New Structure of the Department of Health

The following is a message from Fran Thorn, Secretary, Department of Health:

After a period of consultation, I am pleased to provide you with the new structure of the Department of Health, which will be effective from 1 December 2009. The structure will help us deliver improved hospital and health service performance outcomes, a more strategic focus on national health reform, addressing challenges such as ageing and chronic disease, and the continuation of mental health reform.

The Department of Health will comprise the following four divisions:

• Hospital & Health Service Performance - responsible for governance, performance, acute funding and policy settings for public hospitals and health services across Victoria. This division will also be responsible for departmental and health sector information and communication technology.
• Wellbeing, Integrated Care & Aged - will focus on prevention, intensify our efforts in respect of chronic disease and build a focus on integration of care, health management and aged care services. It will also be responsible for workforce policy and planning in the health and aged care sector, as well as the department's internal human resources function.
• Mental Health, Drugs & Regions - will provide a more integrated approach to mental health and drugs service planning and delivery across Victoria. The division will also be responsible for regional coordination and operational support - the regional Directors, Health & Aged Care will report to the Executive Director of this division.
• Strategy, Policy & Finance - will be focused on improving the Victorian health system through policy reform, strategy development and regulatory activities. The division will also be responsible for finance including budget operations, management of shared service arrangements and communications.

Paul McDonald has also been appointed Executive Director, Portfolio Projects and will be responsible for providing additional senior oversight of key organisational and system projects. Paul will start in his new role on 14 December.

As indicated above, the department's regional presence will sit within the Mental Health, Drugs & Regions division overseen by Dr Karleen Edwards who commences on 2 December. However, regions will continue to connect with program areas across the whole department. Key roles of regions will include relationship management with health and aged care services and agencies, and management and monitoring of health & aged care programs at the local level.

More detail on the structure and functions of each division is attached. We are also working on a simple guide that will list key contacts within the new department to ensure you know who to contact within the department on different issues. This guide will be available by 1 December.

In the meantime, your existing contacts will remain unchanged.

Thank you to those who took the time to send me comments and feedback on the draft structure circulated on 2 October. I look forward to working with you to enhance and protect the health and wellbeing of all Victorians.

Fran Thorn | Secretary

Department of Health | Level 21, 50 Lonsdale Street Melbourne Victoria 3000

T: +61 3 90968584| F: + 61 3 9096 9220 | e. fran.thorn@dhs.vic.gov.au