Dr Dave Ritchie

Biography

On completing his undergraduate degree in Psychology Dr Ritchie entered the field of health administration through a planning position in a large metropolitan based regional health service in New Zealand. He completed a post graduate diploma in health administration by distance education and studied with some of New Zealand's senior health managers. He left New Zealand to travel and work overseas in the early 1980's. He worked in a small rural hospital in New South Wales before backpacking through Asia to England. He had a brief secondment to a District Health Authority in Surrey. On return to Australia he worked in a large rural base hospital while undertaking a Master of Health Administration by distance education. Having a broad base of experience in different roles in different countries, he accepted his academic appointment in 1990.

Research Interest

health care, The role, function and development of the health service manager, Management of change processes, Developing the use of reflective thinking in a distance education context