Roles and responsibilities
The Chief Quality and Safety Officer is responsible for:
- leading reviews as authorised under the Health Services Act 1988, in both public and private health services, to identify:
- systemic issues or trends
- improvements in organisational structures, workplace culture, or service outcomes
- strengthening clinical governance and driving continuous improvement in health service delivery
- sharing best practice to address systemic issues identified during reviews, improving quality and safety at individual health services or statewide
- partnering with health service leaders, clinicians, and consumers to identify opportunities for reform and innovation
- shaping a culture of safety and excellence across the health system, with a focus on learning, transparency, and accountability.
About the Chief Quality and Safety Officer
Louise McKinlay is the Chief Quality and Safety Officer. They hold the following credentials:
- Registered nurse with over 25 years of experience in the health sector in both the United Kingdom and Australia.
- Expertise in training, policy, clinical governance, quality improvement, and patient safety.
- Extensive experience in clinical governance and strategic quality and safety systems management, resulting in significant policy and practice reforms across Victoria.
- Senior executive experience in the Department of Health, overseeing policy and program areas including workforce, aged care, acute care, and community health.
- Focused on consumer and clinician engagement, co-design, and co-production to drive improvement.