General News
11 November, 2025
Staff petition RNH board over CEO decision
A petition to renew the Rural Northwest Health chief executive's contract has received resounding support.
The RNH board announced it had decided to search for a new CEO to replace Ms Masters, whose contract finishes on January 30, 2026.
The announcement was made ahead of a two-day workshop on October 27 & 28.
RNH board chair Dr John Aitken thanked Ms Masters for her leadership during the past three years.
"This has been a challenging period, particularly managing the end of the COVID pandemic; and its residual effects nationally on health workforce, recruitment, and service delivery," he said.
"While there are still challenges ahead, the last 12 months has seen the recruitment of nearly 100 new employees and our budgeted return to surplus, significant achievements in the current healthcare environment."
The petition, sent anonymously to the RNH board, featured more than 70 signatures from dismayed staff members.
The anonymous source said the names on the petition were redacted to ensure confidentiality and safety.
"This decision made by the Board has been perplexing and has left a devastating ripple effect of anxiety and uncertainty amongst all of us who work with her, particularly as this is the first period of stability RNH has had in almost a decade," the anonymous source said.
"This petition is to show our solidarity and support for Jenni Masters, who has been Rural Northwest Health’s CEO for three years."
This petition was forwarded to Judith Perkins at the Department of Health.