Governance

Enabling legislation

EMHS, as a Health Service Provider (HSP), is governed by the Health Services Act 2016 WA (HSA 2016).

Communication between EMHS and the Minister for Health, Parliamentary representatives, Ministers and WA Health is governed by a Communication Agreement, with clear lines of accountability and responsibility noted within.

Accountable authority

EMHS is a board-governed statutory authority, where the EMHS Board is directly accountable to the public through the Minister for Health and works with the Director General (DG) of the Department of Health (DoH) (System Manager).

The System Manager is responsible for strategic leadership, including system-wide planning, policy and performance, and enters into service agreements with HSPs for the provision of services.

The EMHS Chief Executive (CE) is employed by the DG as the ‘chief employee’ of the HSP and is accountable to the Board for coordinating and managing the daily operations of EMHS.

Shared responsibilities with other agencies

EMHS works closely with the DoH (System Manager), the Mental Health Commission (MHC), other HSPs and a large number of government and non-government agencies to deliver programs and services to achieve better health outcomes for the community of the eastern metropolitan region of WA.

Agency capability review

In 2022, EMHS commenced a management and administrative capabilities review under the WA Public Sector Commission (PSC) Agency Capability Review Program. The review will provide EMHS with an analysis of strengths and opportunities for improvement, against 21 capabilities in the areas of leadership, culture and governance; service excellence; relationships; people; and resources and risk.

Responsible Minister

EMHS is responsible to the Honourable Amber-Jade Sanderson MLA; Minister for Health; Mental Health, who has overall responsibility for WA Health and provides direction to the DG and to HSPs.