High Impact Care
Highly Rewarding Practice
Our Story
Practice Coach Australia is a project of the Practice Excellence Institute, a non for profit charitable organisation with a mission to support high impact, highly rewarding general practice and primary care.
Practice Coach Australia engages with practice teams and practice coaches through virtual summits, face to face workshops, webinars and online courses.
The Practice Excellent Institute was founded in 2019 as a collaboration between Katrina Otto, Kim Poyner, Riwka Hagen and Tony Lembke. Each has a nationally recognised commitment to quality improvement, and between them have worked with thousands of practices and most PHNs. They saw an opportunity to leverage their individual skills and networks to have a greater impact on primary care. Simon Matthews joined the team in December 2020, and Katrina left to pursue her ongoing work with Train IT Medical.
Practice Coach Australia launched with a very successful virtual summit in December 2019. Since then more than 500 practice improvers have completed courses through the Australian College of Practice Coaches.
College Faculty
Riwka Hagen
Principal Consultant, Medical Business Services
Riwka's experience in general practice and primary care business management spans over 25 years.
With direct management experience in small, medium, large and rural medical practices as well as many years as an accreditation surveyor, she brings a wealth of operational knowledge in the health sector.
She is the founder and administrator of the Facebook 'Practice Managers Network' - a global network of 6000 members.
Riwka has held rural health board director and chairing roles. Riwka is the director of Medical Business Services, providing consulting, advisory, coaching, training and mentoring services.
Simon Matthews
CEO, Wellcoaches Australia
Simon Matthews FASLM, MHlthSci, DipIBLM, CPHWC, MAPS
Simon is a Psychologist, Board Certified Lifestyle Medicine Professional and Fellow of the Australasian Society of Lifestyle Medicine. He's the CEO of Wellcoaches® Australia School of Health Coaching and a Certified Professional Health and Wellness Coach. Wellcoaches® trains health professionals to support their clients to achieve long lasting health behaviour change.
He is an Adjunct Lecturer at Avondale College University Lifestyle Medicine & Health Research Centre and is on faculty with Wellcoaches USA .
Simon consults nationally and internationally in the areas of health coaching, behaviour change, positive psychology and lifestyle medicine. He presents at national and international conferences on health coaching and the psychology of behavioural change. He has published and writes regularly about these topics also and is a popular podcast guest.
Simon is also the Director of Coaching with First in Wellness, a California LLC supporting healthy lifestyle and resilience in first responders. He is a Director of the not-for-profit Global Positive Health Institute , based in California.
When not working , Simon also loves talking about his other passions as a pilot, barista, gardener and self- taught cook
Kim Poyner
Director, Medicoach
Endorsed International Consortium Health Wellness Coaching - National Medical Exams; International Coaching Federation - Professional Coaching Certification (endorsement in progress); Practice Nurse 20 years Registered Nurse - ICU trained
Kim Poyner has an extensive history working with medical centres and Primary Health Networks to train medical professionals in Behaviour change theory and Chronic disease management. Kim was awarded the 2015 Australian Best Practice Nurse award in Chronic Disease Management and has successfully completed her NME exams for international endorsement of her coaching qualifications.
In addition, she is training Health Professionals across Australia in Readiness projects, and Quality Improvement strategies. She regularly presents at National conferences as a key note speaker on Change Management, Teaming, Coaching, Chronic Disease management, Creating Efficiency in General Practice and Care Co-ordination.
Through her business MediCoach Kim mentor’s nurses and organisations to achieve their best, ensuring they are resilient in the changing health landscape.
Tony Lembke
GP, Alstonville Clinic
Tony Lembke is a GP in Alstonville, NSW, Australia.
He has had a number of national health leadership roles. As Clinical Director of the Australian Primary Care Collaborative Program, Chair of Faculty of the Improvement Foundation, and Executive director of the Australian Centre for the Medical Home he has worked with more than 1000 general practices on quality improvement. He was inaugural chair of the North Coast Primary Health Network.
Tony has a strong interest in Health IMIT, having been Sydney University Medical School Donkey Kong Champion in 1983. He was the 2012 RACGP ‘General Practitioner of the Year’. He is also an ever optimistic Wallaby supporter and was coach of the Lismore U16 Rugby team.