Mission Statement
To empower national personnel in Low and Middle-Income countries to deliver better & sustainable healthcare.
AusHEAL is built on 4 pillars encapsulated by its name:
Health
Education
Advocacy
Logistical support
AusHEAL recognises that sustainable change requires not only workforce training but also information management, functioning equipment, and adequate healthcare delivery.
Advocacy, both in Australia and abroad, is also essential.
Board Of Directors
Chairperson
Nathan Manning (Interim)
Secretary
Cheryl Brooks
Treasurer
Nathan Manning
Board Members
Dr Neil Wetzig
Chris Mills
Rev Dr Tim Hanna
Dr Megan Auld
History
In 2002, Brisbane surgeon Dr Neil Wetzig and his wife Gwen were invited to meet Dr Jo Lusi, a Congolese and European trained orthopaedic surgeon, when he was touring Australia seeking support for his training programs at HEAL Africa Hospital which he had founded. In 2003, Neil visited the HEAL Africa Hospital on a scoping visit. He was impressed by the eagerness of the staff at the hospital to learn improved care and make a difference in their country, particularly considering their lack of resources. Neil spent the next few years encouraging friends and colleagues to join him in travelling to DRC, to teach and train at HAH. In 2006, the first multi-disciplinary medical team from Brisbane travelled to Goma, and this subsequently led to the establishment of AusHEAL and the AusHEAL Congo Project.
AusHEAL believes that the lessons learned from the inaugural project in DRC, may in time be transferrable to other low and middle income countries.
