Victorian Healthcare Quality Association

PO Box 55, EAST MELBOURNE VIC 8002

President/Membership Belinda Westlake bwestlake@moynehealth.vic.gov.au	Belinda has a B App Sc in Health Information Management, a Master in Assessment and Evaluation and is currently completing a Grad Certificate in Strategic Risk Management. She is a Fellow of AAQHC. She has spent most of her career working in Quality and Risk in Rural and Regional Health Services in Victoria. Her areas of interest include the complexities of rural health services and the opportunities in these facilities for quality improvement and innovation. Belinda currently works as the Information, Quality and Risk Manager at Moyne Health Services in Southwest Victoria.
Vice President /Education Team Sue Evans sue.evans@med.monash.edu.au
Immediate Past President/Mentor AAQHC Victorian Council Representative Dot Humphrey-Lesque d.humphrey@gpasouthgippsland.com.au	Qualifications Registered Nurse working in acute care in tertiary and regional health services 1966 – 2010, Degree in Hospital and Nursing Administration Area(s) of Interest Quality Improvement for over 25 years, Patient Safety Current Position Clinical Risk Management Co-ordinator working with Gippsland GPs and small rural hospitals in the State-funded GP peer review program - Limited Adverse Occurrence Screening (LAOS).
Secretary Karen James qualman@hhs.vic.gov.au	Karen holds a Diploma of Nursing, Bachelor of Arts, Grad Cert in Stomal Therapy Nursing, and Master in Health Management. She has worked as a Registered Nurse in metropolitan and rural health services. Following a ‘tree change’ move to rural Victoria she has undertaken roles in quality and risk, project and service management in both health and community service sectors. Karen currently works as Quality and Risk Manager at Hepburn Health Service in central Victoria.
Treasurer/Procedures Support Michelle Oliver michelle.oliver@easternhealth.org.au michelleoliver6@gmail.com	Michelle has worked in a variety of clinical, management, education and quality roles in acute, aged and community care. She holds a Bachelor of Nursing and has recently completed post graduate studies in health management, quality and leadership. Passionate about the provision of quality services in all areas of healthcare, Michelle’s current role in the Quality, Planning & Innovation directorate of Eastern Health provides her with opportunities to inform and influence positive changes in healthcare. She joined the VHQA committee in June 2011 and holds the position of Treasurer.
Education Team David Smith dsmith721@optusnet.com.au	David has over 23 years experience in both the private and public sectors as a quality manager and organisational change facilitator involved in deliberate quality improvement. The primary focus of David’s experience had been in health services and local government. Typical assignments are project orientated and require work with team process, team tools and problem analysis, roles in a team, and dealing with change in a practical work environment. Projects have included accreditation under ACHS and QICSA, carepath redesign, facilitator coaching, business planning frameworks, training, policy, quality work plan and clinical governance development. David has also lectured at Victoria University, RMIT, Mayfield Institute, Lincoln School of Health Sciences, and the Northern Melbourne Institute of TAFE.
Newsletter Karina Finch kfinch@shdh.org.au	Karina has worked in a variety of positions as an Enrolled Nurse for almost 15 years, before completing a Bachelor of Nursing in 2004. She has since completed a Graduate Certificate in Critical Care and is currently undertaking a Masters in Health Management Quality & Leadership with Murdoch University. Karina is very passionate about the provision of safe quality care, which she feels is especially important in a small rural town where alternatives are not available. Karina is currently the Coordinator of Safety, Quality & Risk at Swan Hill District Health, and was appointed to VHQA in 2009 as a mentee committee member. She currently produces the VHQA newsletter.
Policy and Procedures Wendy James wendy.james@srh.org.au	Wendy James has worked in the healthcare industry for over 30 years, training as a nurse and midwife and later successfully completing a Bachelor of Nursing and Masters of Business Administration. Wendy has worked in metropolitan, regional and rural health services undertaking a variety of clinical and managerial roles over the years; most recently specialising in Quality and Risk Management. Her current role is Deputy Director of Clinical Services/Risk Management at Stawell Regional Health. Her area of interest is risk management.
Education Committee/Public Officer Rebecca Smith rebeccsm@barwonhealth.org.au	Rebecca Smith is currently a Registered Nurse, but has also completed a Bachelor of Social Science (Human Services) at Edith Cowan University and a Graduate Diploma in Human Resource Development from Curtin University. She is a QICSA Review Manager and a Fellow of AAQHC. She has spent a number of years working in nursing management both in WA and Victoria, mainly in regional, rural and community services and has been in her current role of Quality and Training Manager, Community Health and Rehabilitation Services with Barwon Health for the past 6 years. Her areas of interest include clinical governance, and also the complexity of issues around safe and effective discharge planning from hospitals back into the community.
New Member - Education Committee Janine Loader	Janine is currently the Chief Nursing Officer for St Vincents & Mercy Private and has worked in both the public and private sectors of health over the past 25 years. While her background is in Peri operative nursing her recent senior roles include Director of Nursing Mercy Private East Melbourne, and Management roles in Education, Staff Development, and Research. Janine is an Adjunct Professor with ACU and an ACHS surveyor.
New Member Fran Kinnersly	Fran is currently the Director of Nursing at Moyne Health Services (MHS). She has had fascination in quality management from both a patient perspective and a personal interest. During her time (and differing roles at MHS) she has continued her interest in the role quality plays with the provision of care. She is a member of the PSRAC Executive Committee as well as an active member of the Small Rural Executive Nursing Group.