Strategic Direction 2024-2027

Western Health’s new Strategic Direction 2024-2027 is a roadmap that guides our efforts in meeting the needs of our community, now and into the future, amid a dynamic environment that delivers opportunities and challenges in equal measure.  

The Strategic Direction builds upon the strong foundations and accomplishments from the previous iteration spanning 2021-2023, which was developed during the COVID-19 pandemic and covered a period of rapid growth and change for Western Health.  

The new Strategic Direction takes into account the progress made over the past 3 years, as well as the broader healthcare landscape and the ongoing challenges impacting the sector, including increased demand for services, the prevalence of chronic disease in our catchment, heightened focus on preventative care and population health, more system-wide collaboration (including with primary and community care providers) and access to services in a financially-constrained environment. 

The new Strategic Direction brings improved structure and clearer outcome measures to better define our objectives and how we will deliver on these in practice. Key changes to the new Strategic Direction include the addition of: 

• targeted initiatives for each of the 5 Strategic Directions, each supported by strategic programs of work which outline how Western Health will deliver on each initiative and its broader strategic objectives 

• defined outcome measures to help quantify how we are delivering on our strategic objectives and the impact of this on our patients and community. 

The annual business planning process provides a regular opportunity for staff to reflect on planned projects and initiatives and how to best prioritise these to support the achievement of Western Health’s strategic objectives.  

Developed annually in May/June, the business plan outlines Western Health's top priorities for the new financial year, where each priority is designed to contribute to the overall delivery of the Strategic Directions. Some priorities may be completed quickly whereas others may be iterative and take years to implement in full. Priorities set at the Western Health organisational level are monitored quarterly by the Board. Directorate and divisional priorities are monitored locally by directorate and divisional leaders.   

The Strategic Plan is underpinned by 5 strategic directions that guide our approach to work, our planning and design, and our decision making. The directions have remained constant as these continue to be relevant to guide Western Health into the future, with refreshed initiatives and programs of work sitting underneath. 

Our strategic directions are: 

1. We partner with patients, consumers, families and carers 

Our patients, consumers, their families and carers are actively involved in their care and the design of approaches that support their choices and individual needs. 

2. We care for our people 

Our staff and volunteers are supported, engaged and equipped to embrace a dynamic future. 

3. We deliver services for the future 

Our services are developed to improve access to high-quality, connected care and deliver better health outcomes for our community. 

4. We are better together 

Our respectful relationships with our community, system-wide partners and each other drive collaboration and better outcomes. 

5. We discover and learn 

Our commitment to innovate, discover and learn inspires us to shape the healthcare of the future. 

Together, we deliver the healthcare of the future. 

Providing the Best Care for the people of the West, in the right place and at the right time. 

Connected, simple, sustainable, innovative. 

Compassion, accountability, respect, excellence, safety.