Annual Report 2004-2005 - Forensicare

COUNCIL COMMITTEES
Five committees provide specialist advice
and support to Council. The existing
committee structures and charters will be
reviewed by Council in 2005-2006 to
ensure that corporate governance continues
to remain a priority and is supported by
strengthened structures within the
organisation.
• Audit Committee
The Audit Committee, members of which
are independent of the management of
Forensicare, meets quarterly and at any
other time as requested by a member of the
Committee or internal or external auditors.
The Committee liaises with the internal and
external auditors, reviews and approves
audit programs and evaluates the adequacy
and effectiveness of the overall governance
framework operating within Forensicare.
The full scope of Forensicare’s audit
program is detailed on page 48.
Members – Justice Bernard Teague (Chair),
Tony Goad, Judith Player
• Finance Committee
The Finance Committee reviews all
financial matters, management information
and internal control systems and approves
major purchases. The Committee meets
monthly.
Members - Jim Kennan (Chair), Michael
Burt, Tony Goad, Una Gold
• Quality Improvement Committee
The Quality Improvement Committee meets
as required to oversee the process of
system-wide accreditation and facility
security compliance. The Committee
is also responsible for the risk management
activities of Forensicare, which are
integrated with our quality systems.
Members – Michael Burt (Chair), Professor
Paul Mullen, Dr Robert Adler, together with
four staff members – Jo Chaplin, Karlyn
Chettleburgh, Grant Johnson, Margaret
Lambert.
• Remuneration Committee
The Remuneration Committee meets as
required to review performance and
determine remuneration of executive
management.
Members – Jim Kennan (Chair), Una Gold,
Terry Laidler
• Research Committee
The Research Committee meets as required
to co-ordinate the research program. It has
responsibility for the approval of new
projects and ensuring that our research
activities are consistent with the overall
aims of the program. To ensure that our
research activities are relevant beyond the
organisation, the Committee also includes
a senior experienced researcher external
to the organisation.
Members – Justice Bernard Teague (Chair),
Michael Burt, Professor Paul Mullen,
together with an external member –
Professor Phillip Burgess, and five staff
members – Professor James Ogloff, Dr
Andrew Carroll, Karlyn Chettleburgh,
Jo Chaplin, Dr Trish Martin.
MEETING ATTENDANCES
COUNCIL FINANCE AUDIT RESEARCH QI REMUNERATION
MEETINGS MEETINGS MEETINGS MEETINGS MEETINGS MEETINGS
Jim Kennan 9 of 10 8 of 9 1 of 1
Justice Teague 9 of 10 2 of 4 0 of 1+
Michael Burt 9 of 10 7 of 9 0 of 1 1 of 2
Paul Mullen 9 of 10 1 of 1 2 of 1
Robert Adler 6 of 10 2 of 2
Tony Goad 9 of 10 7 of 9 4 of 4
Una Gold 8 of 10 8 of 9 1 of 1
Terry Laidler 6 of 10 1 of 1
Judith Player 9 of 10 3 of 4
David Ware* 4 of 10
+ Justice Teague was a late apology at this meeting as he was unavoidably delayed in Court.
* During 2004-2005 David Ware, the representative of the Minister for Corrections, was on long service leave
for three months.
COUNCIL RULES
The Council is committed to the highest
standard of corporate governance practice
and has adopted a set of Council Rules
outlining the ethical responsibilities,
practice and conduct of Council.
ETHICS
Members of Council are required to act
with integrity at all times and in all
dealings. They are required to declare any
pecuniary interest or conflict of interest
during Council meetings and must
withdraw from proceedings where
necessary. There was one instance that
required declaration during the year.
Forensicare has developed and
implemented a Financial Code of Conduct
to assist Council and staff on matters
related to the probity of the Institute’s
financial management.
INDEPENDENT ADVICE
In pursuit of their duties, Council members,
executive officers, senior officers and senior
clinicians may seek independent advice as
required.
COUNCIL MEETINGS
Council meetings are held monthly, with
the exception of December and January.
Formal minutes of all meetings recording
the decisions of Council are maintained.
Additional meetings are convened when
circumstances warrant – no additional
meetings were held in 2004-2005.
EVALUATION
In accordance with Australian Council on
Healthcare Standards EQuIP accreditation
requirements, Council undertakes an
annual self evaluation exercise. This
process will be rolled-out to all Council
Committee’s during the coming year. A
detailed questionnaire is completed by
Councillors covering Council procedures,
effectiveness of meetings and workload.
Responses are collated and discussed at
the following meeting, and relevant
initiatives implemented.
FINANCIAL GOVERNANCE
In accordance with ‘Standing Directions of
the Minister for Finance under the Financial
Management Act 1994’ (June 2003),
Forensicare has a robust and transparent
model to oversight financial management of
the organisation. It is incorporated as a
fundamental component of the governance
framework for the organisation. Within
2004-2005 the Audit and Finance
47