Chief Executive
Department for Health and Wellbeing
CANDIDATE INFORMATION PACK
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Executive Summary
- Visionary and inspirational leader
- Lead system-wide reform
- Support excellence in the delivery of healthcare to South Australians
THE OPPORTUNITY
The Department for Health and Wellbeing (DHW) is an administrative unit under the South Australian Public Sector Act 2009 with responsibility for setting strategic direction and statewide policy, as well as the performance of the public health system through high level system direction and performance management.
SA Health is how we describe the public health system as a whole. It includes the Department, ten Local Health Networks (including Statewide Clinical Support Services) and SA Ambulance Service.
THE ROLE
The Chief Executive of the Department for Health and Wellbeing is responsible for implementing the Government’s vision for a large and complex service delivery system, leading the strategic direction, governance and performance of the public health system in accordance with the functions set out in section 7 of the Health Care Act 2008 (SA). This includes overseeing the development and implementation of statewide health policies, plans and priorities, ensuring the effective delivery, coordination and integration of health services and maintaining system wide accountability for quality, safety and financial sustainability.
The Chief Executive provides executive leadership to drive continuous improvement across the health system, aligning resources and operations to strategic objectives, supporting Local Health Networks and other entities, and ensuring the Department meets its legislative, service delivery and fiscal responsibilities while improving health outcomes for the South Australian community.
THE CANDIDATE
To be successful in this role you will need to demonstrate:
- Outstanding strategic leadership skills, including experience in driving change and innovation
- Excellent understanding of emerging directions within healthcare services
- Experience in providing high level advice on complex and politically sensitive issues
- Experience working in a public sector health care environment
- Significant experience in leading the development of policy, strategy and programs
- High credibility and ability to inspire public confidence.
For a confidential discussion, please get in touch with:
Liz Hlipala
HardyGroup Principal Consultant
M. +61 (0)401 122 301
E. lhlipala@hardygroupintl.com
Department for Health and Wellbeing | SA Health
Department for Health and Wellbeing
The Department for Health and Wellbeing assists the Minister for Health and Wellbeing, to set the policy framework and strategic directions for SA Health.
The department supports the delivery of public health services, formulates health policy, 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.
SA Health is committed to protecting and improving the health of all South Australians by providing leadership in health reform, public health services, health and medical research, policy development and planning, with an increased focus on well being, illness prevention, early intervention and quality care.
SA Health is the brand name for the health portfolio of services and agencies responsible to our Minister, the Minister for Health and Wellbeing.
The portfolio consists of the:
- Department for Health and Wellbeing
- SA Ambulance Service
- Barossa Hills Fleurieu Local Health Network
- Central Adelaide Local Health Network
- Eyre and Far North Local Health Network
- Flinders and Upper North Local Health Network
- Limestone Coast Local Health Network
- Northern Adelaide Local Health Network
- Riverland Mallee Coorong Local Health Network
- Southern Adelaide Local Health Network
- Women’s and Children’s Health Network
- Yorke and Northern Local Health Network
- Commission on Excellence and Innovation in Health (attached office)
- Preventive Health SA (attached office)
Our vision
South Australians experience the best health in Australia.
We can achieve this vision by individuals, families, our staff, other health providers and government or non-government agencies working together.
To achieve this we will work to:
- prevent chronic disease, communicable disease and injury, and prevent exacerbation of established chronic disease
- partner with individuals, families and communities to enhance their health and wellbeing
- support individuals and their families through recovery
- create healthier neighbourhoods and communities
- respond when needed to manage acute conditions and injuries
- assist individuals and families to adapt to changes in their health and wellbeing over time, including at end of life
- protect against public and environmental health risks and adapt to climate change.
Our mission
Our mission at SA Health is to lead and deliver a comprehensive and sustainable health system that aims to ensure healthier, longer and better lives for all South Australians.
We will achieve our objectives by:
- strengthening primary health care
- enhancing hospital care
- reforming mental health care
- improving the health of Aboriginal people
- committing to a health system that produces positive health outcomes by focusing on health promotion, illness prevention and early intervention.
We will work with other government agencies and the community to address the environmental, socioeconomic, biological and behavioural determinants of health, and to achieve equitable health outcomes for all South Australians.
Our values
The values of SA Health are used to indicate the type of conduct required by our employees and the conduct that our customers can expect from our health service:
- We are committed to the values of integrity, respect and accountability.
- We value care, excellence, innovation, creativity, leadership and equity in health care provision and health outcomes.
- We demonstrate our values in our interactions with others in SA Health, the community, and those for whom we care.
Role Specification
The Chief Executive of the Department for Health and Wellbeing is responsible for implementing the Government's vision for a large and complex service delivery system, leading the strategic direction, governance and performance of the public health system in accordance with the functions set out in section 7 of the Health Care Act 2008 (SA). This includes overseeing the development and implementation of statewide health policies, plans and priorities, ensuring the effective delivery, coordination and integration of health services, and maintaining system-wide accountability for quality, safety and financial sustainability.
The Chief Executive provides executive leadership to drive continuous improvement across the health system, aligning resources and operations to strategic objectives, supporting Local Health Networks and other entities, and ensuring the Department meets its legislative, service delivery and fiscal responsibilities while improving health outcomes for the South Australian community.
Outcomes of the role include, but are not limited to the following:
- Providing system leadership and stewardship of South Australia’s public health system in line with the functions set out in s7 of the Health Care Act 2008.
- Providing strategic advice to the Minister and Government on health system performance, reform and emerging issues.
- Setting and implementing statewide strategic direction, policies and priorities to improve population health outcomes and service performance, and delivering on allocated Government priorities within available resources.
- Ensuring the effective planning, coordination and integration of health services across Local Health Networks and other service providers.
- Addressing ramping through improved patient flow, effective demand management and timely access to emergency care.
- Driving high standards of clinical quality, safety and patient experience across the health system.
- Maintaining system-wide financial oversight and sustainability, including the effective management, monitoring and reporting of physical, human and financial resources.
- Establishing and upholding robust governance, accountability and performance monitoring frameworks.
- Supporting and overseeing Local Health Networks and SA Health entities to deliver against agreed service, activity and performance targets.
- Driving improved health outcomes and service access for regional and remote communities, with a focus on strengthening country health services.
- Implementing a wide range of projects and initiatives to deliver on Government policy objectives and system reform priorities.
- Promoting continuous improvement in service delivery and system performance, resulting in increased innovation, efficiency, effectiveness, accountability and collaboration.
- Leading, modelling and engaging the workforce to embrace and exhibit the South Australian Public Sector values and behaviours.
- Ensuring sound workforce management practices, including implementation of all relevant Government policies on equity, diversity, social justice, work health and safety, and ethical conduct consistent with the Code of Ethics for the South Australian Public Sector.
- Fostering strong partnerships and contributing to whole-of-government outcomes through cooperative relationships with Senior Leadership Committee, other agencies, and external stakeholders.
View the full scope of these in the Position Description.
- 1.Outstanding strategic leadership skills, including demonstrated experience in driving change and innovation.
- 2.Excellent understanding of emerging directions within healthcare services, in South Australia, nationally and internationally.
- 3.Experience working in a public sector health care environment.
- 4.Demonstrated high level ability to lead, influence, negotiate, and build strong engaging relationships with a range of stakeholders.
- 5.Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively to achieve sector reform initiatives.
- 6.Significant experience in leading the development of policy, strategy and programs.
- 7.High credibility and ability to inspire public confidence.
- 8.Significant experience in responding to and providing high level advice on complex and politically sensitive issues.
- 9.Demonstrated ability to manage a diverse and complex organisation that is subject to constant change.
- 10.Integrity, honesty, fairness, impartiality and commitment to values-based leadership.
- 11.Relevant tertiary qualifications.
- Annual Budget: $9.9 billion (2025/26)
- SA Health FTE: 42,000FTE (DHW and Attached Offices – 1,749 FTE)
- Direct reports including four Deputy Chief Executives, Chief Digital Health Officer, Chief Public Health Officer, Chief Psychiatrist, Chief Executive Officer, SA Ambulance Service, Director, Office of the Chief Executive, and Executive Director, Corporate Communications.
To be discussed with the HardyGroup Principal Consultant.
Major challenges associated with the role include:
- Implementation of successful system wide reform programs to achieve SA Health’s key priorities.
- Managing growing demand and service complexity while optimising workforce capability and sustainable use of resources.
- Planning for and responding to long-term demographic and system trends, such as an ageing population, increasing chronic conditions, workforce needs and infrastructure renewal, to ensure sustainable, future-focused health outcomes for all South Australians.
- Leading large-scale system reform and integration while maintaining stable, high-performing frontline service delivery.
- Navigating complex stakeholder environments and maintaining public confidence while delivering on Government priorities and whole-of-government outcomes.
- Responsible to the Minister for Health and Wellbeing.
- Works closely with the Premier, Deputy Premier, Ministers, Cabinet and its committees.
- Builds and maintains collaborative working relationships with all DHW executives, Chief Executive Officers and senior executives in Local Health Networks, SA Ambulance Service, and other Government agencies (State and Commonwealth), and key community stakeholders including unions, universities, and relevant professional organisations.
- Direct reports including four Deputy Chief Executives, Chief Digital Health Officer, Chief Public Health Officer, Chief Psychiatrist, Chief Executive Officer, SA Ambulance Service, Director, Office of the Chief Executive, and Executive Director, Corporate Communications.
Service Location: Adelaide, South Australia
Classification: Chief Executive
- A contract term of up to five years.
- It is mandatory to provide, prior to appointment, a satisfactory current Criminal and Relevant History Screening Check, as required by the SA Health Criminal and Relevant History Screening Policy Directive
- Participation in the SA Public Sector biannual performance review process is required.
- Maintain a safe working environment by adopting appropriate management practices and have an understanding of, experience in, and ability to manage legislative requirements of the Work Health and Safety Act 2012.
- As a WHS defined Officer for SA Health, exercise due diligence to ensure SA Health compliance with Section 27 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2012 (SA), and to take reasonably practicable steps to support health and safety culture, accountability, the allocation of resources and ensure compliance with legislative requirements.
- Advocate Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and Diversity in the Workplace in accordance with EEO legislation.
- Promote and maintain a commitment to inclusive workplace in support of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and other under-represented groups.
- Support the Department’s participation in the White Ribbon, Disability and Reconciliation Agendas and/or their successors.
- Work within the legislative requirements of the Public Sector Act 2009, and the Work Health & Safety Act 2012 (SA), Return to Work Act 2014 (SA), Independent Commissioner Against Corruption Act 2012 (SA) and other relevant Acts, Regulations and Australian Standards.
- The incumbent will be required to display the South Australian Public Sector Values and ensure, as far as practicable, that the objects of the Health Care Act 2008 and Public Sector Act 2009 are advanced, and the public sector principles and Code of Ethics are observed in the management and day-to-day operations of the agency.
- Intrastate, interstate and overseas travel will be required.
Role Description
SA Health organisational chart
'Part 2—Minister and Chief Executive' on pages 11-13 of Health Care Act 2008
The South Australian Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2020 - 2025
The closing date for applications is Sunday, 19 July 2026
The reference number to include in your application is H26_5527
Note: Please use the online platform to submit your application. It will not be accepted via email.
If you require assistance in submitting your application online, please get in touch with Executive Search Coordinator, Bradie Hammat: M: +61 (0)417 882 900 / E: bhammat@hardygroupintl.com
Your application must include:
- 1.Cover letter addressed to the Principal Consultant;
- 2.A written response addressing the key selection criteria; and
- 3.An up to date copy of your Curriculum Vitae.
It Is standard practice for HardyGroup to acknowledge receipt of your application no later than the next business day. We request that if you do not receive the acknowledgement, you contact the search coordinator listed above as soon as possible after the 24-hour business period and arrange to resend your application if necessary.
For a confidential discussion, please contact:
Liz Hlipala
HardyGroup Principal Consultant
M. +61 (0)401 122 301
E. lhlipala@hardygroupintl.com
LIVING AND WORKING IN ADELAIDE
Adelaide enjoys a reputation for remarkable liveability thanks to its pleasant climate, manageable size and relaxed South Australian pace.
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Golden hour at Glenelg Beach (Credit)
The Adelaide Botanic Gardens are a green serene paradise in the middle of the city (Credit)
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