Skip to Main Content

APHA Committees

The structure of the Australian Private Hospitals Association (APHA) includes a range of specialist Committees and Taskforces that provide analysis and advice on a wide-range of policies, technical matters and issues important to private hospitals, their patients and suppliers.

Advice from these groups informs the careful consideration of the Board in formulating APHA policy positions, issues responses and strategic priorities.

Each member of the Association can nominate representatives on Committees and Taskforces, while Associates may be invited to participate relevant to their expertise. They are responsible for providing input to developing and refining policy and technical development options in relation to prevailing and emerging issues.

Committees

Finance, Audit & Risk Committee

The Finance Audit and Risk Committee oversees the financial health of the Association. Quarterly meetings are held to assess the Association's financial performance and a report with recommendations is provided to the Board on the financial statements for each quarter and the full financial year. The Committee undertakes other work as directed by the Board, including approval of new members.

Psychiatry Committee

APHA's Psychiatry Committee comprises a representative from each State and is chaired by the Psychiatry representative on the APHA Council. In addition to its advice to the APHA Board, the Committee also provides input to APHA's representatives on the Private Psychiatric Hospitals Data Reporting and Analysis Service (PPHDRAS). The Committee has a national focus of advocacy and policy development on behalf of private mental health facilities. Committee members are drawn from hospitals with both independent and group ownership.

Rehabilitation Committee

The Rehabilitation Committee comprises representatives from States with private rehabilitation beds and is chaired by the Rehabilitation representative on the APHA Council. Its primary role to promote the role played by APHA members in the provision of quality rehabilitation services, including by participation in appropriate committees and working groups, preparation of submissions to government and other advocacy material, active membership of the National Consultative Committee on Private Rehabilitation, liaison with other APHA committees, and by facilitating dialogue between the sector and government.

Taskforces

Policy & Advocacy Taskforce

The Policy and Advocacy Taskforce assists and advises the APHA Board in its leadership role of the sector, developing industry positions, that can be used to influence policy on issues that affect private healthcare as a whole, and to provide information to members about that environment.

Safety & Quality Taskforce

The Quality and Safety Taskforce meets, as required, to assist and advise the APHA Board with regard to matters of quality and safety. The Taskforce pursues the coordination and enhancement of quality and safety in the private hospital sector as a key priority and works closely with the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care and its Private Hospital Sector Committee in this regard.

Workforce Taskforce

The Workforce Taskforce assists and advises the APHA Board on private hospital workforce issues to identify and pursue opportunities for engagement with government, at the political and bureaucratic level, on workforce issues in private hospitals, including by representing APHA on national and state-based workforce planning bodies, as well as ad hoc committees where necessary. It contributes to relevant studies, reviews and consultation processes in the workforce arena, and liaising with other APHA Taskforces and Committees, such as Psychiatric and
Rehabilitation to ensure that APHA presents and promotes a consistent and co-ordinated policy position.

External Representation

The APHA is actively represented on many national and state Committees and Advisory Groups, including the following:

Health Workforce Taskforce - NSW Ministry of Health

Advises Health Ministers and oversees workforce strategies to improve overseas health practitioner integration. ​ Influence regulatory reforms, reduce costs, and enhance recruitment and support for overseas health practitioners. ​

Regulatory Advisory Group Review of Endorsement for Scheduled Medicines for Midwives - Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia

Provides expert regulatory advice on midwives' scheduled medicines endorsement review and policies. Strengthen private hospital midwifery standards, advocacy, and regulatory alignment.

National Maternity Workforce Strategic Advisory Group - NSW Ministry of Health

Advises on maternity workforce planning, recruitment, retention, and strategic policy development. Strengthen workforce strategy, ensuring private hospital maternity services meet future healthcare demands.

Equally Well Australia - Charles Sturt University

Advocates for equitable physical health care for people with mental illness through collaboration and monitoring. ​ Supports hospitals in delivering better physical health care for patients with mental illness, reducing disparities.

Private Hospital Sector Committee - Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care

Advises on key safety and quality issues affecting the private hospital sector in Australia. ​ Ensures APHA members' interests are represented in national safety and quality healthcare improvements. ​

IT-014 Health Informatics - Standards Australia

Standardises health informatics to improve data security, interoperability, quality, and accessibility. Ensure digital health standards reflect private hospitals' interests, operational needs, and regulatory requirements.

Health Providers Partnership Forum - Department of Veterans' Affairs

Facilitates collaboration between health providers and the Department of Veterans' Affairs to improve veteran healthcare services. ​ Advocates for private hospitals' interests in shaping policies and programs affecting veteran healthcare services.

Out-of-Pocket Cost Transparency Consultation Forum - Department of Health, Disability and Ageing

Enhances transparency of healthcare costs, develops patient resources, and improves consumer education on billing. Advocates for improved transparency in healthcare costs and engages with forum stakeholders to tackle billing challenges, including addressing hidden fees.

National Digital Medicines Advisory Group - Australian Digital Health Agency

Provides strategic advice on digital medicines programs to improve safety, efficiency, and consumer outcomes. ​ Ensures private hospitals' needs are represented in national digital medicines initiatives and policy alignment.

Council for Connected Care - Australian Digital Health Agency

Provides strategic advice, oversees implementation, and monitors progress of the National Healthcare Interoperability Plan. ​​ Ensures private hospitals' needs are represented in digital health standards, interoperability initiatives, and healthcare identifier adoption.

Stakeholder Advisory Group: A sub-committee of the Inter-Governmental Policy Reform Group - Department of Health, Disability and Ageing

Provides advice to the IGPRG on the National One Stop Shop and related national health initiatives. ​ Enhances member hospitals' influence on national health reforms, ensuring alignment with private sector needs and priorities.

QScript Health Practitioner User Advisory Forum - Queensland Health

Provides a platform for healthcare professionals to address monitored medicines, system updates, and prescription monitoring improvements collaboratively. ​ Influences monitored medicines policies and system developments to benefit member hospitals' operations and compliance.

AROC Management Advisory Group - Australasian Rehabilitation Outcomes Centre

Oversees AROC's governance, strategic plans, promotes rehabilitation, informs policy, supports data collection, and fosters collaboration. ​ Advocates equitable rehabilitation funding, supports private sector models, improves data collection, and fosters collaboration for better outcomes. ​
National Health Data and Information Standards Committee Australian Institute of Health and Welfare Provides technical advice, develops, and oversees national health data standards and information infrastructure. ​ Advocates for private hospitals' interests, ensuring their perspectives are integrated into national health data standards. ​

Prescribed List Reform Evaluation Advisory Group - Department of Health, Disability and Ageing

Facilitates stakeholder collaboration to ensure reforms align with industry needs, regulatory compliance, and sustainable healthcare funding models. ​ Advocates for mandated funding solutions to protect hospital viability, patient access, clinician autonomy, and affordability in reforms.

Accreditation Committee - Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency

Advises on accreditation reform and National Scheme matters, ensuring consistency, quality, and efficiency. Shapes standards that improve workforce development, and system efficiency and ensures that accreditation aligns with private healthcare needs and supports reforms that benefit hospital operations.