About Children's Hospitals Australasia

Children's Hospitals Australasia (CHA) is a not for profit peak body, providing a voice across Australia and New Zealand for the common interests and concerns of member hospitals who provide health care services to children and young people. Most complex paediatric care in Australia and New Zealand is provided by hospitals that are members of Children's Hospitals Australasia.  The key activities undertaken by CHA are supporting best practice, benchmarking, networking and advocacy. 

CHA was originally conceived in 1988 and was first known as the Australian Association of Paediatric Teaching Centres (AAPTC).  It changed its name and corporate structure in 2000 to become a company limited by guarantee.  The change in name also reflected the desire to be inclusive of all children's hospitals and paediatric units both in Australia and New Zealand.  CHA now shares a secreteriat based in Canberra with Women's Hopsitals Australasia.  CHA is primarily funded through membership subscriptions, however where opportunities arise grants for research or policy development are also sought.

The governance structure of CHA comprises a CEO and a Board of Directors appoointed from amongst the Membership. Large Member Hospitals appoint one Board Director whilst Medium and Small Members each appoint one Director to represent their interests.  In addition, Observers are invited from time to time to attend Board meetings to facilitate communication with key stakeholder groups and Special Interest Groups. The Chief Executive Officer also attends Board meetings and acts as the Company Secretary for CHA.  Meetings of Directors are generally held every six weeks by teleconference.

CHA Board Directors 2009

President

A/Professor Graham Reynolds, Paediatrician and Neonatologist; Paediatrics at The Canberra Hospital (PaTCH), ACT.
email: CHA President

Vice Presidents

Professor Les White, Executive Director; Sydney Children’s Hospital, NSW.

Ms Bernadette Twomey, Nurse Leader; Starship Children's Health and National Woman's Health, NZ.

Mr Phil Robinson, Executive Director Clinical Governance, Education and Research; Children, Youth and Women’s Health Service, SA.

Board Members

• Professor Graham Vimpani AM, (Past President) Professor of Community Child Health and Head of the Discipline of Paediatrics and Child Health at the University of Newcastle; Clinical Chair of Kaleidoscope: Hunter Children’s Health Network within the Hunter New England Area Health Service; and Medical Director of the Child Protection Team of the John Hunter Children’s Hospital, NSW.
  Ms Anne Bourke, Executive Director, Nursing and Patient Support Services; Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, WA.
  Ms Julie Viecieli, Nurse Co-Director for Women’s and Children’s Clinical Services; Royal Hobart Hospital, TAS.
  A/Prof Helen Woollett, District Director of Nursing Services; Royal Children’s Hospital, QLD.
  Dr David Wood, Director of Paediatrics; Mater Children’s Hospital, QLD.
  Ms Anne Morgan, Service Manager, Child Health, Christchurch Hospital, NZ
  Dr Christine Kilpatrick, Chief Executive Officer; Royal Children’s Hospital, VIC
  Dr Tony Penna, Chief Executive; The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, NSW

Observers

• Ms Virginia Binns, Director of Allied Health; Sydney Children's Hospital, NSW. Representing Allied Health.
  Mrs. Robin Grindrod, Board member; Association for the Wellbeing of Children in Healthcare (AWCH). Representing AWCH
  Dr Jenny Promios, Paediatrician and Adolescent Physician, Centre for Adolescent Health; Royal Children’s Hospital, VIC. Representing the division of Paediatrics and Child Health
  Mr Sean Turner, Acting Director of Pharmacy; Children Youth Women’s and Health Service, SA. Representing WHA Medication Safety SIG