The CYPFESC met on 29 August 2023. The meeting included a patient story involving a wellbeing nurse who delivers the Wellbeing and Health In-reach Nurse (WHIN) Coordinator program in schools. The story prompted discussion about demand for the program and the diverse skills required of the role.
Progress in delivering Henry Review recommendations and the Henry Review Implementation Plan actions was discussed. The need for new actions in the key areas of training for primary health providers in youth health, managing children and young people with acute behavioural disorders and with mental illness and children's developmental assessment and intervention was agreed. The Committee heard an update on progress in development of the Children, Young People and Families Annual Report.
The Henry Review recognised that effective governance is a key enabler of communication and change. It recommended that children, young people and families committees and networks have common principles, clear goals, sound approaches to implementation and effective communication. The Governance Refresh project was established to strengthen committee governance, support decision making about service priorities and enable monitoring of achievements across the NSW Health system. The Committee heard an update on the project, including progress on the review of committee structures. A suite of best practice resources to support committee functions has been developed. The resources are in use and have received good feedback.
The role of CYPFESC is to provide strategic oversight and leadership for health outcomes for children, young people and their families. The Committee's initial focus has been on overseeing implementation of the Henry Review recommendations. The Committee is now ready to focus on new strategic priorities and is developing an action-focused workplan focused on key systems issues impacting high quality, effective, and available health services across NSW.
