September 25, 2018
Community leaders have been encouraged to apply for four upcoming vacancies on the Darling Downs Hospital and Health Board – the group responsible for all public hospitals in the South Burnett.
Vacancies on the various Health Boards across Queensland come due at staggered intervals to encourage continuity in decision-making.
The four terms expiring on the local Board are Chair Mike Horan AM; Deputy Chair Dr Dennis Campbell; Marie Pietsch (Southern Downs) and Megan O’Shannessy (Western Downs).
However, all members can also apply to be re-appointed.
The members of the Board who are not due to rotate off are: Cheryl Dalton (South Burnett), Dr Ross Hetherington (Southern Downs), Trish Leddington-Hill (Western Downs), Dr Ruth Terwijn (Toowoomba) and Prof Julie Cotter (Toowoomba).
“Hospital and Health Board members play a very important role in ensuring their local community’s health services are providing the best care they can,” Health Minister Steven Miles said.
“Boards oversee Hospital and Health Services (HHS) to make sure they are performing as they should and are accountable.
“Members are key figures with proven experience in representing the community, whether that be as a clinical, civic, business, academic or political leader.
“To ensure comprehensive representation of the community, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, women, people with expertise in multiculturalism, young people and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
“In the past, we’ve appointed nurses and clinicians, university professors, indigenous leaders, public servants, business executives and charity and community champions.
“Our members have different backgrounds but a shared desire to serve their regions.
“We’re looking for dedicated and suitably qualified people to apply.”
Queensland’s Hospital and Health Boards are responsible for ensuring:
- Efficient, effective and sustainable delivery of health services
- Financial accountability
- Local reporting and performance management, including risk management
- Legal and statutory compliance
- Local strategic direction and planning for the HHS
- Client-focused delivery of services and
- Ethical behaviour.
Board chairs and members are appointed by the Governor-in-Council and are accountable to the Minister for their Hospital and Health Service’s performance.
The positions are part-time and remunerated in accordance with State Government guidelines.
They start in May 2019, with terms of up to four years.
Applications close at midnight on October 20.
- For more information and an application form, visit www.edenritchie.com.au/hhb
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Mike Horan AM was appointed as Chair of the Darling Downs Hospital and Health Board in May 2012 and was the inaugural Chair of the Queensland Hospital and Health Board Chairs’ Forum. Mike is also the Chair of the Executive Committee.
Dr Dennis Campbell, former Acting Regional Director in the Department of Health as well as CEO at St Vincent’s Hospital, is also Chair of the Board Finance Committee and a member of the Board Executive and Board Audit and Risk Committees.
Marie Pietsch has been representing Southern Downs on the Board. She has chaired the Minister’s Rural Health Advisory Council and the Southern Downs Health Community Council.
Megan O’Shannessy has been representing Western Downs. She is a former Director of Nursing in Thargomindah, Dirranbandi, St George and Warwick; and was District Manager of Southern Downs.
