The Hodgman Liberal Government’s One State, One Health System, Better Outcomes reforms will help to fix the broken health system and ensure all Tasmanians have equal access to high-quality health services.

A key part of the reforms is putting an end to the days of three regional health bureaucracies by creating a single statewide Tasmanian Health Service to deliver treatment and healthcare right across the State.

The renaming from organisation to service reflects the Government’s focus on reducing bureaucracy and delivering better health services to the Tasmanian community.

I am very pleased to announce that the Government has finalised the membership of the THS Governing Council. The eight new members of the Governing Council join John Ramsay who was appointed as Chair of the THS earlier this year.

The nine-person Governing Council represents a significant reduction on the 13 members across three THOs in the current system. From 1 July there will also be a single THS CEO rather than three CEOs across the state.

The Governing Council members bring to the organisation high level experience in healthcare, financial management and corporate governance.

Collectively, this group brings the knowledge and insight from each region of Tasmania necessary for the establishment and integration of a truly statewide health service.

The move to one THS on 1 July this year remains on track. Applications for the CEO position have closed and are now been considered. To ensure there is strong leadership from day one, Dr Anne Brand will be appointed as interim THS CEO from 1 July, whilst the selection process for a permanent CEO is completed and until the successful candidate is ready to commence.

Dr Brand has a wealth of experience in the Tasmanian Health System, including as a Deputy Secretary of Hospital and Ambulance Services for the Department of Health and Human Services, and currently as the Acting CEO of THO North West.

Finalising and implementing the management structure of the THS will be the first task for the Governing Council in conjunction with the new CEO. The THS will also have responsibility for progressively implementing the creation of a single statewide health system detailed in the final health White Paper.

Governing Council Members

• Mr John Ramsay, Chairperson
• Dr Emil Djakic, a prominent GP from North West Tasmania with a strong understanding of primary health and health reform, as well regional issues in North West Tasmania. Dr Djakic is member of the Tasmanian Health Organisation North West Governing Council and is also chairman of the Australian General Practice Network.
• Professor Denise Fassett, Dean of the Faculty of Health at the University of Tasmania, and recently appointed inaugural Chair of the Health Council of Tasmania. Professor Fassett has a strong clinical, academic and regulatory background, and will help to strengthen the relationship between the University and the Tasmanian Health Services. Professor Fassett is currently a member of the THO North Governing Council.
• Dr Judith Watson, an experienced GP from Northern Tasmania who is the current chair of the Tasmania Medicare Local. Dr Watson has a strong understanding of disconnects in the patient journey and the challenges in changing the culture and pursing new opportunities in the heath sector.
• Professor Judith Walker, who has over 20 years’ experience in senior academic and health leadership positions. Professor Walker is currently a Director of the Latrobe Community Health Services in Victoria, Vice President of the Monash Academic Board and Board Director of the Australian Rural Health Education Network.
• Associate Professor Deborah Wilson, a specialist anaesthetist on the North West Coast, who is currently Co-Director of the University of Tasmania’s Rural Clinical School. Associate Professor Wilson has a deep understanding of the complexities of health services in rural and remote communities, and is currently a member of the THO North West Governing Council.
• Ms Barbara Hingston, who will bring significant finance, audit and risk experience and has high level management experience in business scope and structure in health care organisations. Ms Hingston was a co-consultant to the Commission on Delivery of Health services in Tasmania, and is currently a Director of General Practice Training Tasmania and of Headspace, among other roles.
• Mr Mark Scanlon, who has more than twenty years’ experience in senior management positions. Mr Scanlon as is currently the Chairman of Ombudsman Service Limited, a Director of the Motor Accidents Insurance Board and Independent Chair of the Launceston City Council audit committee. Mr Scanlon is currently a member of the THO North Governing Council.
• Mr Martin Wallace, who will bring more than 30 years direct experience in public administration and business and financial management. Mr Wallace is a former Secretary of the Department of Treasury and Finance, and Deputy Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. In the years between those roles, Mr Wallace was the Executive General Manager at Aurora Energy.
Michael Ferguson, Minister for Health