip Bus Man, FAICD

Ms Jennifer Hayes

BBus, MBus, CPA, GAICD

Dr Peter Hopkins

MBBS(Hons), MMedSc(EPI), FRACGP

Mr Scott Puxty

BCom, Dip Law, MBus Admin, GAICD

Mr Laurence “Ben” Wilkins

BPharm, AACPA, FAICD

Dr Fiona Van Leeuwen

BMed, FRACGP, RN, DRANZCOG

Our Executive Leadership team

Guiding Hunter Primary Care forward is our distinguished Executive Leadership team - an experienced cohort of professional leaders dedicated to delivering exceptional health services across the Newcastle and Hunter region. Each leader brings unique expertise and a shared vision for person‑centred, integrated care. Together, they oversee organisational strategy, build meaningful stakeholder partnerships and ensure equitable access to high‑quality health services that align with our values and community needs.

Ms. Claudine Ford

General Manager, NDIS & Chronic Disease

Mr. Keith Drinkwater

Chief Executive Officer

Ms. Bec Nichols

General Manager, Mental Health

Mrs. Melissa Ward

General Manager, Primary Care

Mrs. Karen Stathis

General Manager Finance and Support Services

Mrs. Nic Robertson

General Manager People & Culture

Our NDIS team

Our NDIS team are here to make your journey simple and supported. With deep expertise across allied health, positive hehaviour support, psychology and specialist support coordination, we help you navigate your plan with confidence.

We’ll work alongside you, your family and support network to connect you with the right services, build your capacity and ensure you have the choice and control to live the life you choose.

Andrew

Accredited Social Worker

Arnja

Social Worker

Image of lady with brown curly hair, smiling and standing in front of green trees

Cara

Behaviour Support Practitioner

Cass

Behaviour Support Practitioner and Team Leader

Dylan

Behaviour Support Practitioner

Gareth

Accredited Practising Dietitian and Credentialed Diabetes Educator

Georgia

Accredited Exercise Physiologist

Kate

Clinical Manager

Sam

Accredited Social Worker and Registered Behaviour Support Practitioner

Sam P

Accredited Practising Dietitian

Zanita

Occupational Therapist

Our Primary Mental Health Services team

Hunter Primary Care’s Primary Mental Health Services team includes highly skilled clinical psychologists, psychologists, social workers and clinical counsellors with extensive experience supporting people across a broad range of mental health needs.

Our clinicians deliver evidence-based psychological therapies and work closely with GPs and other health professionals to ensure coordinated, high-quality care and improved outcomes for every client.

Many of our clinicians have postgraduate qualifications and are members of the Australian Psychological Society (APS) and/or the Australian Clinical Psychology Association (ACPA). We also maintain strong partnerships with the University of Newcastle’s School of Psychology, providing placement opportunities for clinical trainees and contributing to academic teaching and supervision.