Child and Family Health Advisory Council - Communique (No 1 - March 2017)

About the Council

The Child and Family Health Advisory Council has been established by the NSW Ministry of Health to provide system wide leadership and advice on best practice, policy and program innovation and system level responses to child and family health in NSW.

The first meeting of the Council was held on 17 March 2017. This provided an opportunity for members to meet and hear about the current statewide priorities and work program relating to health, wel​lbeing and healthcare of mothers, babies, children, young people and families.

Council members highlighted the need to take account of the broad nature of health and wellbeing, and the social determinants of health. There is a commitment to focusing on the interests of disadvantaged and vulnerable children, young people and families, and to promoting early intervention and equitable access for all. As a high level, strategic group the Council will consider issues that are complex and/or require system wide responses.

Council membership

The Council brings a range of expertise from across the Ministry of Health, Local Health Districts and Specialty Health Networks, Pillars, Aboriginal communities, academia and the non-government sector. Former NSW Kids and Families board members were invited to sit on the Council.

The current membership is:

Standing members

• Dr Matthew O’Meara, Chief Paediatrician, NSW Health
• Dr Nigel Lyons, Deputy Secretary, Strategy and Resources, Ministry of Health (Co-Chair)
• Ms Tish Bruce, Executive Director, Health and Social Policy Branch
• Ms Lorna McNamara, Director, Prevention & Response to Violence, Abuse and Neglect
• Ms Deb Matha, Director, Maternity, Child, Youth and Paediatrics

Appointed members

• Christine Corby OAM – CEO, Walgett Aboriginal Medical Service
• Dr Jonny Taitz – Clinical Advisor Paediatrics, Clinical Excellence Commission
• Emeritus Professor Bettina Cass AO - Social Policy Research Centre, UNSW
• Dr Andrew McDonald - Senior Staff Specialist, South Western Sydney LHD (Co-Chair)
• Dr Susie Piper – Director of Paediatrics, Illawarra Shoalhaven LHD
• Ms Julie Cooper - Director Integrated Primary Care and Partnerships, Western NSW LHD
• Dr Sarah Dalton - Clinical Lead, NSW Agency for Clinical Innovation
• Clinical Professor David Bennett AO - NSW Kids and Families former board member
• Adj. Prof Ann Brassil - NSW Kids and Families former board member
• Professor Graham Vimpani AM - NSW Kids and Families former board member

Communication and feedback

A regular communique will be published after each Council meeting to ensure the health system is informed about progress and priorities.

Staff and stakeholders are encouraged to raise relevant issues through normal channels, or via the template available on the Child and Family Health Advisory Council page. Appropriate matters will be referred to the Council for advice or consideration.

Transition of Kids and Families

The transition of staff and functions of the former NSW Kids and Families to the Ministry of Health is nearly complete. The establishment of the Council is part of this process.

Two units have been established within the Health and Social Policy Branch to deliver the programs of work, and Directors have been appointed:

• Maternity Child, Youth and Paediatrics Unit (MCYP): Deb Matha, Director
• Aboriginal Maternal, Child and Family Health
• Child And Family Health
• Maternity and Newborn
• Youth Health and Wellbeing
• Paediatric Healthcare

• Prevention and Response to Violence Abuse and Neglect (PARVAN): Lorna McNamara, Director
• Child Protection and Wellbeing
• Domestic and Family Violence
• Sexual Assault
• JIRT and Workforce Development

Discussions are underway with the Agency for Clinical Innovation and the Clinical Excellence Commission to ensure a coordinated approach to work.

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

An early priority for the Council is to review and provide advice on the approach to monitoring Healthy + Safe + Well. It will particularly focus on ensuring that the measures of success are meaningful, communicated effectively and can be used to drive improvements.