Building for a brighter future - GHA Central

Corporate Governance: Board of Directors
The Board is accountable to the
Government and the community it
serves for ensuring the provision of
agreed services within the resources
provided. The Board must be
responsive to the staff and the
community and have a capacity
to address a wide range of policy
and planning issues. The Board of
Directors needs to have a range
of appropriate experience and skills.
The Board adheres to governance
policies that outline the role and
responsibility as Directors.
The functions of the Board of
Directors as determined by the
Health Services Act 1988 are:
➤ to oversee and manage the Group
and
➤ to ensure the services provided
by the Group comply with the
requirements of the Act and
the aims of the Group.
There are 12 Board of Director
positions, with the terms of four
members expiring on 31 October
each year. Board members are
appointed for three-year terms.
Members of the Board serve in a
voluntary capacity. In October 2006
the appointed terms of Peter Marx,
Rosemary Waghorne, John Anderson
and Daniel Gleeson will expire.
Governance by the Board of Directors
is achieved through:
➤ strategic planning - to ensure the
visionary direction of the Group is
focused and aligned to the mission
statement of the Group
➤ effective management by the Chief
Executive Officer (CEO) - the Board
performs an annual performance
appraisal and sets realistic goals;
the CEO is responsible for
managing the Group at an
operational level
➤ funding of service agreements -
the Board endorses plans, strategies
and budgets and ensures annual
agreements reflect accurate,
achievable and desirable outcomes;
the Board monitors the
performance of the Group through
appropriate budgetary processes
➤ local policy setting
➤ regularly reviewing the Group’s
By-Laws and strategic plans
Audit
The committee receives and makes
recommendations relating to internal
audit reports and ensures compliance
to matters raised by the Auditor
General’s office.
Meetings held: 4
Credentials*
The Credentials committee is
responsible for defining the clinical
privileges of all medical practitioners
(other that Hospital Medical Officers)
working within the Group.
Meetings held: 1
Ethics
The committee develops draft policies
and procedures relating to ethical
decision-making, advises the Board
on research projects, ensures that
the rights of individual patients are
respected and advises on all ethical
matters referred by the Board,
healthcare providers, patients,
their relatives or any other person.
Meetings held: 6
Executive*
The Executive committee has the
authority of the Board to act on
its behalf between Board meetings
provided that all decisions taken
which relate to policy are referred
to the next meeting of the Board.
The committee consists of the Board
President, Senior Vice-President,
Junior Vice-President and Treasurer,
with the Chief Executive Officer in
attendance.
Meetings held: 0
Board Committees
Medical Advisory & Consultative*
The committee recommends to the
Board the appointment of medical
practitioners in relation to visiting
rights within the Group and acts on
advice of the Credentials committee.
It considers matters referred by the
Medical Staff Association and forms
an interview committee for senior
medical appointments.
Meetings held: 1
Project Control
This committee oversees the design
and construction phases of major
building projects to ensure that work
is undertaken cost effectively, with a
view to minimising unnecessary capital
expenditure and recurrent costs.
Meetings held: 10
Remuneration
The Remuneration committee reviews
the performance and remuneration of
the Chief Executive Officer.
Meetings held: 1
Standards
The Standards committee provides
support and direction to quality
improvement performance monitoring
throughout the organisation.
Meetings held: 6
*meets only as required
Life Governors
The Board is responsible for
appointing Life Governors.
Appointments are made to people
who have shown outstanding
commitment to the Group. Awards
are also given to staff who reach
30 years of Long Service. Life
Governor Awards are presented at
the Group’s Annual General Meeting
in October each year. A photo of those
who gained Life Governor Awards can
be found on page 18 of this report.
The Group is governed by a 12-person Board appointed
by the Governor-in-Council upon the recommendation
of the Minister for Health, The Hon Bronwyn Pike, MP.
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