Laverty moves on from CHA
After six years in the top job, Martin Laverty is stepping down as chief executive officer of Catholic Health Australia (CHA), the peak body has announced.
After six years in the top job, Martin Laverty is stepping down as chief executive officer of Catholic Health Australia (CHA), the peak body has announced.
Mr Laverty has been appointed CEO of the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia.
CHA Stewardship Board chair Rowena McNally said while sorry to see Mr Laverty leave, she was grateful for his leadership contribution and wished him every success in his future career.
“Martin has led CHA expertly, with political and media savvy, and always with an eye to the best interests of those who are cared for in Catholic hospitals and aged care services,” Ms McNally said.
“Martin has advanced the Church’s mission by improving the financial sustainability of the aged care system, for the benefit of older Australians and aged care providers alike. The Stewardship Board is proud of Martin’s leadership role in bringing about reform that has enhanced aged care sustainability.
“Martin has also advanced the Church’s mission by building research evidence to secure better health outcomes for the poor and marginalised through action on social determinants of health. The Stewardship Board is proud of Martin’s leadership that has resulted in CHA today being one of the nation’s leading social determinants advocates,” Ms McNally said.
Mr Laverty said it has been a privilege to serve the Church as its health and aged care steward since 2008, and that he would miss working closely with the health and aged care professionals who deliver services on behalf of the Church.
“It’s been an honour to have the unique opportunity to help shape national aged care reform, to build new awareness of the social causes of ill health with the Australian population, to produce an agreement with Catholic Bishops on governance of Catholic health services and contribute to the sustainability of not-for-profit health and aged care services across the nation,” he said.
Mr Laverty cited his role in making 2011’s national Church apology to those adversely impacted by past adoption practices as the most challenging but important undertaking of his six years.
“My 2011 co-edited book, Determining the Future: A fair go & health for all, laid out the case for Australia to implement a World Health Organisation action plan to improve the health of the poorest in Australia. A subsequent Senate Inquiry saw the Liberal, Labor and Greens parties agree,” Mr Laverty said.
Mr Laverty will finish up at CHA on 1 August.
The organisation said a process to appoint a successor had been commenced.
