Dr Deborah Cole appointed Chair of AHHA Board

Media Release

25 November 2016

Dr Deborah Cole appointed Chair of AHHA Board

Dental Health Services Victoria (DHSV) CEO Deborah Cole has been appointed Chair of the Board of the nation’s leading public healthcare body, the Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association (AHHA).

Dr Cole has been CEO since February 2011 and since joining DHSV  has worked to significantly improve the community’s access to quality and equitable dental care.

Prior to joining DHSV, Deborah held CEO positions at Calvary Health Care and Yarra City Council, as well as senior executive positions at Mercy Health and St Vincent’s Health and the Dental Practice Board of Victoria.

Dr Cole is a Board Director for the Hessel Care Foundation and HESTA (Health Employees Superannuation Trust Australia). She holds qualifications in dentistry, health administration, business administration, and leadership. She is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management.

‘I am very much looking forward to working with the AHHA Board and AHHA Chief Executive Alison Verhoeven towards a healthy Australia supported by the best possible health system’, Dr Cole said.

‘AHHA plays leading and influential roles in health advocacy, education and research, so that the healthcare system achieves better outcomes, better patient and provider experiences, and greater equity and sustainability.’

‘AHHA truly is the “voice of public healthcare”, and, as we like to say, we start conversations rather than commenting on them.’

Dr Cole paid tribute to the outgoing Board Chair, Dr Paul Dugdale.

‘Paul has provided significant leadership to the organisation in bringing together members from across all parts of the health sector, including primary and acute care, to represent their interests, and repay their investment and trust as we continue to advocate for best practice, efficient, universal healthcare, supported by adequate and ongoing funding.

‘It is now my job to pick up the baton and move forwards in an ever-changing healthcare landscape—an ageing population, the rise of chronic diseases, the increasing cost of medical technology, a new focus on person-centred care, and an increasing overlap of aged care, disability and health care services that needs a better health outcome focus, funding reform and better integration’, Dr Cole said.

For more information on the AHHA, visit http://ahha.asn.au.

The Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association is the national peak body for public and not-for-profit hospitals, Primary Health Networks, community and primary healthcare services, and advocates for universal, high quality and affordable healthcare to benefit the whole community.

Media enquiries:

Mingsia Lee
mingsia.lee@dhsv.org.au

T: 03 9341 1139