Australia

Citation

(2006), "Australia", International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance, Vol. 19 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijhcqa.2006.06219cab.004

Australia

Far East

Australia

Australian Commission on safety and quality in health care set to commence

Keywords: Safety, Quality improvement

Australian Health Ministers recently agreed for the new Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care to commence operation from 1 January 2006. The Commission will succeed the Australian Council for Safety and Quality in Health Care, which was established in January 2000 for a five-year term, ceasing operation on 31 December 2005.

Over the past five years the Australian Council for Safety and Quality in Health Care, chaired by Professor Bruce Barraclough AO has made a valuable contribution to raising awareness of safety and quality issues and has produced an extensive body of policy work which has led to the development of important national policies and standards. Ministers have agreed that it is now timely to broaden that focus with the new Commission charged to lead and coordinate improvement in safety and quality in health care in Australia and regularly measure and report publicly.

Ministers agreed that the new Commission will build on the achievements of Council and the transition to new arrangements will ensure this valuable work is not lost. While attention on improving the safety of hospitals will be maintained, quality improvement in primary health care and the private sector will also become priority areas. Achieving safe, effective and responsive care for consumers will be a key objective of the Commission.

Significant progress has been made in establishing the new Commission with processes now in place for appointing members and setting up the necessary governance arrangements. It is anticipated that formal announcements regarding the Chair of the Commission, membership and the Chief Executive Officer will be made by the end of January 2006.

A stringent selection process has been undertaken to ensure all members of the Commission have the appropriate background and expertise to contribute to the Commission’s drive for safety and quality improvement in health care. In addition, a national process is currently underway to select the consumer member of the Commission. Applications for this position have closed and it is anticipated that interviews will take place by late January 2006.

An Inter-Jurisdictional Committee was approved by Ministers to provide advice to the Commission on the feasibility of implementation of safety and quality reforms. This group will be represented by current senior executives from each State and Territory with connectivity to decision-making within their respective jurisdictions and will convene for its inaugural meeting in early February 2006.

Once the Commission is set up a Stakeholder Reference Group comprising representatives from key national stakeholder bodies will be established by the Commission. The Stakeholder Reference Group will be responsible for providing information to, and drawing on the views of, a wide network of individuals on the priorities and policy directions of the Commission.

Until these appointments are finalised, the Cross Jurisdiction Transitional Committee will act as the Commission, ensuring appropriate decision-making and ongoing progress in relation to specific initiatives that are continuing. In the meantime, all matters in relation to the current work program of the Council and the future establishment of the Commission should be directed to Mr Jim Birch, Chair of the Cross Jurisdiction Transitional Committee.

For more information: www.safetyandquality.org