Health website details overseas travel info

20 February 2012

Details of overseas travel by health staff funded by the Department for Health and Ageing during 2010/11 are now available on the SA Health website.

David Swan, Chief Executive of SA Health, said the overseas travel information follows the publication of elective surgery and emergency department waiting times on SA Health’s site.

“We’re committed to providing the public with accountable, timely and efficient information, which includes information on overseas travel,” Mr Swan said.

“Travel, including overseas travel, plays an important role in our business.

“It enables staff to present and participate in leading edge conferences and take advantage of relevant development opportunities.

“It also helps with the sharing of knowledge from one jurisdiction to another and can often be an opportunity for staff to promote SA Health and our core business. “

All overseas travel is governed by guidelines and standards to ensure it is appropriate and beneficial to the department.

In the past 12 months, SA Health staff have travelled overseas to research important health initiatives such as the Enterprise Patient Administration System (EPAS) and the obesity-prevention program OPAL.

“These are major initiatives which will have a significant impact on South Australians, and is extremely beneficial to us to be able to share the lessons of those who have implemented them before,” Mr Swan said.

The information detailed on the SA Health website includes total costs for each trip, including salary, on costs, travel, accommodation and conference fees.

The information relating to overseas travel funded by the Department for Health and Ageing for SA Health staff during 2010/11 overseas is available at www.sahealth.sa.gov.au