Communities Dept appoints acting director-general

Health Department budget strategy director Wayne Salvage has been appointed acting director-general of the new Department for Communities, due to come into existence on July 1.

The department, to be founded from a split in the Department of Community Development into the separate Department for Communities and Department for Child Protection, will commence advertising for a permanent director-general this week.

A spokesman for Communities Minister Sue Ellery said Mr Salvage would be eligible to apply.

The full text of an announcement from the Minister's office is pasted below

Communities Minister Sue Ellery has announced the appointment of Wayne Salvage as the acting Director General of the new Department for Communities.

Mr Salvage, substantively the director of Budget Strategy at the Department of Health, takes up his post today.

Ms Ellery said Mr Salvage would be tasked initially with the development and establishment of the new department's structure, to ensure a smooth transition of services to the community.

"I look forward to working with Mr Salvage and all the staff in the new department in providing the vast range of important services to the people of Western Australia," she said.

The Minister said that during his time at Health, Mr Salvage was involved in the implementation of the Reid Report and his experience would help position the new department on a solid footing.

The splitting of the Department of Community Development into the separate Department for Communities and Department for Child Protection, is a further step in the Government's commitment to implementing outcomes of the Ford Review.

Advertising for the permanent Director General appointments for both the Department for Communities and the Department for Child Protection will begin this week.