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.
-
Adjunct Professor Alanna Geary talks Nursing Leadership
Adjunct Professor Alanna Geary FACN,
Chief Nursing & Midwifery Officer,
Metro North Hospital Hospital & Health Service, Queensland
talks Nursing Leadership -
Australian Healthcare Week 2019: Pitch Fest Finalist Lumin
Startup company Lumin was a Pitch Fest Finalist at last week’s Australian Healthcare Week Expo in Sydney. The Lumin platform is used in aged care where loneliness and isolation can be a trigger for stroke and dementia. Lumin helps the connection to care providers, family members and duress monitoring services in a device that has been designed for those with dementia, vision impairment or find complex devices difficult to use.
Managing Director and Co-Founder Paul Wilson spoke at the Mepacs booth with Anne Dao from Australian Health Journal about the market they target and the design of the user experience, including the remote servicing and monitoring. The integration allows the monitoring team in the call centre see and hear the personal raising the alarm. Mepacs is a provider of personal duress alarms and have teamed up with Lumin.
-
Representing the profession that impacts individual lives and communities
Michelle Oliver is a highly experienced Occupational Therapist with nearly two decades of leadership and clinical expertise across the mental health, homelessness, and disability sectors. She holds a Master of Occupational Therapy from the University of South Australia and is a registered practitioner with AHPRA.
