Rob Knowles has joined the RDNS board.

A former state health minister member of the federal government’s National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission has been appointed to the board of the South Australia’s Royal District Nursing Board (RDNS).

Rob Knowles, who served as a senior Victorian cabinet minister for seven years in the Kennett Government, says community care for older Australians will continue to play a vital role in coming years.

“There is no doubt home-based health care will increase as a major component of health care to Australians in the future,” he said.

“RDNS is already planning for the changes and I am excited to be a member of their board during this interesting time for the health sector.”

The CEO of RDNS, Dale Cleaver said Mr Knowles’ experience of the health sector would be welcome on the board.

“[Mr] Knowles is the Chairman of the Mental Health Council of Australia, President of the Mental Illness Fellowship of Australia and has years of experience as a Health Minister in Victoria,” said Mr Cleaver. “[He] will be a tremendous asset to the RDNS.

“[His] breadth of experience in the health care sector around the nation makes his appointment to the RDNS Board timely as we expand our private division ‘Focus Healthcare’ within South Australia and nationally.”