Overview: about the agency (DHW Annual Report 2018 - 19)

Our strategic focus

Our purpose

The Department for Health and Wellbeing (the department) is responsible for providing system leadership and setting the strategic direction for the delivery of health services in South Australia (SA). The department, through the Chief Executive, is responsible to the Minister for Health and Wellbeing (the Minister). The department supports the Minister and Chief Executive in exercising their powers and functions.

Our vision

The SA Health Strategic Plan 2017 to 2020 provides a vision for the priorities as an organisation with a particular focus on ‘how’ the organisation and its staff work together. SA Health performs three roles in the health system:

Lead – SA Health enables, protects, guides and supports the health and wellbeing of all South Australians.

Partner – SA Health collaborates with a diverse range of partners so that South Australians benefit from a full range of health and wellbeing services.

Deliver – SA Health directly provides evidence informed, high quality services across our communities from beginning to end of life.

Our values

Care and Kindness are the SA Health values that underpin how we treat each other, working together to provide services. The South Australian Public Sector values articulate our commitment to each other, consumers and the community. These are Service, Professionalism, Trust, Respect, Collaboration and Engagement, Honesty and Integrity, Courage and Tenacity and Sustainability.

Our functions, objectives and deliverables

The department supports the delivery of public health services, formulates health and wellbeing policy and programs, facilitates public and consumer consultation on health issues, and monitors the performance of South Australia’s health system by providing timely advice, research and administrative support.

The department is taking on a revised role, complementing and supporting the Local Health Networks, SA Ambulance Service and other portfolio entities by providing high-level system leadership.

Led by the Chief Executive, the department is responsible for:

  • Supporting and advising the Minister and government on strategic policies and directions
  • Coordination of Parliamentary and Cabinet briefing processes
  • Statutory reporting requirements
  • Intergovernmental relations
  • Participation in, and supporting the Minister to participate in, national reforms via national councils and committees
  • Regulatory and licencing functions.

As the system leader for the delivery of health services, the department will:

  • Provide strategic leadership, planning and direction for health care services in SA
  • Make recommendations for the allocation of funding from the health portfolio budget to health service providers
  • Oversee, monitor and promote improvements in the safety and quality of health services
  • Enter into Service Agreements with health service providers outlining budget, activity and performance measures
  • Arrange for the provision of health services by contracted health entities
  • Monitor performance and take remedial action when performance does not meet expected standards
  • Set system-wide policy directives and guidelines
  • Demonstrate strong financial management and accountability that prioritises investment in high value, evidence-informed service responses and system sustainability at a local level
  • Foster a leadership culture that supports accountability, transparency, collaboration and encourages innovation.

Our organisational structure

Changes to the agency

During 2018-19, there were changes to the department’s structure as a result of the governance reforms, and informed by an internal review. Some of the department’s responsibilities were devolved resulting in a transition of some business units to Local Health Networks and Shared Services SA.

In order to build analytical and commissioning capability and improve consistency, there was a realignment to reflect the key system leader functions across the following four core departmental divisions:

Health Regulation and Protection

This division provides centralised protection and specific regulatory functions, and sets and monitors the regulatory framework and standards. It informs and helps prioritise focus with the System Leadership and Design and Commissioning and Performance divisions.

System Leadership and Design

This division has a system leadership focussed role within the department, responsible for directional strategy, integrated system planning, strategic policy and system intelligence. With a whole-of-system perspective, it informs, coordinates and prioritises focus across the Commissioning and Performance division.

Commissioning and Performance

This division performs a critical interface role with Local Health Networks and other commissioned providers. With a system management focus, it drives an integrated approach to commissioning, purchasing, relationship and performance management of all providers. It executes direction from the System Leadership and Design division, Wellbeing SA and the Commission on Excellence and Innovation in Health.

Corporate and System Support Services

With a range of enablement functions, this division provides corporate and system support services to all other departmental divisions. It promotes accountability and clear corporate services responsibilities within and across divisions and continues to provide some core, statewide support services.

Chief Public Health Officer and Chief Medical Officer

Fulfilling the government’s election commitment, the previously combined role of Chief Public Health Officer (CPHO) and Chief Medical Officer (CMO) was split into two separate roles. The CPHO leads the Health Regulation and Protection division and the CMO role sits within the System Leadership and Design division.

Digital Health SA

Following the independent review into the cancelled EPAS Program, Digital Health SA was established as an operating entity within the department reporting directly to the Chief Executive, incorporating what was previously eHealth Systems. Digital Health SA provides statewide system support services, centralising the digital focus, to allow the department to make best use of available technology across our public health system.

Wellbeing SA

Wellbeing SA has been established initially as an operating entity within the department, reporting to the Chief Executive. During 2019-20, Wellbeing SA will become an Attached Office under the Public Sector Act 2009. It will focus on prevention, health promotion and primary health care. Wellbeing SA will bring together the functions and services of Home Hospital, Prevention and Population Health, Mental Health and Wellbeing, including the Mental Health Commission.

Commission on Excellence and Innovation in Health

The Commission has been established initially as an operating entity within the department, reporting to the Chief Executive. During 2019-20, the Commission will become an Attached Office under the Public Sector Act 2009. It will provide leadership and advice within SA Health and the SA government on clinical excellence and innovation. The Commission is being established with three program areas spanning Clinical Partnerships, including Statewide Clinical Networks, Clinical Improvement and Innovation, and Clinical Informatics.

Our Minister

Hon Stephen Wade MLC is the Minister for Health and Wellbeing in South Australia.

The Minister oversees health, wellbeing, mental health, ageing well, substance abuse and suicide prevention.

Our Executive team

  • Dr Christopher McGowan is the Chief Executive
  • Don Frater is the Deputy Chief Executive, System Leadership and Design
  • Lynne Cowan is the Deputy Chief Executive, Commissioning and Performance
  • Julienne TePohe is the Deputy Chief Executive, Corporate and System Support Services
  • Bill Le Blanc is the (outgoing) Chief Digital Health Officer, responsible for the department’s information technology strategy
  • Lyn Dean is the (incoming) Chief Executive Officer of Wellbeing SA
  • Professor Paddy Phillips is the (incoming) Commissioner for the Commission on Excellence and Innovation in Health, the (outgoing) Chief Public Health Officer, and the (outgoing) Chief Medical Officer
  • Dr John Brayley is the Chief Psychiatrist, responsible for functions relating to the administration of the Mental Health Act 2009 and the standard of mental health care in SA
  • Virginia Wilkinson is the Director, Office of the Chief Executive.

Legislation administered by the agency

The department plays a role in administering all legislation committed to the Minister for Health and Wellbeing with some legislation administered in conjunction with other public sector agencies:

  • Advance Care Directives Act 2013
  • Aged Citizens Clubs (Subsidies) Act 1963
  • Assisted Reproductive Treatment Act 1988
  • Blood Contaminants Act 1985
  • Consent to Medical Treatment and Palliative Care Act 1995
  • Controlled Substances Act 1984
  • Food Act 2001
  • Gene Technology Act 2001
  • Health and Community Services Complaints Act 2004
  • Health Care Act 2008
  • Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (South Australia) Act 2010
  • Health Professionals (Special Events Exemption) Act 2000
  • Health Services Charitable Gifts Act 2011
  • Mental Health Act 2009
  • Motor Vehicle Accidents (Lifetime Support Scheme) Act 2013
  • National Health Funding Pool Administration (South Australia) Act 2012
  • Office for the Ageing Act 1995
  • Prohibition of Human Cloning for Reproduction Act 2003
  • Public Intoxication Act 1984
  • Research Involving Human Embryos Act 2003
  • Retirement Villages Act 2016 and Retirement Villages Regulations 2017
  • Safe Drinking Water Act 2011
  • South Australian Public Health Act 2011
  • Tobacco and E-Cigarette Products Act 1997  
  • Transplantation and Anatomy Act 1983

Pertinent updates to legislation during 2018-19 are listed below.

Health Care Act 2008

To support progression of the government’s priority to reform governance of the health system through devolving accountability for local service delivery to LHN Governing Boards, the Health Care (Governance) Amendment Act 2018 was passed in Parliament on 29 July 2018. The Amendment Act provisions came into effect within the Health Care Act 2008 on 1 July 2019. The Health Care (Local Health Networks) Proclamation 2019 was published in June 2019. The effect of this was to dissolve the Country Health SA LHN and establish six new regional LHNs.

Office for the Ageing Act 1995

On 1 February 2019, amendments were proclaimed under the Office for the Ageing (Adult Safeguarding) Amendment Act (Commencement) Proclamation 2019, enabling the Office to change its name to Office for Ageing Well, to better reflect the focus of its work.

Other related agencies (within the Minister's area/s of responsibility)

The public sector agencies listed below are responsible for reporting information about their activities and operations in their own annual report submitted to the Minister for Health and Wellbeing:

  • Central Adelaide Local Health Network
  • Central Adelaide Local Health Network Health Advisory Council (Governing Council)
  • Controlled Substances Advisory Council
  • Country Health SA Local Health Network
  • Country Health SA Local Health Network Health Advisory Council (Governing Council)
  • Country Health SA Health Advisory Councils (39 across SA)
  • Health and Community Services Complaints Commissioner
  • Health Performance Council
  • Health Services Charitable Gifts Board
  • Mental Health Commission
  • Northern Adelaide Local Health Network
  • Northern Adelaide Local Health Network Health Advisory Council (Governing Council)
  • Office for Ageing Well
  • Pharmacy Regulation Authority of South Australia
  • SA Ambulance Service
  • SA Ambulance Service Volunteers’ Health Advisory Council
  • SA Medical Education and Training Health Advisory Council
  • South Australian Public Health Council
  • Southern Adelaide Local Health Network
  • Southern Adelaide Local Health Network Health Advisory Council (Governing Council)
  • Women’s and Children’s Health Network
  • Women’s and Children’s Health Network Health Advisory Council (Governing Council)
  • Veterans’ Health Advisory Council.