The ACT Primary Care Emergency Response Committee (ACT PCERC) was formed in late 2019 in the context of ACT/SENSW bushfire emergency and then continued to meet during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Local primary care clinicians provide essential services in the event of local disasters impacting health and health care. They’re deeply embedded in their communities and are an important workforce to effectively respond to the community’s immediate, short and long-term health needs in the event of a local disaster.
The 2020 Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements Report had as a recommendation (15.2) that “Australian, state and territory governments should develop arrangements that facilitate greater inclusion of primary healthcare providers in disaster management, including; representation on relevant disaster committees and plans and providing training, education and other supports”. The continuation of ACT PCERC goes some way to addressing this recommendation in the ACT.
a) Purpose
The purpose of the ACT PCERC is to:
- be involved in prevention, preparedness, response and recovery to emergencies and disasters.
- facilitate good communication between the primary care sector, public health and clinical emergency response efforts.
- promote the effective utilisation of primary care clinicians in local emergency responses.
b) Membership
Current membership as at July 2025:
Members |
Consumer representative |
ACT AMA GP Director on faculty board |
Pharmacy Guild Australia ACT Branch President |
Pharmaceutical Society of Australia ACT Branch |
Chief GP and Primary Care Advisor ACTHD |
Chief Allied Health Officer, ACT Health Directorate (ACTHD) |
Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer, ACTHD |
GP Policy Advisory, ACTHD |
RACGP ACT Faculty representative |
Health Emergency Control Centre planning/operations representative |
Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health and Community Services – Public Health Medical Officer |
Exec General Manager, Canberra After Hours Locum Medical Service (CALMS) |
CEO, Capital Health Network (CHN) |
GM, Health Systems Improvement, CHN |
Senior Manager Primary Care Integration, CHN |
ACT/SNSW HealthPathways Manager, CHN |
Communications Manager, CHN |
Director, GP Liaison Unit, Canberra Health Service (CHS) |
GP Advisor, North Canberra Hospital, CHS |
ADON Community Care Nursing, CHS |
ADON Ambulatory Services and Walk-in Centre Supervisor |
ACT Ambulance Service |
ACT Health Population Health Division, ACTHD
|
c) Contact details
To contact the Secretariat of the ACT Primary Care Emergency Response Committee, please email: reception@chnact.org.au