The Western Australian Clinical Senate (the Clinical Senate) is a respected peak body that brings together clinicians and individuals from all professional disciplines and backgrounds to generate informed, impartial and integrated advice for the Health Executive Committee and wider WA health system on system-wide issues requiring diverse perspectives and innovative thinking.
These system-wide issues considered for a debate must affect service quality, be sustainable and enhance safe efficient patient care.
The Clinical Senate functions under the authority of the Director General, Department of Health, and reports to the Health Executive Committee.
The Clinical Senate is seeking clinicians from a range of professional groups with experience across diverse geographical, health sector and clinically related areas. Applications close 9:00 am, 16 April 2024.
Role
The Clinical Senate connects clinicians from across the health system in a facilitated process to:
- provide, through active and informed discussion, evidence-based and impartial advice on complex challenges in healthcare
- utilise the knowledge, experience and clinical expertise of its members to support the improved delivery of health services
- identify opportunities to improve patient outcomes and value through coordination and integration between organisations
- identify and promote clinical leadership through shared learning
- champion innovation and health reform
- actively engage consumers and sector partnerships.
Members
The Clinical Senate is an independent body and comprises more than 80 members drawn from diverse clinical backgrounds, professional skill-sets, and from both metropolitan and rural areas of the state. Members (link) share a passion for improving healthcare services and population health in Western Australia.
The Clinical Senate is comprised of the Chair, Senate Executive Committee and the broader membership of Clinical Senators.
Senate debates
The Clinical Senate has established a reputation as an authoritative source of clinical advice to WA Health. Over the years, it has debated many complex and controversial topics. The Senate’s topic selection process is influenced by the pressing health issues of the day, and the resulting debates resonate with key healthcare reform directions emerging around Australia and the world.
Our future program promises a series of thought-provoking debates on matters of vital concern as we strive to meet the ever-increasing demands on Western Australia’s public healthcare system.
More information