The Honourable Greg Hunt served in the Australian Government as Minster for Health and Aged Care from 2017, previously as Industry, Innovation and Science Minister and before that the Environment Minister.
Elected as the Member for Flinders in 2001, Greg announced his retirement from politics late 2021 and in 2022, ahead of the Federal Election, having completed 20 years as a public servant.
Australian Health Journal recently caught up with Greg in a relaxed interview at his home in the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria to hear how a 9 month sabbatical has allowed him to focus on family, fitness and future. This has even included some “brutal spin cycle classes!”.
In his Ministerial role, Greg reflects on the critical supply of masks, gloves, gowns, tests, vaccines and ventilators during the initial years of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Greg talks about Australia’s sovereign capability in a post-COVID-19 world which has played a part on delivering 98% vaccine uptake across Australians, and with some of the lowest rates of death from COVID. He references the structural platform in place with the Medical Research Future Fund, R&D Tax Concession and the Patent Box.
Looking ahead, precision health as a service, stem cells and genomics are key trends that will define the future workforce through targeted treatments, according to Greg. He states with optimism that innovation, research and investment, can make the country a global leader.
He’s also is optimistic the country is well placed with the quality of the workforce, the training in place and the balance between public and private health.
In conclusion Greg, talks to you, the health industry on the support he received both in office and after, and thanks the industry for the treatment delivered to every Australian patient.
Now Greg is moving his attention to 3 pillars – Academic, Philanthropic and Commercial.
Today Greg is the foundation Chair of the Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health’s Advisory Council, at Monash University in Melbourne. The Turner Institute is a world leader in research dedicated to preventative brain and mental health research, treatment and education, a focus for Greg.
Australian Health Journal wishes Greg the best in his future endeavours.
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The Case for Embedded Pharmacy in Residential Aged Care
Embedded pharmacy in residential aged care has been successful in South Australia at the Tanunda Lutheran Home in the Barossa Valley. Julian Soriano talks about his pharmacy role in medication management and medication safety to deliver the best clinical care for residents.
In this segment, Julian talks about the traditional pharmacy model serving residential aged care and the limitations of the imprest process for dispensing medication. Soon into the project he saw the collaboration required with GPs and onsite nurses in dispensing medication for residents in end-of-life or palliative care. Julian sees the imprest process unable to support end-of-life residents, even being able to check the availability of medication.
But what most may not be aware of, is his rapid growth since starting the business in 2013 having just been in health care a few years earlier. Being part of a 2nd generation health care family, Shawn learnt from his father on site and at trade show visits overseas. Prior to HPA, he spent 2 years working in fit-outs of operating theatres, neo-natal and general population ICU, throughout being more fascinated with what he saw. -
Shaping Health, Advancing Nursing through training, upskilling & scholarships
The Chief Executive Officer of Australian College of Nursing, Adjunct Professor Kylie Ward FACN spoke in depth with Australian Health Journal about:
The key recommendations in ACN’s pre-budget submission to Federal Government
The impact of legislation requiring a Registered Nurse (RN) at every residential aged care facility from 1st July 2023
Why scholarships in nursing leadership are important
Why ACN has recommended the Government fund 200 Pacific nurses in 15 nations for the online ACN postgraduate certification
The need for a multi-pronged approach that includes skilled migration in rebuilding the nursing workforceIn the lead up to the Australian Federal Budget in May 2023, Australian Health Journal reached out to peak health industry bodies to hear about their priorities, either noted in pre-budget submissions lodged with Federal Government in January 2023 or in recent forums such as the Strengthening Medicare Taskforce.
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CASE STUDY: Creating awareness, workforce education & dissemination strategy in national screening
At the recent Screening Conference 2025 in Sydney, hosted by Public Health Association, Dr Rachael Dodd, Senior Research Fellow at The Daffodil Centre, spoke about the information and educational resources created to increase awareness in the healthcare workforce and community on the upcoming Australia’s National Lung Cancer Screening Program commencing in July 2025.
