NPS MedicineWise, who led the development of the learning modules and consumer resources said that in order to respect and acknowledge the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia it’s vital the program is underpinned by strong Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander governance.
Starting in September 2019, the advisory group meets regularly to oversee the design and progress of the program.
Current members
Karrina Demasi
Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory
Mike Stephens
Director Medicines Policy and Programs, National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO)
James Harris
Formerly: Workforce Development Manager, Aboriginal Health Council of Western Australia (AHCWA)
Currently: Manager – Teacher, Professional Development – National Association of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Worker and Practitioners (NAATSIHWP)
Dr Jason Agostino
GP and epidemiologist, Australian National University, GP Gurriny Yealamucka Health Service
Linda Da Costa (appointed October 2021)
Community Member, Danila Dilba Health Service
Judith Parnham (appointed October 2021)
Advanced Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Worker, Ravenshoe Primary Health Care Centre
Paul Stewart (appointed October 2021)
Deputy CEO, Lowitja Institute
Lee Bradfield (appointed February 2022)
Manager Indigenous Strategy, Royal Australasian College of Physicians
Previous members
Leonie Williamson (until December 2020)
Policy Advisor, Lowitja Institute
Karl Briscoe (until April 2021)
CEO, National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Worker Association (NATSIHWA)
Gloria Antonio (until December 2022)Â
Deputy CEO, NPS MedicineWiseÂ
The program is supported by strong partnerships with a range of stakeholder organisations, including:
The Advisory Group meets four times a year, with secretariat support services provided by NPS MedicineWise.
The Good Medicine Better Health (GMBH) Advisory Group is tasked with providing advice to NPS MedicineWise on building a program that will grow the capacity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Practitioners in the quality and safe use of medicines.
The first meeting of the advisory group was held on 3 September 2019 at The Djiyagiyalang-Gal Hub (NSW Indigenous Chamber of Commerce) in Redfern. A background and evaluation on the previous program helped to set the scene to start building the new program. It was proposed that the program be split into different components to allow for staggered development and rollout – with the staggered approach to allow for testing of education platform and resources.
The inaugural meeting was an opportunity for the Advisory Group to begin proposing and drafting the overall program mission and vision, core program principles and outcomes, and program measures.
Key themes that emerged from the meeting included:
The Good Medicine Better Health (GMBH) Advisory Group met for the second time on 7 November 2019, a day after the NACCHO Members’ Conference ‘Because of Them, We Must’ in Darwin.
The meeting was hosted by AMSANT in their Darwin office. At the second meeting, the GMBH Advisory Group:
The Good Medicine Better Health (GMBH) Advisory Group met for the fifth time via Zoom. The fifth meeting of the Advisory Group included discussions on:
The meeting of the Good Medicine Better Health (GMBH) Advisory Group scheduled for 26 February 2021 was cancelled due to lack of a quorum. Out of session, members:
The twelfth meeting of the Good Medicine Better Health (GMBH) Advisory Group was held via Zoom and chaired by James Harris: Manager – Teacher, Professional Development – National Association of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Worker and Practitioners. This was a shortened meeting as a quorum of members could only attend one hour due to late apologies. At this meeting, members:
The sixteenth meeting of the Good Medicine Better Health (GMBH) Advisory Group was held via Zoom and chaired by Judith Parnham, Senior Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Worker. At this meeting, members:
As this will be the last GMBH advisory group meeting, the Deputy CEO thanked the members on behalf of NPS MedicineWise for their fearless feedback and advice regarding the GMBH program and hoped that with their support a national organisation can be found for the transition of this program.
The Good Medicine Better Health (GMBH) Advisory Group met for the third time (but for the first time via Zoom).
At the third meeting, the GMBH Advisory Group:
At the meeting, it was also noted that NATSIHWA provided advice on scope of practice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers via an article in Croakey about supplying and administering medicines as health professionals are not allowed to visit remote communities during COVID-19
The seventh meeting of the Good Medicine Better Health (GMBH) Advisory Group was held via Zoom and Chaired by James Harris from Djinda Creative Resources. At this meeting, members:
The tenth meeting of the Good Medicine Better Health (GMBH) Advisory Group was held via Zoom and chaired by Karrina DeMasi: Senior Policy Officer – Aboriginal Medical Services Norther Territory (AMSANT). At this meeting, members:
The fourteenth meeting of the Good Medicine Better Health (GMBH) Advisory Group was held via Zoom and chaired by Karrina Demasi from Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory. At this meeting, members
The information was first published on 20 July 2022. All reasonable care was taken to provide accurate information at the time of creation. This information is not intended as a substitute for medical advice and should not be exclusively relied on to manage or diagnose a medical condition.