The ACT Government’s expanded advisory body to improve our public health system and deliver better care for Canberrans met for the first time today.
The ACT Health System Council will provide advice on matters referred by the Minister for Health, the Minister for Mental Health, the ACT Health Directorate and Canberra Health Services.
Minister for Health Rachel Stephen-Smith said she looked forward to working closely with the council to improve the health and wellbeing of Canberrans.
“The ACT Health System Council will provide strategic advice on a range of important topics to help our health system remain sustainable and meet the needs of our growing community,” Minister Stephen-Smith said.
“The council shares the ACT Government’s strong commitment to ensuring Canberrans have access to high-quality, person-centred care through our public health system now and into the future.”
The council will advise on service planning, design and integration, as well as addressing key workforce challenges and supporting safety and quality in healthcare.
It will build on the successes of the ACT Health and Wellbeing Partnership Board by expanding membership to include representatives from the community sector, industrial representatives, and health system experts from Australia and internationally.
It is led by independent chair Dr Nigel Lyons, a highly experienced advisor with more than 35 years’ experience in the NSW health system as a clinician, manager and executive. Dr Lyons has previously been responsible for strategic health policy development, interjurisdictional negotiations, funding strategies and system-wide planning of health services, including mental health.
He will work alongside 13 other members who bring a diversity of experience in health or health‑related fields.
The other members of the council are:
- Rebecca Cross, Director-General, ACT Health Directorate
- Dave Peffer, CEO, Canberra Health Services
- Dr Elaine Pretorius, General Manager of North Canberra Hospital and Chair of ACT Health Clinical Systems Governance Committee
- Professor Russell Gruen, Dean of the College of Health and Medicine, Australian National University
- Professor Michelle Lincoln, Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic and Vice President, University of Canberra
- Lauren Anthes, CEO, Women’s Health Matters
- Darlene Cox, Executive Director, Health Care Consumers’ Association
- Stacy Leavens, CEO, Capital Health Network
- Donna Murray, CEO and Company Secretary, Indigenous Allied Health Australia Ltd
- Matt Sharp, CEO, Goulburn Valley Health
- Professor Eugene Soh, CEO of Tock Seng Hospital and Central Health Deputy Group CEO, Integrated Care, National Healthcare Group, Singapore
- Tom Cullen, Legal Counsel, Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation
- Maddy Northam, President of Unions ACT
Members of the council will also be attending the ACT Health Forum on 9 November 2023. The forum will bring together health system stakeholders including consumers, carers, clinicians, policy makers, non-government organisations and academics.
The ACT Health Forum represents another important step in the conversation on where we want our health system to be in 10 years.
Quotes attributable to Dr Nigel Lyons, Independent Chair of the ACT Health Systems Council:
“I’m excited about the opportunity to progress the good work undertaken already in the ACT health system.
“I’m looking forward to working with council members to provide expert advice to Ministers on the health services needed for the future and how better integration between services can improve the effectiveness of the health system.”
