The ACT Government’s Child and Adolescent Clinical Services Expert Panel met for the first time today. Announced in September, the Expert Panel will provide oversight and independent expertise to work underway to improve healthcare services for Canberra’s children and young people.
- Child and Adolescent Clinical Services Expert Panel for ACT (21 September)
Rachel Stephen-Smith, ACT Minister for Health, said the first meeting was an opportunity for the Expert Panel to determine its next steps in engaging with consumers and the broader network of health services in the ACT.
“The Expert Panel has been engaged to oversee the finalisation of the Child and Adolescent Clinical Services Plan and to take a careful look at the services available for children and young people, how these can be strengthened, and how we can improve coordination of care,” the minister said.
“It will also consider recommendations from previous reviews, integration of care across the range of health services provided in the ACT, and, importantly, the workforce required to support these services.”
The Panel is led by independent Chair Professor Michael Brydon OAM, a highly experienced paediatrician who has worked extensively across children’s services. Professor Brydon previously served as Chief Executive of Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network, and co-chaired the Expert Reference Group for the ACT Government’s Best Start for Canberra’s Children: The First 1000 Days Strategy.
- ACT strategy for children’s first 1,000 days (4 November)
Other independent members include experts from across Australia with experience in paediatrics, clinical governance, and academia. Members include the ACT Discrimination, Health Services, Disability and Community Services Commissioner, a consumer representative, and senior Executives from Canberra Health Services and the ACT Health Directorate.
“Members of the Expert Panel share the same strong commitment as the ACT Government to ensuring Canberra’s children and young people have access to high-quality, age appropriate, and family-centred care,” Ms Stephen-Smith said.
The Expert Panel will provide regular updates on issues and opportunities identified through their work. An Executive Summary will be publicly released every two months, outlining key considerations and summarising the work of the Expert Panel.
The Child and Adolescent Clinical Services Expert Panel has been engaged for 12 months; it could be extended following a review in July 2023.
