First Nations Health Governance Group (FNHGG)

Role

The First Nations Governance Group (FNHGG) has recently been established as a genuine partnership between the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing and First Nations health experts and leaders and will be in place until 2031, aligning with the term of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan 2021–2031 (Health Plan). The FNHGG seeks to co-design and share decisions by embedding expert and First Nations perspectives in the department’s policy design, delivery, and advice to government.

Terms of reference

Terms of Reference – First Nations Health Governance Group

The terms of reference for the First Nations Health Governance Group (FNHGG).

Publications

Members

The FNHGG is comprised of leaders of the First Nations health sector and four departmental representatives. Members are responsible for providing input, making decisions, supporting issue resolution and facilitating the effective operation of the Group.

Member	Role
Blair Comley	Co-Chair (Departmental)
Karl Briscoe	Co-Chair & Organisational Representative: National Indigenous Health Leadership Alliance (NIHLA)
Celia Street	Departmental Representative
Rachel Balmanno	Departmental Representative
Melinda Turner	Departmental Representative
Dawn Casey	Organisational Representative:  National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO)
Kim Whiteley	Organisational Representative:  National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Ageing and Aged Care Council (NATSIAACC)
Prof James Ward	Data
Paul Stewart	Research
Donna Murray	Workforce
Tanja Hirvonen	Mental Health
Rob McPhee	Comprehensive primary health care (Urban)
Jenny Bedford	Comprehensive primary health care (Remote)
Dr Karen Nicholls	Independent Expert/Professional
Dr Alicia Veasey	Hospitals

Contact

First Nations Health Governance Group (FNHGG) secretariat

FirstNationsGovernance@health.gov.au

Date last updated:

5 March 2026

Tags:

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health