Who we are:

Our team consists of a Policy Manager (Nyasha Mpofu), Senior Policy Officer (Deeandri Naicker), Closing the Gap Policy Officer (Jivani Murugan) and Closing the Gap Community Engagement and Project Officer (Madeleine Lawson).  We come from a wide range of professional backgrounds with experience across both government and non-government organisations.

What we do:

The AH&MRC Policy Team works to deliver advocacy and escalation of system and policy issues that affect the ACCHO sector and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in accessing health care.

We advocate for health policies and programs that:

• improve access to health services for Aboriginal Communities in New South Wales;
• support the delivery of culturally safe health care services;
• are co-designed with and /or reflect the collective views of the ACCHO sector and promote genuine partnership; and
• are evidence based and build on best practice community-controlled models of care.

We work in partnership with the Ministry of Health to deliver Aboriginal-specific health programs and progress Closing the Gap efforts in New South Wales.

We work in collaboration with NACCHO and other state and territory sector bodies to shape the national Aboriginal Health Policy agenda.

The policy team performs a wide range of functions which include, but are not limited to:

• Providing formal policy advice to the AH&MRC executive and policy support to other areas within the organisation (internal);
• providing formal policy advice to external stakeholders such as government, other peaks and NGOs (these stakeholders will usually seek our input on frameworks and policies that affect the sector);
• developing policy submissions, strategies, papers, correspondence and reports;
• participation on different forums such as working, governance and advisory groups on behalf of the sector; and
• working with government and other stakeholders to provide direct support to and develop programs for the sector (for example, supporting grants processes, developing Budget initiatives etc.)

How to reach us:  

The role of the AH&MRC Policy Team is to advance the policy interests of the AH&MRC’s members. We represent and are here to support you. The team is always looking to engage with services and does so through various means. We encourage member services to raise policy issues affecting them and are not only interested in sector-wide, but also regional issues.

Members can contact us directly through our dedicated inbox ( policy@ahmrc.org.au ). We will also use this inbox to share information, opportunities (including programs, funding, advisory groups)  and any work that we undertake.

Members can also engage with us through the Policy Advisory Group (PAG). The AH&MRC Policy Advisory Group (PAG) welcomes Chief Executive Officers or delegates from Member Services, to share their views on pressing policy issues affecting our Sector and inform the work of the Policy Team. The group meets bi-monthly via Microsoft Teams (1-1.5hrs per meeting). This year, the PAG will be held on the following dates:

• Thursday, 23 February
• Thursday, 27 April
• Thursday, 29 June
• Thursday, 31 August
• Thursday, 26 October

The Team also attends the various site visits and events held by other areas within the organisation, to get an on-the-ground perspective and get to know the people we represent.  Keep an eye out for us and please approach us at these events – we are always happy to have a yarn.