Child and Family Health Advisory Council - Communique (No 2 - May 2017)

Council welcomes new members!

Following the inaugural meeting in March, the Council sought to expand the membership to include expertise in allied health, nursing and midwifery, as well as health systems research.

The Council is pleased to announce and extends a warm welcome to the following new members:

  • Emeritus Professor Lesley Barclay AO, PhD - The University of Sydney, School of Medicine, University Centre for Rural Health
  • Ms Ruth Baker - Director, Allied Health, Sydney Children's Hospitals Network
  • Mr Stephen Rodwell - Executive Director Nursing, Midwifery & Workforce, Mid North Coast Local Health District.

Healthy, Safe and Well: Strategic Health Plan for Children, Young People and Families 2014-24

Healthy, Safe and Well - A Strategic Health Plan for Children, Young People and Families 2014-24 provides a planning, service and policy roadmap from pre-conception to 24 years of age, including pregnant women, babies, children, young people and families. Monitoring and evaluating the success of this Plan is key to continuous improvement.

Three years into the ten year plan signalled an opportunity to review the approach to monitoring Healthy, Safe and Well to ensure relevancy, currency and consistency of approach. This review was flagged as an early priority for the Council.

At the May meeting, Council members discussed at length the best way forward in relation to establishing baseline data and indicators to ensure these measures of success continue to be meaningful, communicated effectively, and used to drive positive change across the system. Work is now underway to refine and update the Healthy, Safe and Well indicators. An update will be provided in due course.

Communication and feedback

Staff and stakeholders are encouraged to consult and seek advice from the Council on system level issues, best practice, policy and program innovations relating to the health, wellbeing and healthcare of mothers, babies, children, young people and families.

Requests can be made via the Secretariat using the pro forma. Submissions for agenda items close approximately one month prior to the scheduled meeting date. All requests will be considered, and appropriate matters referred to the Council for discussion and/or advice.

Remaining meeting dates for 2017 are below:

  • Thursday 31 August 2017 (Deadline for agenda items 28 July 2017)
  • Wednesday 29 November 2017 (Deadline for agenda items 27 October 2017)

Should you have any questions, please contact the Council Secretariat via email hspb-icb@doh.health.nsw.gov.au or phone (02) 9391 9992.

We look forward to receiving your suggestions.

Dr Nigel Lyons (Co-Chair)
Dr Andrew McDonald (Co-Chair)
Current as at: Friday 30 June 2017
Contact page owner: Maternity, Child and Family