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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Global GP Conference comes to Australia
Over 3000 delegates from around the World will gather at the 50th celebration of WONCA to reconnect and revive General Practice, sharing knowledge and learnings on access, equity, funding, and multidisciplinary care teams. This includes networking with Australian and overseas GPs and in particular learning about primary care practices in other countries.
Australian Health Journal met with Dr Nicole Higgins, President of RACGP in transit at Brisbane Airport recently and she spoke about the $6 Billion allocated in the Federal Budget in May as a significant achievement for General Practice investment. She also emphasised this announcement reinforced GPs should be at the centre of multidisciplinary care teams to ensure continuity of care and better health outcomes.
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Mission to raise awareness of sarcoma and need for clinical trial funding
Sarcoma, a rare and aggressive cancer, remains the deadliest cancer for children and young adults, accounting for nearly one third (30%) of cancer-related deaths among those aged 15–24 and one tenth (10%) of those aged 0–14. Further, still severely under-diagnosed, sarcoma only accounts for one sixth (15%) of all cancer diagnoses in the 15 – 24 age group, and less than a tenth (8%) among children under 10.
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AHW Exhibitor: Health Professionals Bank
Healthcare professionals recently had a new bank enter the market. Health Professionals Bank owned by Teachers Mutual Bank, commenced operations in February this year aiming to be a member owned bank that “Cares for those who care”. Exhibiting at Australian Healthcare Week in Sydney last week, General Manager Carolyn Murphy spoke with Australian Health Journal reporter, Anne Dao
