11 February 2018
The award was announced in the Australia Day 2018 Honours List on 26 January.
Dr Stanford said he was delighted and honoured to accept the Award.
Tony Howarth, St John of God Health Care Chairman congratulated Michael saying:
“Michael has dedicated his life to the pursuit of excellence and served the organisations he has led with purpose, commitment and integrity to the benefit of countless Australians.
“He is a most worthy recipient of an Order of Australia honour.”
Dr Stanford’s career and contribution in the health sector spans more than 30 years and he has tirelessly served the interests of the community during this time.
He commenced at St John of God Health Care as Group CEO in 2002 and has been responsible for taking St John of God Health Care into a new era of healthcare.
Under his leadership, St John of God Health Care increased fivefold in size through a combination of mergers and acquisitions, brownfield and greenfield development, and organic growth and grown from the 80th largest private company in Australia to the 20th.
It is now the largest Catholic sector hospital services provider and the third largest non-Government hospital operator in Australia with greatly expanded services in public healthcare including the St John of God Midland Public Hospital.
Most significantly, Dr Stanford oversaw the development and augmentation of significant social and community services at St John of God Health Care, which is now a major provider of services in disability, community mental healthcare, early childhood and early intervention for young people. It also provides healthcare capacity building internationally, particularly in East Timor.
Dr Stanford is an enthusiastic advocate for the arts as a key to individual and community well-being. In addition to establishing a formalised Arts and Health program at St John of God Health Care, he has taken a leadership position within the community and was a WA State Council member for the Australian Business Arts Foundation for a number of years.
He has contributed to community life in Western Australia through various Board memberships including nine years on the Council of Curtin University, four years as a board member of Leadership WA Inc and more recently a Board member of the WA Chamber of Arts and Culture.
His contribution to the fabric of community life was recognised in 2010 when he was awarded the Western Australia Citizen of the Year Award for Industry and Commerce.
Dr Stanford recently announced his intention to resign from St John of God Health Care to pursue a non-executive career. His first board appointment after finishing at St John of God Health Care is with the ASX listed Healthscope Ltd, commencing on 26 March.