Role
The First Nations Governance Group (FNHGG) has recently been established as a genuine partnership between the Department of Health and Aged Care and First Nations health experts and leaders and will be in place until 2031, aligning with the term of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan 2021-2031 (Health Plan). The FNHGG seeks to co-design and share decisions by embedding expert and First Nations perspectives in the department’s policy design, delivery, and advice to government.
Terms of reference
Terms of Reference – First Nations Health Governance Group
Publications
- First Nations Health Governance Group (FNHGG) communique – April 2025
- First Nations Health Governance Group (FNHGG) communique – December 2024
- Nomination form – First Nations Health Governance Group
Members
The FNHGG is comprised of leaders of the First Nations health sector and four departmental representatives. Members are responsible for providing input, making decisions, supporting issue resolution and facilitating the effective operation of the Group.
| Member | Role |
| Blair Comley | Co-Chair (Departmental) |
| Karl Briscoe | Co-Chair & Organisational Representative: National Indigenous Health Leadership Alliance (NIHLA) |
| Celia Street | Departmental Representative |
| Charles Wann | Departmental Representative |
| Melinda Turner | Departmental Representative |
| Dawn Casey | Organisational Representative: National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) |
| Cassara Hardie | Organisational Representative: National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Ageing and Aged Care Council (NATSIAACC) |
| Prof James Ward | Data |
| Paul Stewart | Research |
| Donna Murray | Workforce |
| Tanja Hirvonen | Mental Health |
| Jenny Bedford | Comprehensive Primary Care |
| Dr Karen Nicholls | Independent Expert/Professional |
| Dr Alicia Veasey | Hospitals |
Contact
Contact the secretariat for the FNHGG for further information: FirstNationsGovernance@health.gov.au