Principal health advisor to the government of Australia
The Chief Medical Officer is the principal health advisor to the
Australian government. The position is a medical appointment, reporting to the
Departmental secretary for the
Department of Health and Aged Care.[1] The position is responsible for the
Office of Health Protection which itself has responsibility for
biosecurity,
immunisation and disease surveillance. The position is also responsible for "maintaining high-quality relationships between the department, the medical profession, medical colleges, universities and other key stakeholders". Other responsibilities of the position vary according to the skills and background of the officeholder.[1] The position was originally created in November 1982 because the newly appointed Director-General of Health was not a doctor.[2] The position is an advisory in nature and does not have executive or operational authority.[3]
As of 23 January 2021[update], the joint Deputy Chief Medical Officers were Nick Coatsworth, Ruth Vine and Michael Kidd.[5] In May 2020,
psychiatrist Ruth Vine was appointed the first Deputy Chief Medical Officer for
Mental Health.[6]
In June 2024, former Deputy Chief Medical Officer
Nick Coatsworth admitted he had not had a COVID vaccine for two years and stated he would not be getting any more vaccinations for the virus.[13]
Annual reports
Separate printed reports from the officer were available before 2003; after that time they became incorporated into the departmental reports.[14][15]
Most of the principal health advisors in each
state and territory bear the title Chief Health Officer (CHO), apart from South Australia (Chief Public Health Officer) and Tasmania (Chief Medical Officer). During the
COVID-19 pandemic in Australia, the state CHOs became prominent as advisors regarding the state responses, and in particular closure of state borders.[19] The CMOs/CHOs are part of the
Australian Health Protection Principal Committee which advises the
National Cabinet on health matters, which has been particularly important during the pandemic.[20]
As of 2020[update], the principal health advisors in each state and territory are:[19]
^Brew, Nigel; Burton, Kate (16 November 2004).
"Australia's capacity to respond to an infectious disease outbreak". Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 15 June 2020. The CMO does not have an executive or operational role in relation to managing health issues, and contrary to how the role is sometimes understood, the Office does not appear to be entirely independent from the Commonwealth Government.
^"Leadership". Departrment of Health. 28 March 2017. Retrieved 12 June 2020.