Role
The Health Chief Executives Forum (HCEF) supports the Health Ministers' Meeting (HMM) to deliver national work priorities and its governance and processes align with the HMM and National Cabinet.
The HCEF has established working groups/collaborations to advise on and help deliver specific areas of the work program for these HMM priorities within the Health and Aged Care portfolio.
The HCEF also oversees public health protection policy within and outside the HCEF forum. The forum can also implement legal and policy responsibilities if delegated by health ministers.
Former Australian Health Ministers Advisory Committee (AHMAC)
As recommended by the Conran Review, the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Councils and Ministerial Forums were restructured as part of the new National Cabinet. The former Australian Health Ministers Advisory Committee (AHMAC) is now the HCEF.
Information and documents related to AHMAC meetings and decisions is available from the National Library of Australia's web archive.
Members
The HCEF membership is made up of the chief executive officers from each Australian government health department.
Members take turns to fill the Chair and Deputy Chair roles.
| Jurisdiction | Member | Position |
|---|---|---|
| Victoria (Chair) | Prof Euan Wallace AM | Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services |
| South Australia (Deputy Chair) | Dr Robyn Lawrence | Chief Executive, Department of Health and Wellbeing |
| Tasmania | Mr Dale Webster | A/g Secretary, Department of Health & Human Services |
| Australian Government | Mr Blair Comley PSM | Secretary, Department of Health and Aged Care |
| Western Australia | Dr Shirley Bowen | Director General, Department of Health |
| Queensland | Mr Michael Walsh | Director-General, Queensland Health |
| New South Wales | Ms Susan Pearce | Secretary, NSW Ministry of Health |
| Australian Capital Territory | Ms Rebecca Cross | Director-General, ACT Health |
| Northern Territory | Mr Chris Hosking | Chief Executive Officer, Department of Health |
Meetings
The HCEF meets regularly as required, via a mixture of virtual and face-to-face meetings. HCEF also holds extra meetings in response to emerging national priorities.
Communiques
Health Chief Executives Forum (HCEF) communique
Related committees or groups
The HCEF supports the Health Ministers' Meeting to deliver key agreed national priorities.
The following agencies report to the HCEF as required:
- Australian Health Protection Committee (AHPC)
- Independent Health and Aged Care Pricing Authority (IHACPA)
- Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (ACSQHC)
- National Health Funding Body (NHFB)
- Australian Digital Health Agency (ADHA)
- Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW)
- National Blood Authority (NBA)
- Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
Contact
