Victoria’s hard-working public hospital and health service board members will get the recognition they deserve thanks to the Andrews Labor Government.
Minister for Health Jill Hennessy today announced board members of Victoria’s smaller and rural public hospitals will be paid for the first time.
The landmark changes are about ensuring Victoria’s public hospitals and health services boards attract the right mix of skills, knowledge and experience to put patients first and ensure the highest standards of governance and decision making.
Until now, being a director of a smaller public hospital board – which are predominantly in regional Victoria – has been a volunteer position and attracted no financial recognition.
Remuneration for public hospital board directors will now be based on sessional fees for board and sub-committee meetings, and will typically be around $3,000 annually.
Introducing payment for public hospital board directors was a recommendation of the Targeting Zero: supporting the Victorian hospital system to eliminate avoidable harm and strengthen quality of care report by Dr Stephen Duckett to ensure all boards are highly skilled, independent and effective.
It recognises the additional responsibilities board directors have implementing and overseeing new quality and safety measures introduced as part of the Labor Government’s Health Legislation Amendment (Quality and Safety) Act.
These laws strengthen and elevate the roles and responsibilities of boards, ensuring the highest qualities of timely care – and ensure our regional and rural hospitals meet their key performance targets and expectations.
Hard-working and dedicated board directors at Melbourne’s major hospitals will also be recognised for their efforts. Directors at Alfred Health, Melbourne Health and Monash Health will now be paid $45,123 annually. Chairs will receive $88,715.
These changes are in line with recommendations from a review conducted by the Victorian Public Service Commissioner to bring health service boards in line with other agencies of similar size and responsibility.
There’s nothing more important than patient safety at our hospitals. That’s why the Labor Government has strengthened quality and safety in Victoria’s hospitals.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Health Jill Hennessy
“Our hard-working public hospital and health service board members are committed to the cause and they deserve to be recognised for their dedication.”
“We’re ensuring we are attracting the right people for these important jobs with the right mix of skills, knowledge and experience, and putting quality and patient safety first.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020