Western Sydney Local Health District

Purpose: To ensure the Western Sydney Local Health District has appropriate patient safety and clinical quality systems to monitor performance and to continuously improve patient care. The HCQC will fulfill this by following these objectives:

• Provide leadership for driving an improving the quality of health care within WSLHD and beyond in accordance with the By-Laws. 
• To monitor and provide direction on the Local Health District's implementation of the NSW Ministry of Health's Patient Safety & Clinical Quality Program, and the WSLHD Clinical Governance Framework.
• To review and monitor WSLHD performance against WSLHD and Ministry of Health measures and key performance indicators relating to safety and quality.
• To provide oversight of processes to identify and address variations in clinical practice and promote clinical intervention based on the best available evidence.
• To ensure mechanism are utilised so that the serviced provided by WSLHD respond appropriately to the needs of patients and carers, and the wider community.
• To act as an escalation point from the Executive and the Safety and Quality Operational Committee for high risk issues or concerns in relation to patient safety, clinical quality and accreditation to the Board.
• To provide oversight and seek assurance on organisational compliance with the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards

To seek assurance for any safety and quality matters within its charter/Terms of Reference; with the resources it needs to do so and with the right access to information including external professional advice as necessary,

Chair: Dr Walid Jammal, Board Member
Executive Sponsor: Maria Lingam, Acting Director Nursing and Midwifery & Clinical Governance, WSLHD
Secretariat: Sandra Jones, Executive Assistant to the Director Safety & Quality, Clinical Governance 

Purpose:  The functions of the Finance, Performance and Assets Management Committee of the Board are to oversee Western Sydney LHD’s strategic approach to finance, operational performance and capital works/assets and monitor, review and recommend actions to the Board on:

• strategic issues concerning financial and operational sustainability of the WSLHD within an Enterprise Risk Management Framework
• the financial strategies and policies underpinning financial performance, operational performance and capital assets
• endorse, review and monitor compliance with the annual Service Agreement
• operational performance, and report to the Board progress and issues arising in the operational performance, with regard to the Service Agreement, KPIs set by the Ministry of Health, and the strategic priorities of the Board
• strategies for WSLHD's current and future assets to ensure that the WSLHD has available to it appropriate and functional facilities, staff resources and engineering and other services to deliver effective, efficient, patient-centred health care in the right place at the right time, and consistent with the Annual Service Agreement and strategic priorities of the Board

Chair: Loretta Di Mento, WSLHD Deputy Chair
Executive Sponsor: Barry Mitrevski, Director of Finance, WLSHD
Secretariat: Jian Shen, EA to Director of Finance 

Purpose: The WSLHD Research Development Committee has been established to provide leadership for the development of research and to ensure high quality research is translated into improved clinical care in WSLHD. As a Committee of the Board, the Committee is responsible for the governance of research within the LHD and provides assurance to the Board on research activities.

Following are some of the key responsibilities of the Research Development Committee:

• To provide strategic leadership for fostering research within the WSLHD
• To seek assurance on the Local Health District’s implementation of its research strategies and Research Strategic Plan
• To report to the Board on matters of strategic importance

Chair: Professor John Wheatley
Secretariat: Stephen Schibeci, Scientific Research and Support Manager 
Contact Unit: WSLHD-Research&EducationExecutive@health.nsw.gov.au

Purpose: The purpose of the Audit and Risk Committee (ARC) is to provide independent assistance to the Board by monitoring, reviewing and providing advice about the organisation’s governance processes, risk management and control frameworks, and its external accountability obligations.

The Board has established an Audit and Risk Committee, with the following core responsibilities:

• to review and advise on the appropriateness and effectiveness of the WSLHD’s governance processes, including its risk management, internal control framework, compliance framework, business continuity and disaster recovery planning, fraud prevention controls and embedding a culture committed to ethical and lawful behaviour.
• to review and advise on the appropriateness of the procedures designed to inform the WSLHD’s financial position and performance, and satisfy itself that the annual financial statements are supported by appropriate management certification and supporting documentation.
• to review and advise of the appropriateness and effectiveness of the WSLHD’s internal audit function, oversee the coordination of the internal audit program, provide a structured reporting line between the Board, senior management and internal audit, and ensure the independence of the internal audit function.
• through the internal audit and risk management functions, to assist the Board and senior management to deliver its objectives efficiently, effectively and economically, as well as to effectively manage risks and embed continuous improvements in its operations so as to obtain best value for money and to optimise organizational performance.
• to maintain a strong and candid relationship with external auditors, and provide advice to the Board and Chief Executive on actions taken to address significant issues raised by the external auditors.

Chair: Carolyn Walsh, Independent Member
Executive Sponsor: Eduardo Alegado, Chief Audit Executive
Secretariat: Vaireti Mafoe, Administration Officer, Internal Audit

Purpose: The purpose of the Nominations Committee is to provide advice and assistance to the WSLHD Board on the skills, experience, demographics, and personal and behavioural attributes required to fill actual and potential vacancies on the Board, considering both the short-term and longer-term needs of the District. The Board, at its discretion, can suitably inform the Minister of its identified needs. At the request of the Board, the Committee may also assist and advise the Board on the composition, size, diversity and succession arrangements for the Board and its committees.

Chair: Professor Don Nutbeam, Board Member
Executive Sponsor: Graeme Loy, Chief Executive WSLHD
Secretariat: Claudia Hudson, Governance Officer, Office of the Chief Executive

Purpose: The Aboriginal Health Advisory Committee will provide support and advice to Western Sydney Local Health District (WSLHD) on the strategic direction for Aboriginal health across the district and ensure the district is culturally safe organisation and be able to deliver comprehensive culturally aware services to Aboriginal people.

Chair: Professor John Gilroy, Board Member 
Executive Sponsor: Belinda Cashman, A/Director Aboriginal Health Services WSLHD
Secretariat: Claudia Hudson, Governance Officer, Office of the Chief Executive

Purpose: To provide oversight and advice on the provision of education in the LHD to health care professionals and students so as to enhance their capacity to meet current and future health requirements of people living in western Sydney and beyond. To facilitate productive cooperation with educational partners and stakeholders including state and Commonwealth health departments, universities and professional colleges in determining the profile of educational activities in the LHD.

Chair: Professor Don Nutbeam, Board Member
Executive Sponsor: Graeme Loy, Chief Executive WSLHD
Secretariat: Cecilia Keung, Executive Assistant Director of Education