Role
MPAG was established in late 2025. It provides advice to Health Ministers on how to make medicines and poisons legislation more consistent across states and territories. Increased consistency can improve workforce productivity and provide patients with better access to services.
The work of MPAG responds to Recommendation 7 of the Unleashing the Potential of our Health Workforce – Scope of Practice Review. States and territories have different rules around who is allowed to prescribe, supply and administer medicines. The Review identified this as a barrier to health practitioners working to their optimal scope of practice.
MPAG’s first priority is to provide advice to Health Ministers on a national approach to general practitioners (GPs) diagnosing and treating attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Members
MPAG is co-chaired by the First Assistant Secretary, Workforce Division, Commonwealth Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, and the Chief Pharmacist, NSW Ministry of Health.
MPAG’s membership comprises policy and regulatory officials, as well as medical advisers, from the Commonwealth, states and territories and the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra).
Meetings
The MPAG is scheduled to meet seven times over a 12-month period, with meetings held every 8 weeks. Members may also collaborate out of session.
Related committees or groups
The MPAG reports to the Health Ministers Meeting (HMM) through the Health Workforce Taskforce (HWT) and the Health Chief Executives Forum (HCEF).
Health Workforce Taskforce (HWT)
Health Chief Executives Forum (HCEF)
Health Ministers’ Meeting (HMM)
Contact
