Ministerial appointment of First Peoples’ Health and Wellbeing CEO, Karinda Taylor to the inaugural Board for Bayside Health

First Peoples’ Health and Wellbeing (FPHW) welcomes the Victorian Minister for Health’s announcement of the inaugural Board for Bayside Health.

From 1 January 2026, Bayside Health will bring together Alfred Health, Bass Coast Health, Gippsland Southern Health Service, Kooweerup Regional Health Service and Peninsula Health into one unified service.

The new board will be Chaired by Alfred Health’s current Board Chair, the Hon Martin Foley.

FPHW CEO, Karinda Taylor has been appointed to the Board. Karinda says “I am honoured and absolutely thrilled to accept the nomination to the inaugural Board of Directors for Bayside Health. I wish to express my deepest gratitude to the Minister for Health, The Hon. Mary-Anne Thomas, for the trust she has placed in me and for her visionary leadership in establishing this crucial, collaborative health network”.

Bayside Health represents an important step forward for integrated healthcare across the state of Victoria. This partnership—linking the expertise of Alfred Health and Peninsula Health with the vital regional anchors of Kooweerup Regional Health Service, Bass Coast Health, and Gippsland Southern Health Service—is set to redefine how we deliver equitable and sustainable care across a vast and diverse geographic region.

Karinda joins a range of directors from the five merging health services who bring a broad range of skills across governance, health, community and finance. Karinda’s appointment is critical for representing the service needs of First Nations people accessing Bayside Health and ensuring understanding of the role of FPHW as a major Aboriginal Community Controlled Health partner providing services to First Nations people in the Bayside Region.

Quotes attributable to FPHW CEO, Karinda Taylor

“I am particularly excited to work alongside the accomplished leadership team, including the newly announced Board Chair, Mr. Martin Foley. His extensive experience in governance and public service will be invaluable as we establish the strategic foundations for Bayside Health and navigate the initial complexities of merging five distinct, high-performing cultures into a cohesive, patient-centred system”.

“Having spent my career dedicated to health service improvement and stakeholder engagement, I am committed to fostering strong governance, driving innovation in delivery, and ensuring accountability to the communities we serve”.

For media enquires:

Michelle Gurry

Manager, Communications

michelle.gurry@fphw.org.au