Local resident Diana Williams was recently appointed as one of the three new members to the Southern NSW Local Health District (SNSWLHD) Board.
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Diana Williams has been the Chair of the Yass Community Consultative Committee for the SNSW Local Health District for the past two years – a voluntary position she took up soon after her retirement from a 37-year career in the public sector.
“I am truly delighted to have been appointed to the board. I have been privileged to serve on the Yass Health Service Community Consultative Committee for the past two years so this opportunity gives me four years, in a different role, to continue to serve local health for the Yass Valley as well as for the wider Local Health District,” she said.
Diana spent the last seven years of her career in the Senior Executive Service of the Federal Attorney-General's Department, where she worked with national representative bodies on strategic planning for business continuity during pandemics, major natural disasters, security incidents or mass infrastructure failure.
She has also been involved in planning for the management of mass casualties in and outside Australia.
“My previous role means that I have developed some great relationships with the Yass Health Service and its people. It has also given me a good insight into the issues for the delivery of health services including some of the challenges faced by patients in rural areas,” Mrs Williams said.
“This knowledge is transferable in a strategic sense to serve the other areas that SNSWLHD covers.”
The Mayor of Goulburn Mulwaree Council, Geoff Kettle and Cooma GP and Visiting Medical Officer of seven years, Dr Brian Tugwell, have also been appointed to the LHD Board. Their appointments by the Minister for Health, Jillian Skinner, took effect from January 1.
They replace retiring members Bronnie Taylor, Janet Aveyard and Medicare Local’s Kathryn Stonestreet.
Chair of the Local Health District Board, Jenny Symons, said that the board are delighted to have a second person from Yass, with a Public Service background.
“[Diana] is a great communicator and understands Yass well. We are required to have a diversity of skills on the board and she reflects this diversity.” Ms Symons said.
“Her skills range from business, project management, governance and finance and fits well into the clinical environment. Another representative from the area will be a great addition to the board.”
Ms Symons said the LHD Board plays a key role in determining the overall direction of the LHD and ensuring the interests and needs of local communities as paramount in the decision-making process.
“The new Board appointments will contribute to the diversity, experience and perspectives of the Board. This will ensure the LHD is well positioned to build on the strong platform established over the past four years.”
NSW Health has 15 Local Health Districts covering New South Wales. Each Local Health District has been established with a governing board. These boards have overall responsibility for the strategic direction and operational efficiency of Local Health Districts.
Mrs Williams believes that it is important for the SNSWLHD that the services provided are equitable across the whole District and that residents can be assured of accessibility to services no matter where they live.
“I see this as a priority for my work in the coming years."