Biographical Sketch

Prof David Ashbridge is the Chief Executive Officer of Barwon Health, the largest regional health service provider in Victoria, Australia, employing over 6,000 staff and including a major teaching hospital.  Services provided by Barwon Health encompass hospital, mental health, drug and alcohol, community health, aged care and rehabilitation services.

Barwon Health is a leader in e-Health and an organisation committed to reform and innovation. Barwon Health received the Premiers Award for Regional Health Service of the Year in 2011, Runner Up Regional Health Service of the Year in 2012, and Regional Health Service of the Year again in 2013.

Prior to commencing with Barwon Health, Professor Ashbridge worked in the Northern Territory where he practised as a medical officer in a remote area in Aboriginal communities.  He then became a public health physician, followed by a range of executive roles, including Chief Executive Officer of the Northern Territory Department of Health and Families.  Professor Ashbridge has also been Senior Medical Advisor and Assistant Secretary in the Commonwealth Department of Health, the Chair of the Australian Health Ministers’ Advisory Council and a Board Member of the National eHealth Transition Authority.

Qualifications: MBBS, M. Public Health, Dip. Child Health, Dip. Tropical Medicine, GAICD, Member of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners


Synopsis

HM 1 - Managing for Performance – A Case Study of Barwon Health

Barwon Health has transformed performance over the last five years. The presentation will explore how performance is measured in the Victorian context and describe the approach taken to achieve the improvement. The areas covered will include financial performance, access to services ( emergency services as well as elective surgery ) and community and client ratings.


HM 12 - Leadership For Future Health Challenges

The presentation will describe how the organisation and culture of health services was appropriate for its time. However with the challenges of chronic disease, ageing population, fiscal restraint, new technologies, new funding approaches, globalisation of health as well an increasingly informed and empowered consumer, health services are not well organised and prepared to meet these  future challenges.  Prof Ashbridge will explore some of the actions being taken by Barwon Health to meet these challenges.