Pat Garcia steps away from CHA

After four years in the role, Pat Garcia will be standing down as chief executive of Catholic Health Australia next month.

However, Mr Garcia will remain in the Catholic Health sector, as group general manager public affairs and general counsel at St Vincent’s Health Australia.

CHA chair John Watkins said Mr Garcia’s contribution to the peak body representing Catholic providers of health, community and aged care services – and the health sector more broadly – had been invaluable.

“Pat has worked tirelessly during an unforeseeably challenging period to advocate on behalf of the hospitals and aged care facilities in our network and the people they care for.”

Mr Watkins also thanked Mr Garcia for contributing to the conversation about the future of aged care funding.

“His brave advocacy for user contributions to take a more prominent role in aged care funding played an instrumental role in reshaping the national debate,” said Mr Watkins. “I now note user contributions are established as a key consideration for the Aged Care Taskforce.”

Mr Garcia said he was “honoured and privileged” to have had the opportunity to lead CHA over the past four years.

“The Catholic Health sector is a crucial pillar of Australian society and I’m so proud to have served in this role for the national peak. We’ve built strong foundations for a fair and more robust aged care system and have taken significant strides to uplift the entire health sector. I have every confidence that CHA will continue to champion these crucial initiatives.”

Mr Garcia will leave CHA in late August. The board will commence the search for a new chief executive shortly.

Main image: Pat Garcia

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