New appointments

See who has been appointed to new roles in the world of ageing and aged care in recent times.

 

Compiled by Keryn Curtis

Several new appointments have been made in the final quarter of 2012, some outlined here:

  • Care Connect LGBTI officer

Innovative eastern states community care provider, Care Connect, has appointed its first National LGBTI Portfolio Officer.  The rapidly growing organisation has appointed high profile Queensland based psychologist and advocate, Paul Martin, pictured above, to the new role which “supports Care Connect’s strategy to promote Care Connect’s aged care services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) older adults living nationally.”

Paul Martin is also chair of the National LGBTI Health Alliance. He joins the Brisbane Region team two days a week.

  • New to Blue Care’s executive line-up

Queensland’s ‘iconic’ care provider, Blue Care, has welcomed four new appointments to its Executive Leadership Team.

Executive Director Robyn Batten said she was pleased to welcome Michelle McKay as Director of Services (North West) and Peter Folliot as Director of Finance and Corporate Services.

Ms McKay, pictured above, moves to Blue Care from the Queensland Crime and Misconduct Commission where she was Director, Office of Commission.  Michelle is a registered nurse and has high-level experience running hospitals and health service districts in Queensland and South Australia.

“Michelle will oversee Blue Care’s residential, retirement living and community care operations across northern and western Queensland, which is a large geographical area with diverse areas of need,” Ms Batten said.

Peter [Folliot, pictured below,] joins Blue Care from Uniting Aged Care Victoria and Tasmania where for eight years he held roles including Chief Financial Officer and General Manager.”

Ms McKay and Mr Folliot also join recent internal appointments to Blue Care’s new-look executive team.  Glenys Webby who has worked for Blue Care since 2001 was appointed as Director of Strategy and Planning Services.  Community Care Manager Cathy Thomas, who oversaw Brisbane region’s operations for more than six years, was appointed as Director of Services (South East).

“With strong experience in the sector and high-level management skills our Executive Leadership Team is positioned well to lead Blue Care into the changing and emerging aged care environment,” Ms Batten said.

  • Health Workforce Program review leader

The former Director-General of the NSW Departments of Human Services and Community Services, Ms Jenny Mason (above), has been appointed to lead a review of the Australian Government’s health workforce programs.

The Health Workforce Program review will examine Commonwealth programs and activities designed to increase, train, support, plan and distribute the Australian health workforce.

According to a statement, “the objective of the review is to analyse and assess the appropriateness, effectiveness and efficiency of the programs and activities, and to ensure that they are aligned with Australia’s workforce priorities – actual and emerging health workforce issues and challenges – including those identified in the Health Workforce 2025 Report.”

The announcement was made recently by then acting Minister for Health, Mark Butler who said the government expects the review to concentrate on how Australia can meet the challenges faced in meeting the needs of an ageing population and ensuring that people across the country can access the health professionals that they need.

It would also look at ways to improve programs aimed at increasing access to health professionals in areas currently experiencing workforce shortages.

“It’s crucial to ensure that we not only have the right number of health professionals but that we can attract and retain them in the areas where they are needed,” Mr Butler said.

Ms Mason is described as an independent expert with a background in policy design and service delivery. The Department of Health and Ageing will provide secretariat and program support.

 

Tags: blue-care, care-connect, health-workforce-program-review, jenny-mason, new-appointment, paul-martin,

1 thought on “New appointments

  1. Can only wonder why Blue Care moves back to a generalist management structure while its sister organisation in NSW embraces its former Executive’s specialist structure?
    From my experience specialists give you more cut through while generalists give you more excuses.

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