Our People
Discover the people that make Hunter Primary Care great. Select a section to skip to below to learn more about our 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.
Mr Richard Anicich AM – Chair
BCom, LLB, FAICD
Dr Sarah Bayley – Deputy Chair
BMed, BN, FRACGP, GAICD
Ms Jennifer Hayes
BBus, MBus, CPA, GAICD
Mr Scott Puxty
BCom, Dip Law, MBus Admin, GAICD
Mr Laurence “Ben” Wilkins
BPharm, AACPA, FAICD
Dr Fiona Van Leeuwen
BMed, FRACGP, RN, DRANZCOG
Mr Chris Barnett
GAICD, M.Sc. Physiotherapy
Ms Kirsty Porteous
BComm, CA, RCA, GAICD
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
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.
Service / Clinical Managers
Amy Bailey (Books Closed)
Service Manager and Clinical Psychologist
Clare Quilty (Books Closed)
Service Manager and Accredited Social Worker
Gabriel Heaton (Books Closed)
Clinical Manager and Clinical Psychologist
Jacqueline Bailey (Books closed)
Clinical Manager and Clinical Psychologist
Kathy Piper
Clinical Manager and Senior Psychologist
Maighan Hassett
Clinical Manager and Clinical Psychologist
Tim Regan (Books Closed)
Service Manager and Clinical Psychologist
Clinical Staff
Aimee Bennett (Books closed)
Clinical Psychologist
Annie Insley-Blaszk
Clinical Psychology Registrar
Bree Sandwith
Clinical Psychologist
Charlotte Jones
Clinical Psychologist
Clare Rushton
Clinical Psychology Registrar
Claudia de Rocquigny
Provisional Psychologist
Emily Connors
Senior Clinical Psychologist
Jacqui Welch
Senior Clinical Psychologist
Kyla Brogmus (Books closed)
Psychologist
Lachlan O’Connor
Clinical Psychology Registrar
Lesley Boyd
Clinical Counsellor
Louise Collins
Provisional Psychologist
Michelle Kelly
Clinical Psychologist
Natasja Worsley
Clinical Psychologist
Nick Hornby-Howell
Provisional Psychologist
Nicole Marshall
Social Worker
Ohnmar Aung
Clinical Psychology Registrar
Olivia Hines
Clinical Psychology Registrar
Patrick Johnson
Accredited Mental Health Social Worker
Rowena Cox
Provisional Psychologist
Sarita Attard
Clinical Psychologist
Sonja Pohlman
Clinical Psychologist
Suzanne Leonard
Psychologist
Victoria Maher
Senior Clinical Psychologist
Vijay Gehani
Clinical Counsellor and Psychotherapist