Chief Executive
Western NSW Local Health District
CANDIDATE INFORMATION PACK
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Western NSW Local Health District respectfully acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Country throughout Western NSW, and their continuing connection to land, water and community.
We pay our respect to Traditional Custodians, our Elders both past and present and acknowledge the Aboriginal people of the nations that we have the privilege to live and work on.
We share and celebrate the rich history of Aboriginal culture, and recognise the diverse and proud Aboriginal nations across our District.
Executive Summary
- Lead a complex regional health service spanning 247,000 square kilometres and serving approximately 280,000 people.
- Partner with the Board and NSW Health to shape sustainable, equitable and innovative healthcare across Western NSW.
- Champion better health outcomes for rural, remote and Aboriginal communities.
THE OPPORTUNITY
Western NSW Local Health District is seeking an exceptional Chief Executive to lead healthcare delivery across one of the largest and most geographically diverse health districts in NSW. Internationally recognised for its leadership in virtual care, the District provides an extensive range of hospital, community, mental health and specialist services to regional, rural and remote communities.
This is an opportunity to influence healthcare at scale, strengthening access, quality and sustainability while responding to the distinct needs of communities across Western NSW. The Chief Executive will play an important role in advancing Aboriginal health outcomes, supporting an engaged workforce and building partnerships that enable more coordinated care closer to home.
THE ROLE
Working with the Board, the Chief Executive will provide strategic leadership, direction and management across the District. The role has accountability for clinical and corporate governance, organisational performance, financial sustainability, workforce leadership and delivery of the annual Service Agreement. The Chief Executive will also oversee strategic and clinical service planning, ensuring resources are applied equitably and community and clinician perspectives inform decision-making.
Operating within a $1.5 billion initial FY27 expense budget, the Chief Executive will balance growing service demand, workforce pressures and community expectations while maintaining safe, high-quality care and sound financial management. The position also works closely with the Ministry of Health, other Local Health Districts and statewide health organisations to strengthen regional and NSW-wide service delivery.
THE CANDIDATE
The successful candidate will be an accomplished executive with a strong record of leading a significant, geographically dispersed organisation delivering health, human or similarly complex services. They will bring proven operational leadership, sound knowledge of the public health system and the financial, governance and strategic capability required to lead within a highly visible and demanding environment.
A genuine understanding of and affinity for rural, regional and remote communities will be essential, together with a commitment to improving outcomes for Aboriginal people. The appointee will be a resilient, credible and collaborative leader who can engage diverse stakeholders, make difficult decisions and translate strategic direction into sustainable outcomes for communities across Western NSW.
We invite you to discuss this exceptional leadership opportunity with:
Paul Ingle
Chief Executive Officer, HardyGroup Australia & New Zealand
M. +61 (0)402 796 125
E. pingle@hardygroupintl.com
Sarah Buckler
Principal Search Consultant
M. +61 (0)429 486 740
E. sbuckler@hardygroupintl.com
WESTERN NSW LOCAL HEALTH DISTRICT
Western NSW LHD serves a population of 280,000 dispersed across more than 31% of the land mass of NSW. Our health services provide high quality care to people in regional, rural and remote locations from 38 inpatient facilities, 60 primary and community health services and 23 community mental health facilities.
Our organisation has a highly skilled and dedicated workforce, committed to achieving the vision of healthier rural people and thriving communities. Our action focuses on improving health and well-being for rural people, meaningful gains in Aboriginal health, world class rural health care and integrated health services across the region. Our goals will be achieved through strong leadership, high performing inter-professional teams, strong allegiance to our core values, effective partnerships and by embracing technology and innovative solutions to successfully navigate the changing health landscape into the future.
Valuing our workforce, we aim to provide individualised support and development opportunities for growth along each employee journey; helping people along career paths in leadership, clinical and non-clinical domains. We welcome both local people and those from afar who share our values and goals and wish to join our teams and embrace the range of opportunities within WNSWLHD.
Our services include:
- Regional, Procedural, and Community hospitals
- Maternity and birthing services
- Child and family, specialist paediatrics and PARVAN services
- Ambulatory clinics and specialist outpatients
- Diagnostic and clinical support services
- Primary / community services and General Practice (limited)
- Integrated Mental Health and Drug/Alcohol services
- Multipurpose Services, older person’s care, palliative care
- Cancer Services incl. medical and radiation oncology
- Renal medicine, dialysis, and subspecialty medical services
- Orthopaedics, surgical including subspecialty surgical services
- Specialist intellectual disability
- Oral health, Public Health and Health Promotion
- Aboriginal health
- Virtual and Hospital in the Home services
Our vision and purpose
Our vision is to support healthier people and thriving communities.
Our purpose is to deliver exceptional care to the people of Western NSW.
Our values
Our board, executive, managers and staff work together to support our values of collaboration, openness, respect and empowerment in everything we do.
Our priorities
- World class rural healthcare, closer to home.
- Healthy communities, rural voices.
- A strong and empowered workforce.
- Smart, future ready systems.
Role Specification
The Chief Executive (CE) provides pivotal and strategic leadership, direction and management of the Local Health District (LHD) and with the Board, is responsible for the sound governance to ensure that the LHD fulfils its statutory operating and reporting requirements and meets its obligations to deliver agreed services within an agreed budget and which meet specified performance standards and strategic objectives.
- Provide effective leadership and management of the LHD to ensure the effective performance of its statutory functions, systems are in place to comply with WHS and other statutory obligations, and that the LHD has the capacity, structure and practices to enable it to:
- provide safe quality healthcare
- operate within its allocated budget
- meet Ministry of Health creditor and other financial KPIs to provide timely and accurate reporting to the Ministry on current financial status and workforce data
- provide timely, accurate annual reporting and preparation of financial statements and high-quality electronic financial data for submission to the Audit Office
- Oversee the implementation of effective clinical and corporate governance frameworks, ensuring the Board receives sufficient timely and accurate information to enable it to discharge its role in the governance of the LHD, and that clinical governance systems are in place to ensure that the services of the LHD’s facilities meet the National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards and continually improve patient outcomes
- Lead the negotiation of the LHD Service Agreement with the NSW Government, implement the agreement and other NSW Government priority policies and programs, report on performance against the agreed performance monitoring measures in the Service Agreement, and ensure that the Board is fully consulted and briefed
- Lead the establishment and maintenance of effective systems endorsed by the Board to ensure that the LHD’s resources are applied equitably to meet the needs of the community and that community and clinicians’ views are considered in decision making within the LHD
- Direct the development of a strategic/clinical services plan for the LHD and an operational plan to guide the delivery of services on an equitable and balanced basis
- Effectively lead and manage the LHD to achieve a range of workforce, financial, quality and accountability aims and standards; and lead the development of workforce, financial and business plans, strategies and budgets to ensure accountability and efficient provision of health services and the long term operational and financial viability of the LHD
- Lead the development and strengthening of clinical linkages within the LHD, and between LHDs, to ensure resources are used on an effective and equitable basis for the benefit of the people of NSW; and develop structures to ensure greater involvement by local communities and clinicians in planning health service delivery needs
- Effectively contribute to the delivery of health services across the State by working with other LHDs and the Ministry of Health in planning streamlined administrative structures across the State to deliver additional resources for direct patient care; to support and contribute to broader regional and Statewide clinical service networks; and develop and maintain linkages with health organisations and administrative entities of the NSW public health system
Key Knowledge and Experience
- Strong record of achievement in management at executive level in a significant and geographically dispersed organisation delivering health, human or other complex services
- Demonstrated knowledge of the health sector, in particular administration of the public health system.
- An understanding of and affinity for delivering high-quality services to remote, rural and regional communities, including Aboriginal communities.
Essential requirements
- Tertiary qualification in a relevant discipline or equivalent relevant experience
- Proven track record of effective operational management at a senior level
Decision making
The CE has substantial day-to-day autonomy in directing and managing the LHD’s activities and deploying its resources within the overall budget allocation. This includes the resolution of local industrial problems and the creation of jobs (including setting their grading) and appointment of senior staff.
The overall budget for the LHD is determined by the Minister for Health on advice from the Ministry of Health. Expenditure authorisation is unlimited within the approved budget and subject to fiscal, accounting, governance and other conditions established by Government and any conditions determined under the governance arrangements with the Board. The approval and budget for major capital projects is also determined by the Government.
Significant proposed changes to health services within an LHD must be notified to the Secretary, NSW Health. Conditions of employment of health service personnel are determined by relevant industrial instruments or by Ministry of Health policies and determinations.
Who | Why |
Ministerial | |
Secretary and Senior Executives |
|
Internal | |
Executive Team and LHD Board Chief Executives of other LHDs Chief Executive, HealthShare NSW & Chief Executive, eHealth NSW Chief Executive, Health Infrastructure NSW Health Pillar Organisations |
|
External | |
Hospital Clinical Councils/Lead Clinicians Groups Local community organisations and stakeholders Academic Institutions Employee/ Employer Organisations Health Care Complaints Commission, Ombudsman and other Government accountability agencies |
|
- Annual Budget: FY27 initial expense budgets, $1.5b
- Direct Reports: 4
Reporting line
The Chief Executive is accountable to the Board for giving effect to the annual LHD Service Agreement, effective planning for the LHD, maintaining effective clinical governance processes and systems within the LHD, meeting the LHD’s public reporting requirements, providing effective consultative mechanisms in relation to LHD activities and decisions, disseminating information and responding to inquiries about LHD activities and issues of public interest or importance.
The Chief Executive is accountable to the Minister and Secretary, for the CE’s role, with the Board, in the governance of the LHD and for ensuring an effective contribution by the LHD to the NSW public health system.
As a member of the NSW Health Executive Service in the service of the Crown, the Chief Executive is accountable to the Secretary for the proper exercise of functions delegated by the Secretary including the effective management of employees of the NSW Health Service and the provision of safe, fair and mutually respectful workplaces within the LHD.
Please discuss with the HardyGroup Principal Consultant.
- Leading in a highly demanding and complex environment with front-line exposure to a multiplicity of stakeholders and vested interests, including operating under the close scrutiny of public and media groups, politicians, representatives of health workers and other lobby groups
- Ensuring the health service plan for the local population is implemented appropriately, so that residents are able to access appropriate treatment when needed and as close as possible to where they live, in the face of significant national and international workforce supply issues within the health sector
- Operating within budget, while at the same time meeting the growth in demand for health services and being responsive to the changing needs and priorities of the community
Service Location: Dubbo
Classification: HSSE Band 3
The closing date for applications is Sunday, 22 November 2026
The reference number to include in your application is H26_5628
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:
- Cover letter addressed to the Principal Consultant;
- A brief response addressing the key selection criteria; and
- 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:
Paul Ingle
Chief Executive Officer, HardyGroup Australia & New Zealand
M. +61 (0)402 796 125
E. pingle@hardygroupintl.com
Sarah Buckler
Principal Search Consultant
M. +61 (0)429 486 740
E. sbuckler@hardygroupintl.com
LIVING AND WORKING IN WESTERN NSW
Our region is so diverse, you can create a lifestyle where you live your best life, focusing on the things that matter.
Like food and wine! Our District is home to several wine regions, Mudgee, Orange and Cowra, each with stunning cellar door experiences and fine dining restaurants using locally sourced produce, punching well above their weight compared to city counterparts.
Naturally we have fabulous farming landscapes and spectacular national parks, large dams for water sports and councils who are sympathetic to the importance of nature within our towns.
Culturally, our larger towns host live theatre and galleries small and large dot the region. We also have a broad range of festivals and events including wine and food, Parkes Elvis Festival, motor racing, garden rambles and poetry to name a few.
Lioness at Taronga Western Plains Zoo, Dubbo
'The Dish', CSIRO Radio Telescope, Parkes
Being in the country, sport is king and everything is on offer here – team sports, cycling, triathlon, golf and even bush nippers.
We are at the centre of regional education, hosting two medical schools, one of Australia’s largest universities and a broad range of schools.
Access is easy by both road and air – with multiple direct daily flight services to the Eastern seaboard including direct to Melbourne and Brisbane, as well as Sydney from our major centres.
With tiny commutes, less traffic and low mortgages, our team have the means and time to do more of the things they love and really live their lives to the fullest – after all, isn’t that what life is about?
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.