Wellington Health Service special administration extended
The acting Registrar of Indigenous Corporations, Mr Gerrit Wanganeen has extended the special administration of the Wellington Aboriginal Corporation Health Service (WACHS) until 27 May 2022.
WACHS provides culturally appropriate health care services for Aboriginal people across a large footprint in NSW including Wellington, Dubbo, Moree, Western Sydney, Penrith and the Nepean Blue Mountains.
In September 2021, WACHS was placed under special administration after the majority of the directors requested the registrar take this action because they had become aware of serious financial discrepancies within the corporation.
Mr Wanganeen said, ‘The financial position of WACHS has always been positive, there is no risk of it being unable to meet its debts. The special administrators have addressed financial controls and made changes to improve financial performance. This work has included recruiting a new CEO and CFO, as well as reviewing and restructuring the executive management group—anticipated to deliver estimated savings of $1.5 million per annum to the corporation.’
More time is required to work with stakeholders to ensure the business and governance structures are designed to ensure the corporation is better placed to deliver on its purpose, serving the interests of all stakeholders and clients.
‘One particular issue everyone is keen to address is better representation of business and client interests from the service delivery areas of Moree, Western Sydney, Penrith and Nepean Blue Mountains. Although the corporation provides health services in these areas, right now to become a member and a director of WACHS you must reside in either Wellington, Dubbo or their surrounding areas. This restricts participation in corporation affairs from those other areas,’ said Mr Wanganeen.
Mr Jack James and Mrs Paula Smith have been appointed as the joint special administrators until 27 May 2022.
Background
See the registrar’s previous media release Governance in action at Wellington Health Service, 20 September 2021 (MR2122-04)
MR2122-11