- New Director of Health and Disability Services Complaints Office has been appointed
- Correne Bartlett will start in her new role on 1 October
- Her appointment follows the retirement of current Director Sarah Cowie
Health Minister Meredith Hammat today announced Ms Correne Bartlett as the new Director of the Health and Disability Services Complaints Office (HaDSCO).
Ms Bartlett was until recently the Chief Clinical Services Officer at Ngala and will take on the HaDSCO role on 1 October 2026.
With nearly 20 years' experience in health, mental health, disability, and community services, and having previously held the role of Deputy Director at HaDSCO, Ms Bartlett brings a wealth of knowledge and strong understanding of the office's operations and strategic priorities.
She steps into the position following the departure of the current Director Sarah Cowie who leaves on 30 September 2026.
Ms Cowie was first appointed to the position in April 2016 and her 10 years in the role concludes an outstanding public sector career spanning more than 40 years of service to Western Australians.
HaDSCO is an independent statutory authority that provides an impartial complaints resolution service for health, mental health, and disability services (outside of the National Disability Insurance Scheme) in Western Australia.
It covers the public, private, and not-for-profit health and mental health sectors, prison health services, and health services in the Indian Ocean Territories and in immigration detention centres in Western Australia.
It also administers the statutory Code of Conduct for unregistered health practitioners, and the Director of HaDSCO can issue prohibition orders to the practitioners to prevent them from providing health services which are harmful and unsafe.
As stated by Health Minister Meredith Hammat:
"I congratulate Ms Bartlett on her appointment and look forward to working with her in this important role.
"Her experience and knowledge of both the sector and HaDSCO position her well to lead the office in continuing to meet the evolving needs and expectations of the community.
"I'd also like to thank Ms Cowie for her strong leadership of and strategic direction for HaDSCO through promoting accountability, fairness, and public confidence in health and disability services across the State.
"Ms Cowie has led HaDSCO through significant change while maintaining its effectiveness, reputation and commitment to delivering positive outcomes for the community. I wish her all the best for the future."
