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.
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:
- Environmental Health Committee (enHealth)
- Blood Bourne Viruses & Sexually Transmissible Infections (BBVSC)