The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Protection AHPPC Sub-Committee

The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Protection (NATSIHP) Sub-committee of the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC), replaces the former Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Group on COVID-19.

Role

NATSIHP provides holistic and culturally safe advice on health protection matters for First Nations peoples and communities. NATSIHP’s focus is on communicable and chronic diseases, environmental health, and disaster management in primary health settings, and health issues related to COVID-19.

Actions include:

  • Ensuring appropriate responses to current and emerging health protection issues for First Nations peoples
  • Reducing data gaps and improving data use, ensuring adherence to First Nations data sovereignty principles
  • Ensuring robust First Nations shared decision making and partnerships
  • Ensuring health protection responses include culturally safe and effective communication strategies
  • Establishing First Nations led strategic and collaborative governance arrangements
  • Providing nationally agreed policy health protection policy advice to the AHPPC

The Australian Government established the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Group on COVID-19 (Advisory Group) in March 2020. The Advisory Group provided clinical expertise to advise and inform decisions on COVID-19 related health issues for First Nations peoples and communities.

On 17 October 2022, the Advisory Group became the NATSIHP Sub-committee of the AHPPC. NATSIHP’s remit has expanded beyond COVID-19, to include First Nations health protection matters and relevant health outcomes of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.

Members

The NATSIHP co-chair are the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) and the Department of Health and Aged Care.

NATSIHP members as at March 2023

Member Role Background and experience

Dr Lucas de Toca PSM

Co-chair

Department of Health and Aged Care, First Assistant Secretary, National COVID-19 Vaccine Program

Dr Dawn Casey PSM FAHA

Co-chair

Deputy CEO, National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO)

Dr Kath Keenan

Member

Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council

Dr Yuanee Wickramasinghe

Member

Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council

Lauren Owen

Member

Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council

Dr Jessica Leonard

Member

Aboriginal Health Council of South Australia

Dr Caitlyn White

Member

Aboriginal Health Council of Western Australia

Melissa Conners

Member

Aboriginal Hostels Limited

Dr Liz Moore

Member

Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory

Yehuwdiy Dillon

Member

ACT Government

Dr John Boffa

Member

Central Australian Aboriginal Congress

Dr Lorraine Anderson

Member

Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services

Dr Jason Agostino

Member

National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation

Katrina Clark

Member

National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance

Yvonne Uren

Member

National Indigenous Australians Agency

Geraldine Wilson-Matenga

Member

New South Wales Government

Dr Tara Smith

Member

New South Wales Government

Kristy Crooks

Member

New South Wales Government

Dr Belinda Greenwood-Smith

Member

Northern Territory Government

Yolonda Adams

Member

Northern Territory Government

Dr Storm Holwill

Member

Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council

Dr David Dunn

Member

South Australia Government

Damien Shen

Member

South Australia Government

Dr Julie Graham

Member

Tasmania Government

Prof. James Ward

Member

The University of Queensland, Poche Centre for Indigenous Health

Jill Gallagher

Member

Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation

Francine Eades

Member

WA Government

Dr Revle Bangor-Jones

Member

WA Government

Dr Pippa May

Member

WA Government

Dr Ana Herceg

Member

Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health and Community Services

Meetings

The group meets fortnightly, with ad hoc meetings scheduled as required.

Communiques

Communiques from NATSIHP

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Group on COVID-19 – Communiques

Related committees or groups

Some NATSIHP members are also members on other AHPPC sub-committees:

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