Understand the Independent Review of CareSync Exchange and the expert panel appointed to carry out the review
CareSync Exchange is Victoria's secure health information sharing system, enabling authorised clinicians to access key patient health information from participating public health services to support safe, connected care.
CareSync Exchange was established through legislation passed by the Victorian Parliament in 2023 following policy development and consultation with health services, clinicians, consumers, peak bodies and government. As part of the legislation, an independent review of the system is required following its commencement.
The review is now underway and is being conducted by an independent expert panel (the panel) appointed by the Minister for Health.
The review will assess whether CareSync Exchange is operating safely, securely and in the interests of all Victorians, and will make recommendations to further strengthen the system.
The panel will examine matters including:
whether health information is adequately protected
which health services should participate in CareSync Exchange
the use of specified patient health information
compliance costs and administrative requirements for public health services
whether CareSync Exchange is operating as intended.
The panel will also consider emerging issues and trends in health information sharing, data management, cyber security, patient privacy and other relevant matters.
As part of the review, the panel may seek feedback from health services, clinicians, consumers, peak bodies, regulators and other relevant stakeholders.
The panel is expected to provide its final report and recommendations to the Minister for Health by February 2027.
Further information about the review will be published as it becomes available.
Independent Review Panel Members
Professor Rosemary McKenzie
Professor Rosemary McKenzie (PhD; MPH; PGDip Hlth Prom; BA; GAICD) is an educator and researcher in the Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, within the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences at the University of Melbourne. She served as Interim Head of School 2024-2025, Deputy Head of School from 2021 to 2025, and Director of Teaching and Learning from 2015 to 2024.
As a senior researcher and Professor, Rosemary specialises in health service evaluation. Her research interests include safety and quality of telehealth, clinical governance, primary care policy, health promotion, healthy ageing and integrated healthcare. She is Chair of the Board of Directors of the Peter MaCallum Cancer Centre, Chair of the Parkville Local Health Service Network, a former member of the Victorian Health Complaints Commissioner Advisory Council and a previous trustee of the Bendigo Art Gallery. Rosemary has a sustained history of community engagement, leadership and service in the health, education and cultural sectors.
Karen Cusack
Karen Cusack is a senior lawyer with over two decades of experience in the health sector. She has served as Corporate Counsel at The Royal Women’s Hospital and as Senior Legal Counsel at Eastern Health. In 2017 Karen was appointed Victoria’s inaugural Health Complaints Commissioner where she led the establishment of that office under the Health Complaints Act 2016.
In October 2024, Karen joined Health Legal as a Senior Consultant advising on all areas affecting health sector clients, including medico-legal, commercial, privacy, data protection, health records, FOI, regulatory and contractual and commercial matters.
Richard Royle
Richard has over 40 years of senior executive experience in the public, for profit and not for profit private hospital sectors in Australia, plus experience as a senior executive with one of the major Australian private health insurers. He also spent time as PwC’s lead partner for digital health in Australia and Southeast Asia.
He is a past President of the Australian Private Hospitals Association, and past deputy Chair of the HESTA superannuation fund. He currently chairs the CSIRO’s eHealth Research Centre, which has a national footprint and has successfully commercialized several innovative digital health initiatives. He is also Chair of the Board of the Royal Flying Doctor Service (Victoria).
