20 December 2005

Membership of the Children's Hospital Advisory Council

The NSW Minister for Health John Hatzistergos has announced the appointment of the members of the Children's Hospital at Westmead Advisory Council.

"The newly appointed Children's Hospital Advisory Council members will provide significant local, clinical and community leadership within the health system," Mr Hatzistergos said.

The role of the Children's Hospital Advisory Council is to facilitate the involvement of providers and people using health services and of other members of the local community in the development of The Children's Hospital at Westmead policies, plans and initiatives to provide health services.

The Children's Hospital Advisory Council will also have the responsibility to oversee the expenditure of funds raised through donations to the CHW.

The chair of the Children's Hospital Advisory Council is Mr Daniel Petre AO.
The members of the Children's Hospital Advisory Council are:

• Mr Daniel Petre AO (chair)
• Dr Bronwyn Gould AM
• Clinical Associate Professor Ralph Nanan
• Dr Michael Fasher
• Mrs Joanna Capon OAM
• Mr John Conde AO
• Ms Kylie Parsons
• Mrs Renata Kaldor AO
• Ms Kerry West
• Mr Bradley Ceely
• Mr Harry Michaels OAM

Mr Hatzistergos said the formation of local advisory councils was a key strategy in the reform of health services across the state.

"Members have been selected for their understanding of the health challenges facing NSW communities. They bring a unique perspective on the issues confronting their local area,"
Mr Hatzistergos said.

"The Children's Hospital Advisory Council and the Area Health Advisory Councils are a crucial part of the State Government's strong and detailed plans to ensure that local communities and clinicians play an integral role in the planning and development of health services," he said.

"The Council will work with the chief executive of The Children's Hospital at Westmead to ensure that clinicians, patients and the community are effectively engaged and consulted.

"The Council members will play a crucial role in providing advice on issues such as health service planning and workforce development.

"This delivers on the commitment of the NSW Government to increase the level of clinical and community input when addressing the growing demands on the health system," Mr Hatzistergos said.

CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL ADVISORY COUNCIL MEMBERS

Mr Daniel Petre is a strategic consultant to major corporations, is a member of the University of NSW Board and member of the Ravenswood School for Girls Council. He has a background in information technology, general management and leadership development. Mr Petre resides in Killara.

Dr Bronwyn Gould AM has experience working in a primary care practice specialising in child and family health for more than a quarter of a century. She has also been the deputy chair of the Australian Council for Children and Parenting (ACCAP) Commonwealth Ministerial Advisory Council since 2001. Dr Gould resides in Paddington.

Clinical Associate Professor Ralph Nanan is the director of Paediatrics at Nepean Hospital. As a staff specialist in this department, he is responsible for clinical supervision and teaching and is also heavily involved in research. Prof Nanan resides in Glenmore Park.

Dr Michael Fasher has worked as a health care provider in western Sydney for nearly 30 years. He is co-chair of the Western Sydney Immunisation Reference Committee and is involved in the education of parent groups in the community, medical students and registrars in Vocational General Practice Training. Dr Fasher resides in Wilberforce.

Mrs Joanna Capon OAM is the Chair of the Quality Council of The Children's Hospital at Westmead, the Operations Art Management Committee and the Australian Centre for Photography. She was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 2002 for her services to The Children's Hospital at Westmead. Mrs Capon resides in Bellevue Hill.

Mr John Conde AO is the Chairman of EnergyAustralia, MBF Australia and Down Town Utilities. He is also director of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, chairman of the Australian Olympic Committee (NSW Corporate Committee) and the Corporate Advisory Committee - Asthma NSW. Mr Conde resides in Turramurra.

Ms Kylie Parsons is an Indigenous Community Development Worker at Blacktown City Council and has worked for nine years in Aboriginal identified positions, working within her community. She is a member of the Western Sydney Koori Interagency and a member of the Western Sydney Aboriginal Child, Youth and Family Plan 2003-2006 Implementation Group. Ms Parsons resides in Glenwood.

Mrs Renata Kaldor AO is the Deputy Chancellor of the University of Western Sydney and is involved in business, education and community affairs. She was a director of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra for eight years from 1996 to 2004 and was made an Officer in the Order of Australia in 2002.

Ms Kerry West is the deputy head physiotherapist at The Children's Hospital at Westmead. She is the Allied Health Representative (CHW) on the Clinical Redesign Steering Committee and is also a member of the Nursing and Allied Health Research Committee. Ms West resides in Belfield.

Mr Bradley Ceely is a nurse practitioner in Paediatric Intensive Care at The Children's Hospital at Westmead. He has developed a model of care for long term ventilated children at The Children's Hospital at Westmead and has presented at state and national conferences on critical care and quality improvement. Mr Ceely resides in Stanhope Gardens.

Mr Harry Michaels OAM is the owner and managing director of a major innovator of studio and digital outside broadcast facilities. He has created and directed more than 4,000 episodes of the fitness show, Aerobics Oz Style. Mr Michaels resides in Willoughby.

For a range of health information, go online to www.health.nsw.gov.au