New South Wales Consolidated Acts

HEALTH SERVICES ACT 1997 - SECT 26

26 Constitution of area health advisory councils

(1) An area health advisory council is to be established for each area health service.

(2) An area health advisory council is to consist of between 9 and 13 members, appointed by the Minister, of whom:

(a) some must be persons having experience in the provision of health services, and

(b) the others must be persons who can represent the interests of consumers of health services and the local community, and

(c) at least one (who may be one of the members referred to in paragraph (a) or (b)) must be a person who has expertise, knowledge or experience in relation to Aboriginal health.

(3) The membership of an area health advisory council must maintain a reasonable balance between persons of the kind referred to in subsection (2) (a) and persons of the kind referred to in subsection (2) (b), so that at all times the persons of one kind do not outnumber persons of the other kind by more than 2.

(4) A member of an area health advisory council holds office for such period (not exceeding 4 years) as may be specified in the member’s instrument of appointment.

(5) A member whose term of office expires is eligible (if otherwise qualified) for re-appointment, but may not be appointed so as to hold office for more than 8 years in total.

(6) One of the members of an area health advisory council is, by the relevant instrument of appointment or by a further instrument signed by the Minister, to be appointed as the chairperson of the council.

(7) A member of an area health advisory council is entitled to be paid such remuneration (including travelling and subsistence allowances) as the Minister may from time to time determine in respect of the member.

(8) Subject to this section, the constitution and procedure of an area health advisory council are to be as prescribed by the regulations.