The critical role of nursing at birth, at death and everything in between.
Professor Alison McMillan PSM spoke with Australian Health Journal about the role of Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer at the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care.
Alison was appointed as our Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer in November 2019.
Alison is a registered nurse with a Bachelor of Education and a Master of Business Administration.
In June 2021 Alison was awarded a Public Service Medal for outstanding public service to driving the Government’s national health response priorities during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly to infection prevention measures.
The role of the Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer
As the nation’s Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer, Alison delivers high-level policy advice to the Minister for Health, and the Executive and staff within the Department of Health. She represents Australian nursing at national and international levels.
As a member of the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee and as co-chair of the Infection Control Expert Group, her role in the coronavirus response is to advise the Australian Government to realise the value of the nursing and midwifery professions in achieving safe, quality and compassionate health and aged care outcomes for the Australian community.
This interview was recorded following Alison’s keynote presentation at the National Nursing Forum in Darwin in August 2022, organised by the Australian College of Nursing (ACN).
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Care workforce challenges
In a wide ranging report looking at the carer needs across Australia, PwC Australia published Reimagine Care Workforce Solutions in October 2022.
Australian Health Journal spoke with Kerryn Dillon, Director Ageing and Reablement and Health Workforce at PwC Australia about the community care sectors of aged care, disability care and childcare the report covers.
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Tasmanian researchers and clinicians working together
Tasmanian medical research charity funds projects that have a global impact and improve community health and well-being.
Australian Health Journal spoke to Stephanie Furler the Chief Executive Officer of The Royal Hobart Hospital Research Foundation about the impact of this research locally and in global health.
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Growing impact of blood cancer on women
According to the Leukaemia Foundation, blood cancer is one of the most urgent and under-recognised women’s health issues in Australia, with three times more Australian women diagnosed with blood cancer than ovarian and cervical cancer combined (Source: AIHW, Cancer Data in Australia, 2024).
Blood cancer has also emerged as the second most common cancer diagnosed in Australian women overall – behind only breast cancer – and the leading cancer amongst girls and women under the age of 30 (Source: AIHW, Cancer Data in Australia, 2024).
