Role
The Advisory Group is a key engagement mechanism to provide a coordinated approach to informing multicultural health and wellbeing policy in the department.
The Advisory Group is strategically positioned to provide expert advice to the Australian Government through the department to ensure policies and initiatives are effective, culturally safe and communicated well to multicultural communities. The Advisory Group includes experts and representatives from various backgrounds including:
- Multicultural peak bodies representing the diverse and unique needs and experiences of multicultural communities
- Public health and medical experts
- Civil society organisations
- Carer and consumer representatives
- State and territory governments (as observers)
Background
The Government is committed to improving health equity for people from multicultural communities. The Advisory Group was established on 8 December 2020 to provide the department with advice on the experiences of multicultural communities during the COVID‑19 pandemic and to mitigate the health impact of COVID‑19. (It was known as the Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Communities COVID-19 Health Advisory Group).
In November 2022, the Advisory Group was extended to continue the collaborative partnership forged throughout the pandemic with multicultural communities. The remit was expanded to provide advice and recommendations to the department across the Health and Aged Care portfolio. The group was renamed to Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Communities Health Advisory Group (CALD Advisory Group).
In December 2024, the Advisory Group was extended and refreshed to continue the important collaboration and dialogue between the department and multicultural communities. In June 2025, the group has been renamed the Multicultural Health Advisory Group.
Terms of reference
Multicultural Health Advisory Group – Terms of reference
Members
| Role | Name | Organisation |
|---|---|---|
| Chair | Ms Trish Clancy | Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing |
| Member – Organisation representatives | ||
| Member | Ms Agnieszka Chudecka | Multicultural Aged Care, Partners in Culturally Appropriate Care Alliance |
| Member | Ms Maria Dimopoulos | Settlement Council of Australia |
| Member | Mrs Bronwyn Morris-Donovan | Allied Health Professions Australia |
| Member | Dr Renee Dixson | Forcibly Displaced People Network |
| Member | Ms Rana Ebrahimi | Multicultural Youth Advocacy Network |
| Member | Mary Ann Baquero Geronimo | Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia |
| Member | A/Prof Erika Gonzalez Garcia | Australian Institute of Interpreters and Translators |
| Member | Ms Siri Gunawardana | Centre for Culture, Equity and Health |
| Member | Dr Noelleen Kiprillis | Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation |
| Member | Ms Brahmmi Kumarasamy | National Ethnic Disability Alliance |
| Member | Dr Scott Mills | Social Policy Group |
| Member | Dr Adele Murdolo | Multicultural Centre for Women’s Health |
| Member | Ms Jamila Padhee | Forum of Australian Services for Survivors of Torture and Trauma (FASSTT) |
| Member | Michelle Possingham | Mental Health Australia (Embrace Multicultural Mental Health) |
| Member | Prof Helen Skouteris | Monash University |
| Member | Dr Aidan Tan | The Royal Australasian College of Physicians |
| Member | Mrs Andrea Vancia | Brisbane South Primary Health Network |
| Member | Dr Kate Walker | Royal Australian College of General Practitioners |
| Member – Carer and consumer representatives | ||
| Carer | Dr Fernanda Penaloza | National Multicultural Health Consumer and Carer Network – Australian Multicultural Health Collaborative |
| Consumer | Ms Ashanthi Jayasekera | National Multicultural Health Consumer and Carer Network – Australian Multicultural Health Collaborative |
| Member – Health expert | ||
| Health Expert | A/Prof Georgia Paxton | General paediatrician, Head of Immigrant Health |
| Health Expert | Professor Christine Phillips | Medical Director at Companion House Medical Service |
| Health Expert | A/Prof Ines Rio | General Practitioner |
| Health Expert | Dr Judy Tang | Neuropsychologist at Invictus Health |
| State and territory observers | ||
| Observer | Dr Evelyn Wong | Victorian Government |
| Observer | Ms Bee Andersson | Government of South Australia |
| Observer | Mrs Udani Dhanojanan | Government of Western Australia |
| Observer | Ms Eleni Hatzilaou | Northern Territory Government |
| Observer | Ms Melanie Nicholls | Queensland Government |
| Observer | Mr Nick Sandrejko | New South Wales Government |
| Observer | Chris Sierzant | Tasmanian Government |
| Observer | Mr Izaac White | ACT Government |
Principles for collecting and using culturally safe data
8 Principles for culturally inclusive and sensitive data practice
Communiques
Multicultural Health Advisory Group – Communiques
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