Peter Martin appointed to quality and safety board at Grampians Health
A retired Stawell school principal is bringing a wealth of experience to his new role with the Quality and Safety committee of the Grampians Health board of directors.
Peter Martin served almost 20 years on the Stawell Regional Health board including four years as president. He first joined the board after retiring from a distinguished career in education, ending as principal of Stawell Secondary College.
While Mr Martin’s career is extensive and varied, he has also devoted a lifetime to voluntary work with a variety of health organisations throughout Australia. His interest in health developed from a request during one of his early teaching posts.
Mr Martin said he had always taught at country schools and always involved himself in each community.
“One of my first posts was at Mansfield and I was asked to volunteer with the ambulance service there,” he said.
“I eventually qualified as an ambulance officer and you can imagine that was a very busy place in the winter when skiers were packing Mt Buller and having all sorts of accidents.
“That role also was a handy advantage to have as a school teacher and I also taught first aid classes and I’d mentor rookie ambulance officers when they were sent to Mansfield.”
Mr Martin moved to Stawell as principal of the Stawell High School and remained in that role when the school combined with Stawell Technical School.
“When I retired, I was asked to join the hospital board and I eventually became president which led me to be invited to take part in other health related activities, at regional, state and national levels,” he said.
“While I have taken on many other roles, I’ve always maintained my interest in Stawell. That has never wavered.
“When we merged into Grampians Health, I took up a position on the community reference group and on the Stawell site committee and now I’m on the Quality and Safety committee.
“Throughout my many roles on various health boards, I have always regarded that committee as one of the most important. We will be keeping a sharp eye on a variety of performance measures including pressure injuries, returns to surgery, weight loss while in care and numbers of medications, particularly in aged care.”
Mr Martin said his committee was reporting on all Grampians Health campuses with relevant data, not rumours.
“With every committee I have been on, I have always regarded my role as representing the community and asking the questions that I know the community wants asked and answered,” he said.
“I’ve always been impressed with the staff at Stawell and no matter how much I have pressed an issue, if they haven’t got the answer they will always get it for me and they always remain calm and pleasant during these dealings.
“I know that will continue to be the case.”
Grampians Health Deputy Chief Operating Officer Hospitals – West Carolyn Robertson said she was buoyed with the appointment of Mr Martin.
“The great thing about Peter is that he asks really good questions and he actively listens to our answers which I really appreciate,” Ms Robertson said.
Peter Martin’s health resume also includes:
- Royal Dental Hospital, Melbourne, community advisory committee and the ethics committee
- College for Infection Prevention and Control, inaugural board member for four years
- College of Physicians, on the ethics committee for six years
- Member of the Dental Board of Australia, quality and safety committee, notifications (complaints) committee