Chief Strategy and Planning Officer
Barwon Health
CANDIDATE INFORMATION PACK
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We, Barwon Health, acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land, the Wadawurrung people of the Kulin Nation. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging. We thank the Traditional Owners for custodianship of the land and celebrate the continuing culture of the Wadawurrung people, acknowledging the memory of honourable ancestors.
Executive Summary
- Lead strategy, planning and growth for one of Australia's largest regional health services.
- Partner with the CEO and Board to shape Barwon Health's future direction and investment priorities.
- Drive system-wide collaboration through major partnerships, service planning and strategic initiatives.
THE OPPORTUNITY
Barwon Health is one of Australia's largest and most comprehensive regional health services, delivering care across the full continuum of health and wellbeing through a network of more than 20 sites serving a population of over 500,000 people. With more than 9,000 staff and volunteers, the organisation provides a broad range of services spanning primary care, community health, aged care, rehabilitation, mental health, emergency and acute services. Recognised for its commitment to clinical excellence, education, research and innovation, Barwon Health plays a vital role in supporting the health needs of a rapidly growing and evolving regional community.
Barwon Health is seeking an outstanding executive leader to help shape the future of healthcare across the Barwon South West region. Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Strategy and Planning Officer will play a pivotal role in setting organisational direction, identifying growth opportunities and ensuring the health service remains responsive to the evolving needs of its communities.
This is a rare opportunity to influence strategy at scale, working across a complex health system while contributing to the long-term sustainability, performance and impact of one of Victoria's leading health services.
THE ROLE
As a key member of the Executive Team, the Chief Strategy and Planning Officer leads Barwon Health's strategic planning, service and capital planning, partnership development, risk management and corporate planning functions.
Working closely with the CEO, Board and senior leaders, the role is responsible for driving delivery of the organisational strategy, identifying emerging opportunities and risks, and fostering partnerships that strengthen healthcare outcomes across the region. The position also provides executive leadership for major strategic projects and regional collaborations.
THE CANDIDATE
The successful candidate will be a strategic and influential executive with experience leading planning, transformation or growth initiatives within a complex environment. They will bring strong commercial and strategic acumen, exceptional stakeholder engagement skills and the ability to translate vision into action.
An understanding of the Victorian health sector, experience working across organisational boundaries and a collaborative leadership style will be highly regarded. Above all, candidates will possess the judgement, credibility and leadership capability to operate effectively at executive and board level while helping shape the future of Barwon Health.
HOW TO APPLY
The closing date for applications is Sunday, 13 September 2026.
For a confidential discussion about the position, please contact:
Pete Carter
Principal Search Consultant
HardyGroup
BARWON HEALTH
About Barwon Health
Barwon Health is one of the largest and most comprehensive regional health services in Australia, providing care at all stages of life and circumstance. Services available through Barwon Health cover the full spectrum from primary care, community services, aged care, rehabilitation, mental health, emergency and acute care. We serve more than 500,000 people through the efforts of more than 9000 staff and volunteers across more than 20 sites. Barwon Health is committed to developing a vibrant culture of education, training and research that advances health and wellbeing for all.
Formed in 1998, Barwon Health is one of the largest and most comprehensive regional health services in Australia, providing care at all stages of life and circumstance. Health services available through Barwon Health cover the full spectrum from primary care, community services, aged care, rehabilitation, mental health, emergency and acute care. With the exception of neurosurgery and transplantation, virtually all other specialties are available through University Hospital Geelong.
Barwon Health provides services for everyone who needs care, regardless of their financial status or the location of their usual residence. As a regional health service, we provide leadership and tertiary referral services across the Barwon South West region. Our local community is the G21 region which comprises the residents of the City of Greater Geelong, Colac Otway Shire, Golden Plains Shire, Borough of Queenscliffe and Surf Coast Shire.
Care is provided to the community through:
- Community health services at key locations throughout the region.
- Aged care through the McKellar Centre and its sites in North Geelong and Charlemont.
- Rehabilitation services both as an inpatient at the McKellar Centre and outpatient services at North Geelong and Belmont.
- A major teaching hospital and its associated services.
With more than 8,700 staff, we are one of Australia’s largest regional employers and a major education provider through our relationships with Deakin University, University of Melbourne, Monash University, the Gordon and a number of other educational centres and universities.
Barwon Health Strategic Plan - Summary
Our vision:
By 2050, everyone in our community enjoys the best health and wellbeing in Victoria.
Our purpose:
Provide best care, every person, every day, so that everyone feels better.
Priority 1:
Deliver best care
Person-centred
Our consumers direct the care they receive to achieve their goals.
Value
We aim always to improve the value of our services.
Integration
We integrate care without gaps or duplication of effort
Evidence
We apply evidence to improve care.
Appropriate
Right care, right time,
right place, right way.
Priority 2:
Invest to improve
Research
We embed research in care to create a learning system.
Resilience
We build our capacity to deal with the unexpected.
Experience
We improve the experience of our consumers and our people.
Access
We aim to improve timely, local, simple and equitable access to services
Facilities
We develop fit-for-purpose, modern facilities to improve consumer experience and staff satisfaction.
Priority 3:
Ensure our future
Financial sustainability
We live within our means and we grow our capacity.
Agile
We are agile in responding to changing needs and opportunities.
Environmental sustainability
We aim to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 to reduce the impact of climate change on the health of our community.
Grow our own
We train, develop and support staff, for Barwon Health and for the region.
Together
We partner for greater impact.
Our values:
▪ Respect – We respect the people we connect with.
▪ Compassion – We show compassion for the people we care for and work with.
▪ Commitment – We are committed to quality and excellence in everything we do.
▪ Accountability – We take accountability for what we do and act with integrity.
▪ Innovation – We drive innovation for better care.
Our enablers:
▪ Integrated models of care: integrated models of care make transitions seamless.
▪ Our people: leadership, staff engagement, teamwork and commitment to excellence.
▪ Our culture: supports us to make the right choices every time.
▪ Effective tools: platforms, processes and systems, technology and analytics.
We measure our success by:
▪ Our consumers feel better.
▪ Our community is confident that Barwon Health will meet their healthcare needs.
▪ Our stakeholders recognise us as an innovative health service and a trustworthy partner.
▪ Our owner, the Victorian Government, supports our plans.
▪ Our staff tell us that they feel hopeful, confident and safe in the workplace.
Core objectives for Victorian public health services that frame the Barwon Health strategy:
▪ Quality and safety.
▪ Good governance and leadership.
▪ Access and timeliness.
▪ Financial sustainability.
Read more about Barwon's strategic plan here.
Barwon Health Statement of Commitment to Child Safety
- Barwon Health is committed to the health, safety, wellbeing and empowerment of all children and young people and has zero tolerance for child abuse.
- We are committed to providing a child-safe environment where the health of children and young people is promoted and where they are safe, feel safe, are encouraged to communicate their concerns, and their voices are heard about decisions that affect their health and lives.
- We are committed to preventing child abuse and have processes in place to identify and respond to child abuse and to actively reduce risks.
- We are committed to providing training and education materials and resources to support and maintain the currency of the knowledge of our workforce.
- We value the role of families and carers in the lives of children and young people and have processes in place to involve them in decision-making and to support communications with them.
- Allegations of abuse and neglect and safety concerns will be treated seriously and consistently with our policies and procedures and legal obligations.
Families and Carers Rights and Responsibilities
The Carers Recognition Act 2012 acknowledges the important role of carers and introduced the principle that, where appropriate, carers should be involved in the assessment, planning, delivery and review of services that affect them and the care relationship.
Families and carers are important contributors to the care and wellbeing of our consumers and their ongoing recovery. Every effort is made to support the role of families and carers and to encourage and promote their involvement in all elements of our service delivery.
Barwon Health works in partnership with families and carers to bring about the best possible healthcare outcomes for consumers.
We provide health promotion programs that aim to improve the health and well-being of the population and address priorities in the Victorian public health and wellbeing plan 2023–27.
Role Specification
The Chief Strategy and Planning Officer (CSPO) will serve as a key member of the executive management team. In collaboration with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and the Executive Team, the CSPO will provide leadership in relation to strategy development, the strategic planning process, partnership development and service and capital planning. The position focuses on effective growth; oversee implementation of the strategic plan including early planning of capital projects, build new partnerships to grow and sustain the organisation and manages special pilot projects.
Reporting to the CEO, the position leads the annual refinement of strategy to take account of new opportunities and challenges. The CSPO works with the broader Barwon Health Directorates to assist them in realising strategic opportunities to achieve outcomes and address complex and challenging strategic issues.
The CSPO will oversee a portfolio that includes:
- Service and capital planning;
- Strategic planning;
- Risk Management;
- Annual (corporate) planning;
- Partnerships including the Barwon Local Health Service Network (BLHSN) and the Barwon South Western Regional Integrated Cancer Service (BSWRICS);
- Special projects; and
- Identification of emerging trends that may impact Barwon Health to provide CEO and Board with strategic advice.
The CSPO will maintain strong connections to Barwon Health Directorates and the Victorian health service system to introduce new partnerships, transition special projects for longer term sustainability and to meet the needs of key partners. The role will facilitate a strategic approach across Barwon Health to capitalise on emerging opportunities consistent with the agreed vision.
The BLHSN is a collaboration between four public health services (Barwon Health, Colac Area Health, Hesse Rural Health and Great Ocean Road Health), focused on supporting member agencies to deliver safe, quality, and sustainable services. Initiatives include both State priorities and locally based work, overseen by representative Committees or working groups reporting to the Chief Executive Officer Committee.
Barwon Health is the auspice agency for BSWRICS. BSWRICS is a partnership of 19 member services who work together to:
- Understand the needs of people affected by cancer
- Build and support collaboration between health professionals, health services and consumers
- Drive quality improvement in cancer
- Support the development of the cancer workforce; and
- Facilitate system-wide engagement in cancer research.
Strategy
- The CSPO will maintain strong connections to Barwon Health Directorates and the Victorian health service system to introduce new partnerships, transition special projects for longer term sustainability and to meet the needs of key partners. The role will facilitate a strategic approach across Barwon Health to capitalise on emerging opportunities consistent with the agreed vision.
- Working with the CEO and Executive team to support achievement of the vision and mission statement and to embody the values of the organisation with key internal and external stakeholders;
- Foster a strategic approach that supports achievement of Barwon Health’s strategic direction through delivery against key financial and operational parameters;
- Provide leadership and support for direct reports, appraise their performance and ensure that they receive appropriate performance management and professional development opportunities.
Planning
- Support the development and implementation of Barwon Health annual corporate planning and portfolio management framework, ensuring outcomes are achieve including overseeing investment decisions that best deliver on Barwon Health’s strategy.
- Lead development, implementation, monitoring and review of strategies and plans, to ensure continuous improvement and that Barwon Health prioritises its work, strategically invests, and delivers on expected outcomes.
- Lead the implementation of Barwon Health five year strategic plan 2026 – 2030.
- Lead the development of future Barwon Health strategic plans.
- Manage internal and external stakeholder relationships through effective communication, negotiation and issue management to ensure strong collaboration, engagement and/or co-delivery in pursuit of strategic and operational outcomes.
- Anticipate and respond to strategic drivers, trends, issues, risks and opportunities.
- Lead the development and implementation of integrated health service plans eg. Renal dialysis plan.
- Contribute to the development and implementation of programs to maximise organisational effectiveness and efficiency.
Risk Management
- Lead the design of the Barwon Health risk framework, monitor risk indicators, and advise the executive team and Board of Directors on risk appetite and strategic decision-making.
- Conduct quantitative and qualitative risk analyses to evaluate the likelihood and impact of potential hazards (e.g., credit, market, and operational risks).
- Lead the development, implementation, and maintenance of risk mitigation policies and business continuity plans.
- Monitor Key Risk Indicators (KRIs) and perform "what-if" analyses to determine the consequences of potential incidents.
- Champion risk awareness across Barwon Health and ensure appropriate training and support is provided to designated risk owners.
Partnerships (including BLHSN and BSWRICS):
- Support the development and maintenance of effective governance for the BLHSN and BSWRICS partnerships.
- Work with the Directors of BHLSN and BSWRICS to deliver agreed priorities and reports for BLHSN and BSWRICS as required by the Department of Health.
- Provide strategic direction as required to support the effective operation of the BLHSN and BSWRICS partnerships including achievement of their strategic aims.
Other Responsibilities
- Exhibits a commitment the Barwon Health’s Values including team based above and below behaviours
- Undertake special projects or reports required by the CEO on a wide range of issues
- Participate in the executive after hours HIC roster (approx. one week in eight)
- Report all incidents through the incident management system
- Practice in accordance with the relevant health care or industry standards
- Demonstrate an understanding of appropriate behaviours when engaging with children
- Complete mandatory training and education
- Comply with relevant Barwon Health policies and procedures
- Participate in quality improvement activities
- Perform all other duties as directed within the limits of skill, competence and training to maximise flexibility and effectiveness
Skills and Experience
Essential
- A degree in a relevant discipline
- Knowledge of the Victorian health system and operating context including trends in health policy and constraints to optimal performance
- Experience in working with other health services and other partners to achieve sustainable outcomes of benefits to all
- Demonstrated skills in leadership, management, and collaboration.
- Excellent communication skills with proven experience in fostering relationships among various internal departments and clearly communicating an organization's goals.
- Demonstrated proficiency in analytical research, leadership, and strategic planning.
- Strong project management skills in order to oversee the execution of initiatives, either independently or in conjunction with a team, and manage personnel.
- Ability to multitask with research projects, data analysis, coordination with the executive team.
- Willingness to challenge the standard thinking with new ideas, new approaches, and new solutions
- Strong decision-making skills and the determination to see projects through to the end.
Desirable
- Relevant work experience overseeing business development or strategic initiatives will be beneficial
Reporting
Reports to: Chief Executive Officer
Direct Reports: 6
Key Relationships
Internal
- CEO, Executive and Barwon Health Board of Directors
- Senior Leadership Group, clinical directors & co-directors
External
- The Department of Health senior executives
- Other Health Services across Victoria
- Other Government agencies
- Local Government
- The local community
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
- Wathaurong Co-op
- Consumers
- Professional Associations
Please discuss with the HG Principal Consultant.
Classification: Executive
Unit/Department: Strategy and Planning
Division: Chief Executive Officer
Location: Geelong, Victoria
Additional Requirements
- Obtain a police/criminal history check prior to employment.
- Obtain a Working with Children Check prior to employment (if requested).
- Prior to commencement with Barwon Health, all new employees are required to provide a completed Barwon Health Immunity Status form and have Staff Care clearance
- Report to management any criminal charges or convictions you receive during your employment.
- Protect confidential information from unauthorised disclosure and not use, disclose or copy confidential information except for the purpose of and to the extent necessary to perform your employment duties at Barwon Health.
- Adherence with requirement of National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards and other relevant regulatory requirements including the Child Safe Standards.
The closing date for applications is Sunday, 13 September 2026.
The reference number to include in your application is H26_5530.
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:
Pete Carter
HG Principal Search Consultant
M. +61 (0)448 729 077
E. pcarter@hardygroupintl.com
LIVING AND WORKING IN
GEELONG, VICTORIA
A place for everyone, Geelong offers a relaxed lifestyle close to beaches and the countryside, yet is only an hour away from Melbourne. As one of Australia’s largest urban centres, Geelong has a big city feel without the commotion, and combines a beautiful coastal location with a friendly multicultural community. With excellent events and festivals, accessible public transport, quality educational precincts, and a vast array of sport and leisure activities, Geelong provides the perfect environment for individuals and families to achieve enhanced work-life balance.
With a low commute time, affordable house prices and a booming infrastructure, Geelong is a city difficult to compete with. The region is bounded by the Moorabool Shire, the Borough of Queenscliffe, Golden Plains Shire and Surf Coast Shire and Bass Strait.
At Geelong's core sits Barwon Health, the state's largest regional health service with 23 sites.
The City of Greater Geelong covers 1245km2 with a contrast of landscapes including urban, country and coastal. Only 75 kilometres outside Melbourne CBD, Geelong has become a popular tourist destination. Elements of the region includes a bustling city centre framed by water which includes the multi-award winning waterfront, the Bellarine Peninsula, the Barwon River that runs through the region and it is also the gateway to the world-renowned Great Ocean Road.
Geelong is Victoria’s second largest city after Melbourne with a population of over 245,000 people and a forecast that shows it will grow a further 150,000 people within the next 20 years. The local government has placed a great emphasis on innovation, employment and economic growth in the Geelong region. The city has a broad industry of 17,000 businesses and a labour force of 110,632 (2016 Census estimate). The sector includes health and allied services, education and research, advanced manufacturing, tourism, agribusiness, construction and professional services.
ABOUT US
HardyGroup’s (HG) mission is simple
Find and Grow Great Leaders - and we have been doing exactly that for more than 30 years in public and private health, primary, community and aged care as well as the broader public service.
Our synergistic business model of Executive Search and Recruitment integrated with Executive Leadership and Learning is our unique point of difference.
It ensures our clients can count on us for the lifecycle of their organisations leadership journey and why we are regarded as the leading trans-Tasman partner agency by clients.
When engaging HG you can be confident in a deeply personalised experience and service as nothing matters more to us than relationships and results.