Episode 59: Getting Clinical Registry Governance Right: Trust, Access and Use

00:00 Introduction 03:57 Tamara Hooper 25:50 Andrew Bersten & Karen Saxty This episode explores clinical registry governance within national frameworks, including a clear definition of clinical registries and the role they play in delivering value-based care and system-wide improvement. Tamara Hooper showcases the work of the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI) Registry Centre, outlining common governance challenges and showing how well-designed governance can support high-quality research, inform policy and drive continuous improvement in clinical care. The episode also highlights how the Southern Adelaide Local Health Network (SALHN) is moving from fragmented registry practices to a more consistent governance model. Professor Andrew Bersten and Karen Saxty explore challenges and lessons learned, including managing new and existing registries, system and platform variation, and consent and ethical considerations. This model shift could support system-wide improvement and deliver safer, more reliable care across South Australia. Speaker Bio: Tamara Hooper, Strategic Director, SAHMRI Registry Centre Tamara Hooper is the Strategic Director, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute Registry Centre. Tamara is an experienced project manager who has led and managed many complex research projects, managed the Registry-Nested Clinical Trials portfolio whilst at the Australian Orthopaedic Association National Joint Replacement Registry, established the Australasian Cardiac Outcomes Registry Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation Registry, and has held commercial healthcare roles nationally within the education, marketing and sales environment. Tamara is passionate about growing the Clinical Quality Registry (CQR) sector in the same way that there is recognition for Clinical Trials/research and education in the health service environment. Her goal is for the CQR sector is to reduce variation through standardisation, working collaboratively, reducing waste (duplicate effort) and demonstrating the value and impact of registries. Professor Andrew Bersten, Executive Director of Research, SALHN Professor Andrew Bersten served for many years as ICU Director at the Southern Adelaide Local Health Network (SALHN) and as Clinical Director of Medicine, Cardiac and Critical Care. He is currently Executive Director of Research at SALHN, overseeing both integrity and strategic aspects. Given the pivotal role of data across all aspects of healthcare, with particular focus on registries, continuous improvement and research he also acts as SALHN’s Data Custodian. Following implementation of a data governance framework a contemporary approach to both current and future registries is underway. Karen Saxty, Director Research Operations, SALHN Karen Saxty is Director of Research Operations at Southern Adelaide Local Health Network (SALHN), with over 25 years’ experience in clinical care, research and data governance, and registry-based systems. She is recognised for delivering data-driven infrastructure that supports ethical research, clinical improvement, and learning health systems. Karen holds a Bachelor of Health Science (Honours) and is a Certified Health Informatician Australasia. She specialises in population health, data systems, and evidence-based practice, with a strong focus on clinical registries and real-world data. She led SALHN’s Data Governance Framework and has strengthened research infrastructure, data quality, and governance, supporting improved clinical outcomes and health service performance. *Please note, captions are automatically generated and we apologise for any unintended errors.