Benjamin Battisson

Benjamin has worked in the private and not for profit sector but is particularly focused in the public sector. He works across health and human services (including policy development and service delivery), community services (including child protection) and veteran’s affairs.

Project experience

Recent projects:

• the evaluation of the trial of the inter-jurisdictional Exchange of Criminal History Information for People Working with Children (ECHIPWC). This evaluation will engage stakeholders in first ministers departments, law enforcement and child protection agencies to determine whether the trial has improved access to expanded information to enhance decision making.
• the Menzies-Nous Australian Health Survey 2010. The survey provides insight into the views held by Australians about their own health, the Australian health system and affordability and accessibility of health and aged care services.
• a review of the prior financial authorisation processes completed by the Department of Veteran's Affairs. This review focussed on the strategic policy framework, organisational capability and systems supporting the processing of applications for prior financial approval.
• development of the National Clinical Assessment Framework for Children and Young People in Out-of-Home Care including coordination of stakeholder consultations with medical and consumer peak groups
• completed a national round of staff engagement sessions as part of the implementation of the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Corporate Services Improvement Program.

Australian public service experience:

• Department of Human Services - contributed to the development of the Access Card Cabinet submission and later, established and managed the operation of the Access Card Consumer and Privacy Taskforce which served as a key government consultative mechanism for stakeholder organisations and the community
• National Health and Medical Research Council - managed the development and passage of the Research Involving Human Embryos Act 2002 and the Prohibition of Human Cloning Act 2002. Formulated the policy and managed the stakeholder consultations on this complex scientific and sensitive ethical issue.
• Department of Health and Ageing - established and chaired the HealthConnect Policy Working Group to bring together representatives of all state and territory governments and other national stakeholders (including Medicare Australia) to progress national eHealth implementation projects
• led a major change management program to implement changes to the National Health and Medical Research Council Act 2006 including a strategic realignment of business units to organisational goals and a complete restructure of the organisation to ensure efficient and effective use of resources
• designed, negotiated and implemented the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) Pure Performance Program for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Team. This Program attracted significant positive media attention and praise from the World Anti-Doping Agency as the model program for countries to emulate in future.

Education / accreditation / board membership

• Executive Master of Public Administration, Australia and New Zealand School of Government (ANZSOG) and Australian National University (ANU)
• Bachelor of Science (Biochemistry/Psychology), University of Queensland/ANU
• Diploma of Professional Counselling, Australian Institute Of Professional Counselling
• Certificate IV – Workplace Training and Assessment.

Past employment

Benjamin joined Nous with over 15 years’ experience working in the Australian Public Service. He has held key executive level policy and operational roles in large departments (including Human Services, Health and Ageing and Defence) and a number of health-related agencies (including the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority, the National Health and Medical Research Council, the Therapeutic Goods Administration and the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator. Benjamin has also provided representational services and strategic policy advice to Pedal Power ACT, worked as a counsellor for Lifeline Australia and as an alcohol and other drug worker for the Ted Noffs Foundation.

Interests

Having recently been married and with the prospect of starting a family, my focus on family has become sharper than ever before. I have found this to be a positive influence on other areas of my life too. It is now easier to find time to eat well, keep fit and spend quality time with my loved ones. The work-life balance that I have struck is paying dividends to the projects that I am currently working on too!