The Minister for Indigenous Health, Warren Snowdon, has announced the new membership of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Equality Council (formerly called the National Indigenous Health Equality Council).
With so much of the media and public debate about Indigenous health driven by a small number of voices, it would be good to hear more from some of these people below. ###
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Biographical details – National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Council
Professor Ian Anderson, Chair, is a leading researcher in Indigenous health with wide experience in the health sector. He has a medical degree and a PhD in sociology and anthropology, is Director of Murrup Barkak and Research Director for the Cooperative Research Centre for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health.
Ms Tanya Hosch, Deputy Chair, works primarily in areas of social policy and has a particular interest in the area of philanthropy. She is co-chair of the Indigenous Affinity Group, a Director of a new Co-operative Research Centre on Remote Economic Participation and Executive Director of a governance project aiming to establish the Australian Indigenous Governance Institute.
Members re-appointed to Council for two years to June 2013 are:
Dr Alex Brown, Head of the Centre for Indigenous Vascular and Diabetes Research at the Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute.
Mr Romlie Mokak, experienced Indigenous policy maker and current CEO of the Australian Indigenous Doctors’ Association.
Professor Paul Torzillo AM, a senior respiratory physician with particular expertise in child health and health service development for remote Aboriginal communities. He is Medical Director of Nganampa Health Council in the APY Lands.
Dr Ian Cameron, currently CEO of the NSW Rural Doctors Network. He has extensive experience in rural and remote health, and a particular interest in recruitment and retention of health professionals.
Professor Peter O’Mara, a general practitioner in an Aboriginal community-controlled health service for many years, now Head of Discipline – Indigenous Health at Newcastle University and President of the Australian Indigenous Doctors’ Association.
Mr Adrian Carson, CEO of the Institute for Urban Indigenous Health. He has many years experience in community-controlled and government Indigenous health sectors.
New Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander members of the Council (for three years) are:
Ms Belinda Duarte (Jakiel) is the inaugural Director of the Korin Gamadji Institute. Ms Duarte is also the Chair of the National Aboriginal Sporting Chance Academy.
Professor Pat Dudgeon, acknowledged as the first identified Indigenous psychologist in Australia and the first Indigenous Fellow of the Australian Psychological Society.
Dr Sanchia Shinaski, an epidemiologist with clinical experience as a physiotherapist. She is currently Executive Manager of the Population Health Unit at the Kimberly Aboriginal Medical Services Council (KAMSC).
Mr Patrick Ah Kit, an Aboriginal Health Worker in public health areas, specifically in men’s health including education and health promotion about heart disease and diabetes in men. He is currently at the Wurliwurlinjang Health Service in Katherine.
New non-Indigenous experts on the Council (for three years) are:
Dr Christine Connors, a general practitioner and public health physician providing clinical and public health services to remote Aboriginal communities. She is involved in a number of research projects and heads the NT Chronic Diseases Strategy Unit in the Northern Territory Department of Health.
Dr James Fitzpatrick, founding director of True Blue Dreaming, an outback youth mentoring program working with communities in the WA Goldfields, wheat-belt and Kimberley regions.
Professor Robyn McDermott, a medical epidemiologist with experience as a primary care doctor in remote areas. She is currently Director, SANT DataLink and Professor of Public Health at the University of South Australia.
The Minister has also reappointed as ex-officio members Ms Linda Powell, First Assistant Secretary, Office for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health, Department of Health and Ageing, and Mr Justin Mohamed, Chairperson, National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO).
The Minister has also appointed two Australian Health Ministers’ Advisory Council as ex-officio members of NATSIHEC. Ms Haylene Grogan is the Senior Director of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Branch, Queensland Health and is a returning NATSIHEC member. Ms Jenni Collard is the Director of the Office of Aboriginal Health, Western Australian Department of Health.
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### An open invitation to contribute to Croakey
Now these advisers change with every administration though correct? – Aaron Kocourek