Healthway's governance model changed after ticket scandal

Changes to the structure of Western Australia’s Healthway have been introduced that will see the health promotion agency focus on grassroots campaigns rather than sponsoring sporting events.

Introduced by the Western Australian Government in March, the changes were first sparked by a damning Public Sector Commission report last year, which found Healthway board members had excessively used event tickets for private purposes without adequate oversight.

The report examined tickets derived through sponsorship arrangements with a range of sporting teams and found less than half were used for a legitimate business purpose.

The changes have seen a reduction in the number of board members, made the Western Australian Health Minister responsible for selecting them and will see the agency structured in a similar way to Lotterywest.

The Western Australian Government said the Minister now has the power to direct Healthway with respect to its functions and powers, either broadly or on a particular matter.

A Western Australian Public Sector Commission (PSC) investigation released early lasy year found that Healthway’s Executive Director David Malone, Chair Dr Rosanna Capolingua, Deputy Chair Cathcart Weatherly and some staff used tickets for a range of events for family and friends.

The investigation found Healthway obtained about $220,000 worth of tickets in total, obtained through sponsorship arrangements with the Perth Wildcats, Perth Glory, WA Cricket Association and concert promoter Mellen Events.

As a result, Dr Capolingua and members of Healthway’s board resigned.

Malone had resigned earlier, with media outlets including Business News Western Australia suggesting that his resignation was a result of the use of sponsorship benefits being investigated.

Maree De Lacey has been Healthway’s acting Executive Director since June 2015. 

Click here to view the Western Australian Public Sector Commission (PSC) investigation Acquisition and use of hospitality resources by Healthway.

Image: Healthway sponsored the 2016 Quit Forest Rally in April.

8th April 2015 - VENUESWEST IMPOSES STRICT RULES ON BOARD AND STAFF PERKS

21st March 2015 - WESTERN AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT QUESTIONS HEALTHWAY SPONSORSHIPS

5th March 2015 - NEW QUESTIONS OVER TICKETS MISUSE IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA

20th February 2015 - WESTERN AUSTRALIA’S HEALTHWAY BOARD AND STAFF IN CORPORATE TICKETING RORT

15th October 2014 - WA OPERA’S CARMEN SPONSORSHIP SMOKING ROW EXTINGUISHED 

15th October 2013 - CRICKET AUSTRALIA CRITICISED FOR REJECTING ANTI-ALCOHOL ADVERTISING IN DOMESTIC ONE-DAY COMPETITION