Released 21/09/2022
A new Child and Adolescent Clinical Services Expert Panel will provide high level oversight and independent expertise to support work currently underway to plan and improve healthcare services for Canberra’s children and young people.
The Expert Panel will be engaged to oversee the finalisation of the Child and Adolescent Clinical Services Plan, a priority action under the ACT Health Services Plan 2022-2030.
Minister for Health Rachel Stephen-Smith said the Expert Panel will also focus on bringing together actions and recommendations from recent reviews and ongoing initiatives to ensure ACT health services are delivering high-quality care and planning for the future needs of children, adolescents and their families from Canberra and the surrounding region.
“Across the ACT’s health services, there is a lot of work happening to improve and strengthen existing health services and programs for children, adolescents and their families.
“The Expert Panel will support this work with a focus on examining forecast population needs, considering areas for service expansion, and improving integration between primary, specialist, acute and interstate clinical services.
“It will take into account factors such as workforce planning and professional development, as well as monitoring the implementation of Canberra Health Services’ paediatric operational and service plan developed in 2021 and the Kids Interstate Shared Care Project undertaken in partnership with the Health Care Consumers Association in 2020,” said Minister Stephen-Smith.
The Expert Panel will be led by an independent chair and include experts with clinical experience in paediatrics, a consumer representative, academics and other key stakeholders.
The Panel will engage with consumers, health care specialists and teams, children’s service networks, non-government organisations and other ACT Government agencies involved in the care of children and adolescents.
“We understand that families, carers and the wider community want to know how we are addressing the clinical service needs of Canberra’s children and young people. The Expert Panel will bring further transparency and accountability to this work by sharing information with the community as we progress.
“The ACT Government is committed to delivering and investing in quality health care services that are age-appropriate and family-centred. I look forward to my first meeting with the Expert Panel in the next few weeks as we continue to build and strengthen services for children, adolescents and their families and carers,” said Minister Stephen-Smith.
The Child and Adolescent Clinical Services Expert Panel will be engaged for a 12-month period with potential for extension following a review in July 2023.
- Statement ends -
Rachel Stephen-Smith, MLA | Media Releases