Clinical Senate of Western Australia

The Clinical Senate of Western Australia (Clinical Senate) stands as the respected peak body in the WA health system that brings together frontline clinicians, clinical managers, consumers and individuals from all professional disciplines and backgrounds to generate strategic and evidence-based advice on systemwide issues concerning clinical care, patient safety and service quality improvement.

Operating under the authority of the Director General, the Clinical Senate reports to the WA Health Executive Committee (HEC).

The main functions of the Clinical Senate are to:

Provide strategic and evidence-based advice on complex healthcare issues and challenges through informed and collaborative discussions.
Identify and recommend opportunities to improve patient outcomes and optimise value through coordination and integration between organisations.
Engage and collaborate with consumers and sector partners to ensure inclusive and person-centred care.
Harness the collective knowledge and clinical expertise of its members to enhance the delivery of health services.
Champion innovation and health reforms to meet emerging healthcare needs.
Foster and promote clinical leadership through shared learning and development.

Members

The Clinical Senate is comprised of up to 80 members who represent a diverse range of clinical disciplines, professions and skillsets across both metropolitan and regional WA. Members (link) share a passion for improving safety and quality of health services as well as health outcomes for Western Australians.

The Clinical Senate is led by a Chair and Executive Committee (link) that is representative of the broader membership.

Debates

The Clinical Senate is the trusted and authoritative source of clinical advice in the WA health system. Over the years, it has addressed an array of complex and contentious topics, prioritising the most urgent health challenges to ensure that its debates and recommendations align with key health reform priorities in WA and nationally (link).

Looking ahead, the Clinical Senate’s program is set to deliver engaging and thought-provoking debates on critical issues of concern as it strives to address the growing demands on WA’s public healthcare system. Convening quarterly, the Clinical Senate harnesses the collective expertise of its members to dissect systemwide issues and collaboratively devise practical recommendations aimed at ensuring the highest standard of care across the WA health system.

These debates are conducted as structured meetings, supported by detailed research and contributions from expert witnesses, consumer and carer representatives and experienced health leaders. Topics are selected based on the strategic direction and leadership priorities of the WA health system as determined by HEC, alongside areas of interest and concern raised by consumers, clinicians and other professionals within the sector.