ALISON VERHOEVEN Chief Executive AHHA
Eight years of advocating for a sustainable and equitable health system
Eight years ago, I was fortunate to be offered the
Our Blueprint for Health Reform, with its focus
role of Chief Executive at AHHA, a position which
on governance, funding, data and workforce
has truly been a career highlight for me. I have
reforms, is a solid foundation for policy work we
had the opportunity to work with many inspiring
are undertaking on some of the emerging issues of
members, AHHA staff and Board directors,
our time such as the impact of climate change on
who have made enormous contributions to the
health, patient-centred care, team-based care, the
wellbeing and good health of Australians.
use of telehealth and virtual health technologies,
Each day in this role has been a privilege —
artificial intelligence and genomics. Importantly,
but also a personal and professional challenge to
with its focus on health systems, the Blueprint
be a stronger voice for the many Australians who
also provides a platform for our work on equity,
need and deserve better from our health system
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, and
than we currently provide, and a stronger voice
the social determinants of health.
for AHHA members who are so committed to
The research, publication, education and
providing the best possible health services for
professional development programs we have
their communities.
developed through our Australian Centre for Value-
Our advocacy program at AHHA is informed by
Based Health Care are connecting AHHA members
the evidence our members share with us, the
with international leaders in this discipline, and
research we and our members undertake, and the
are underpinning emerging practices and programs
expertise in policy development that our members
that are shifting our health system towards value,
and staff contribute.
sustainability and a clear purpose to support
I am proud of the work we have undertaken together with our members and stakeholders to develop our Blueprint for Health Reform and our
patients to achieve the health outcomes that matter most to them. AHHA has a longstanding commitment to
focus on value-based health care over the past
research, and for more than 40 years has published
several years — much of which is now reflected in
the Australian Health Review, Australia’s premier
the National Health Reform Agreement and in the
peer-reviewed journal for health policy research.
policies of both government and opposition parties
In this past year of significant health system
in the Commonwealth and state and territory
challenges, the journal’s editorial team has
governments.
ensured rapid publication of emerging research
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The Health Advocate • MAY 2021
