Deputy National Rural Health Commissioner – Nursing and Midwifery

Adjunct Professor Shelley Nowlan is the Deputy National Rural Health Commissioner – Nursing and Midwifery.

Adjunct Professor Nowlan has been a registered nurse in Australia for over 34 years. She has been widely recognised for her leadership and contribution to nursing.  She joins our team one day a week to undertake the role as Deputy National Rural Health Commissioner – Nursing and Midwifery.

She is currently the Chief Nurse Officer for Queensland Health and an adjunct professor at the: 

  • School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Queensland 
  • School of Nursing, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology 
  • School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Southern Queensland 
  • School of Medicine, Griffith University
  • JCU Central Queensland Centre for Rural and Remote Health

Professor Nowlan advises the National Rural Health Commissioner on how to: 

  • improve access to rural health services  
  • address rural workforce shortages. 
  • advice that pertains to the two professions

Internationally, Adj Prof Nowlan has represented Australia at esteemed organisations such as the International Council of Nurses, United Nations, UNICEF and provided advice to governments of Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Ireland. Advocating strongly for the profession, rural and remote health her contributions in advancing nursing and midwifery professions have been significant.  Adj. Prof. Nowlan holds a longstanding interest in the health outcomes of rural and remote Australian and has worked for decades to ensure nurses and midwives were supported to meet the needs of people living in rural and regional Australia.

Organisation:
Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care
Date last updated:

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