Hills Area Health Advisory Council Inc.

A major role of the Hills Area Health Advisory Council (HAC) is to relay ideas and views from the Community to the local Health Service. These ideas are used in planning for new and improved services.

Public Notice: The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Hills Area Health Advisory Council has been scheduled and calls are open for new Resident Member nominations. New members will be appointed at the AGM. See details below

2026 Annual General Meeting

When: Monday 16 November 2026 at 6.00pm
Where: Reg Sissons Memorial Day Centre, 43 High Street, Strathalbyn

Call for Resident member nominations

Nominate to be a Resident Member (PDF 594KB).

Nominations are open for three Resident Member positions. Valid nominations must be received by the Returning Officer no later than Monday 19 October 2026.

These positions will be elected at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) and will serve until November 2029, following the conclusion of the third AGM after election. Current members whose terms are ending are welcome to nominate again.

We encourage community members who are interested in supporting local health services and representing community views to submit a nomination.

Nominations must be in writing, signed by two residents of the community and the nominee, who must also be a resident of the community.

Voting shall take place at the AGM if more than the required number of nominations are received.
“Resident Member” is a collective term referring to persons who live in the Council areas of Strathalbyn, Mount Barker, Gumeracha, and Mount Pleasant, or who live outside the Council area, but who use or may use services provided by or associated with Strathalbyn, Mount Barker, Gumeracha, or Mount Pleasant Hospitals.

Prior to the commencement on the committee, nominated members must obtain a satisfactory National Police Certificate (NPC) confirming the clearance is for the purpose of unsupervised contact with vulnerable groups.

Nomination forms should be submitted to:
Darren Clarke
Returning Officer
Hills Area Health Advisory Council
Mt Barker DSM Hospital
87 Wellington Road
Mount Barker SA 5251

For more information about the Hills Area Health Advisory Council please phone Darren Clarke,  Returning Officer on 8393 1777.

Mission

The Mission of the Hills Area Health Advisory Council is:

"Local people who advocate on behalf of their communities to promote good health and wellbeing."

Membership

The Adelaide Hills Health Advisory Council can include:

  • Up to 8 community members
  • Nominee of local government
  • A local member of Parliament or his or her nominee
  • A medical practitioner member
  • A worker from the Local Health Network

Current membership

  • Presiding member -  Mrs Karen Maidment-Longbottom
  • Local member of parliament representative - Ms Kayla Shephard
  • Local government member — Cr Simon Westwood
  • Medical practitioner member - Vacant
  • Staff member representative - Ms Melissa Virgo
  • Community representatives -
    • Ms Gwenda Knights
    • Mr Trevor McLean
    • Mrs Raylene Magor
    • Mrs Carol Bailey
    • Ms Vanessa Sandercock
    • Mr Joel Taggart

Meeting information

When: Third Monday of the month, bi-monthly, at 6.30pm.
Where: Mt Barker DSM Hospital

Constitution

Reports

Previous annual reports available from the SA Parliament website

Contact Information

Contact with any of the Health Advisory Council members can be made via the local health units: