Circular details

Business Continuity Management

Purpose

WA Health is required by the Public Sector Commissioner and the Treasurer to practice Business Continuity Management (BCM) and ensure Business Continuity Plans (BCPs) are established, maintained, tested, reviewed and updated on a regular basis.

WA Health provides a range of health services to the public, some of which are considered critical services for the protection of lives. BCM ensures those critical services can continue to operate following a disruptive event or incident that would otherwise impair or stop them. BCM comprises both preparation and crisis management.

Policy Statement

All WA Health entities and shared services are required to practice BCM, and establish a BCP to ensure the continuity of critical business functions in the event of a disruption. BCPs are to integrate with the health service’s emergency procedure and risk management programs and align with the whole-of-health BCM policy outlined and attached to this Operational Directive.

 BCM Scope and Principles

A BCM program is to ensure the organisation’s BCP:

• reflects the service’s vision, mission and key organisational objectives
• is site-specific and  interconnects with key interdependencies
• integrates with the service’s emergency procedure and risk management programs using an “all hazards” approach
• is regularly maintained, tested and approved by an appropriate governance structure.

Compliance

Divisions and Health Services are to be compliant with the requirements listed in this Operational Directive.

Professor Bryant Stokes
A/DIRECTOR GENERAL
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH