SWAHS: Sydney West Health Advisory Council

AHAC Members

	Michael Fearnside Michael Fearnside graduated from Sydney University and specialised in Neurosurgery, training in Sydney and England. In 1978 he was appointed to Westmead Hospital as a Neurosurgeon, a position he held until his retirement from clinical neurosurgery in 2006. In 2001 he was appointed the Area Director of Surgery and remains Clinical Director of Surgery in Sydney West Area Health Service (Eastern and Central Clusters). Professor Fearnside is a past President of the Neurosurgical Society of Australasia, and former Member of Council and Senior Examiner in the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. He holds a Graduate Certificate in Bioethics from UTS. He has been a Member of the New South Wales Medical Board since 1997 and the Deputy President of the Board since 2005. He is married to Jill, lives in Kenthurst and is the father of four adult children, two boys and two girls.
	Rhonda Loftus Rhonda Loftus is the Acting Assistant Director of Clinical Operations at Sydney West Area Health Service. She has been a long standing staff member of the primary care sector and has a background in social work and quality. Rhonda resides in Castle Hill.
	Helen Walker Helen Walker is a long term Blue Mountains resident. Helen has a disability and is a mother of three boys, two with disabilities and has a banking and community work background and manages the Great Community Transport servicing the Penrith and Blue Mountains LGAs. Community recognition- Order of Australia and the Centenary medal and recently received 'Woman of the West' award for Has local, regional and State experience on boards and management committees. She resides in Wentworth Falls.
	Ted Quan Ted Quan is a psychologist, who has worked in the public hospital system, in community health centres, and in private clinics. He is an accredited supervisor with the NSW Psychologists Registration Board. Ted is a visiting lecturer at Macquarie University, an accredited member of the Commission for Children and Young People, and is Chair of the Ethnic Communities’ Council of NSW. He has been actively involved in community consultation and health promotion activities targeting our diverse community and has been involved in the parliamentary review of mental health services. He resides in Cremorne.
	Terezija (Teresa) Petric Teresa Petric completed a degree in Social Work at the University of New South Wales, graduating in 1985. Since then Teresa has worked at the Blacktown Community Health Centre, in child protection services in Blacktown and Campbelltown, at Liverpool Hospital and at the NSW Transcultural Mental Health Centre from January 1996, where she is the Clinical Consultation and Assessment Service manager. She resides in Newington.
	Stanley Williams Stanley Williams is a retired businessman. Stanley is a dedicated community member serving on the following: Greater Lithgow Health Council (14 years). Board member private Hospital (5 years), Board member Medical Centre (5 years), Board member Aged Care Centre (5 years) all of Lithgow Hospital, Caretaker Lithgow Catholic Parish and a member of many Lithgow Community organizations. Stanley is a life member of Lithgow Workers club. Stanley resides in Lithgow.
	Nahid Khalil Nahid Khalil (JP) is Host Family Coordinator employed by Anglicare (7 years). She has a Diploma in Social Sciences and is currently studying for a Masters degree in Social Sciences at the University of Western Sydney. Previously Nahid worked as Community Settlement Worker with refuges and new arrivals. Advocate for consumer needs and strongly believes in family values and tolerance for others with different backgrounds and religions. Nahid is married with two children and resides in Doonside.
	Belinda Cashman Belinda Cashman is a Wiradjuri woman from Southern NSW. She has been involved in Aboriginal affairs for the past 18years and has a sound knowledge of Aboriginal Society and culture. Belinda started her working career with non-government organisations then moved to Western Sydney where she has been actively involved in all facets of Aboriginal Affairs over the last 16 years. During this time she has worked in various government departments within the human services sector of Employment, Health, DoCS, Housing, Department of Environment and Climate Change. She was also the Chairperson for the PATSI program for 5 years within the Penrith Area. As of 27 May 2008 she will take up a new role as Aboriginal Programs Manager with the Department of Juvenile Justice in Western Sydney. Belinda looks forward to working over the coming years with Sydney West Area Health Service on addressing Aboriginal Health Issues. She is a mother of two boys aged 12 & 3yrs with a set of twin girls due in June/July this year and resides in Cambridge Park.
	Choong-Siew Yong Choong-Siew Yong is a specialist child and adolescent psychiatrist. He works as a staff specialist at Sydney West Area Health Service Mental Health Service (Central), based at Blacktown. He also serves on the NSW Medical Board and has previously been President of AMA (NSW) and Federal Vice-President of the AMA. Choong-Siew is an Honorary Fellow of the Centre for International Mental Health, University of Melbourne and a member of the Council of the Global Health Institute, Sydney West Area Health Service.
	Tim Usherwood Tim Usherwood is Professor of General Practice at the University of Sydney and is based at Westmead Hospital. His clinical practice is at Aboriginal Medical Service Western Sydney in Mt Druitt. He is Chairperson of WentWest Ltd, the regional general practice training provider for western Sydney and divisional services provider for practices in Auburn, Blacktown, Holroyd and Parramatta Local Government Areas. Professor Usherwood has a long-standing commitment to equity in healthcare. He lives in the Blue Mountains.
	Peter Zelas Peter has a long association with Blacktown Hospital as a Surgeon,having received his specialist training in Australia,United States and United Kingdom. Peter was awarded the OAM in 2006 for services to Medicine in Western Sydney and in particular in his roles at Blacktown Hospital and in the field of Colorectal surgery As a Surgeon, Peter has worked for Medicins Sans Frontieres in Africa, Indonesia and Nepal. Peter is married with 4 children and resides in Longueville.