Chief Nurse Panel

Alison McMillan

Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer - Commonwealth

Professor (Practice) Alison J McMillam PSM. Alison McMillan commenced as the Australian Government Department of Health’s Commonwealth Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer in November 2019. Alison provides high-level policy advice to the Minister for Health and Aged Care, the Executive and staff within the Department of Health, in areas including primary care, mental health and aged care.

Alison is a Registered Nurse with a Critical Care Nursing Certificate, a Bachelor Degree in Education, a Master of Business Administration, she has held senior executive roles in government and health services within Victoria including the Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer, Director of Quality, Safety and Patient Experience and Director of Health Emergency Management.

Alison is a member of the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee contributing to advice provided to the National Cabinet during the COVID-19 pandemic and, chair of the Infection Control Expert Group providing advice and information on best practice on infection prevention and control in the community, hospitals, aged care, schools and community sport. Alison has been a part of a team providing communication to the community, which is clear, honest, and compassionate.

She was awarded a Public Service Medal in June 2021 for outstanding public service to driving the Government's national health response priorities during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly to infection prevention measures. a National Emergency Medal in recognition of service following the 2009 Victorian Bushfires National Emergency Medal and a in 2021 a Humanitarian Overseas Medal.

As an Australian Medical Assistance Team (AUSMAT) member Alison has deployed on a number of occasions including the repatriation of Australians from the Diamond Princess Cruise ship in Japan (2020), Fiji following cyclone Winston (2016), Vanuatu following cyclone Pam (2015) and Banda Aceh, Indonesia (2005) following the Indian Ocean Tsunami.

Alison is currently leading a range of strategic projects including:-

• the National Nursing Strategy (the Strategy) which will set out a vision for the future of nursing in Australia and will articulate priorities for action to help support a capable, resilient nursing profession delivering person-centred, evidence-based, compassionate care to Australian communities across all sectors.

• A supply and demand study of the nursing workforce is underway. The study aims to take recent data (from 2015 to 2020) to quantify the nursing workforce in Australia and include future scenario projections of workforce requirements at the National and State and Territory level.

• The Nurse Practitioner 10 Year Plan will describe a set of actions that can be taken to address nurse practitioner workforce issues of national significance to enhance the delivery of nursing care to the Australian community

Robina Redknap

Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer - Western Australia

As the Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer, Robina provides leadership to the Nursing and Midwifery Office. Working in collaboration with the Chief Medical Officer, Chief Health Professional Officer and Chief Dental Officer she provides policy oversight and high level advice in relation to a range of clinical and related issues to key stakeholders, including the Director General and Minister for Health.

Robina has a strong history of achievement in the development and delivery of strategic and operational initiatives, particularly in the nursing and mental health sectors.

Initially trained as an Enrolled Nurse, Robina completed her Registered Nurse training in 1986. She has extensive experience in clinical, managerial, education and executive leadership positions. She is also active in research to improve outcomes for the people we care for and the clinicians who serve them.

Robina is committed to working in collaboration and partnerships with others to break down silos and successfully navigate the complexities of delivering high-quality and sustainable person-centred care in a diverse and constantly evolving healthcare system.

In addition to her registered nursing qualification, Robina holds a Cert IV in Assessment and Workplace Training, a Graduate Certificate in Leadership and Management and is a Doctor of Health Science (Clinical Leadership and Management). She has been awarded Adjunct Associate Professorships with Edith Cowan and Notre Dame Universities, for her contribution to Nursing and Midwifery education, research and clinical practice development. Robina has also been inducted into the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International and was the recipient of the 2020 Edith Cowan University Distinguished Alumni Award for achieving extraordinary success within her industry and making a sustained and significant contribution to the profession.

Anthony Dombkins

Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer - Australian Capital Territory

Anthony Dombkins until appointed the ACT Health Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer in January 2020 was the Director Nursing and Midwifery, Northern Sydney Local Health District. Anthony Dombkins graduated as a Registered Nurse in 1987 and holds postgraduate clinical certificates in Renal and Transplantation Nursing and Intensive Care Nursing, as well as a Masters, Health Management (UNE). Anthony Dombkins has held a variety of senior health management positions within the public and private health sectors across NSW. In June 2014, Anthony Dombkins was appointed an Adjunct Professor – Nursing with the University of Sydney and the Australian Catholic University. Anthony Dombkins was a member of the Clinical Excellence Commission Advisory Board and a Board Director for Stewart House.

Mish Hill

Acting Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer - Northern Territory

Mish is a registered Nurse and Midwife with her Masters in Science (Midwifery). Having worked in remote and regional services in Australia, and a number of overseas countries, successfully contributing in roles of Executive Director of Nursing for Al Wakra Hospital, Qatar and Joint Chief Nursing Officer for Hamad Medical Corporation, Qatar which encompassed 15 hospitals.

Currently, Mish is the Acting Chief Nurse and Midwifery Officer for the Department of Health, NT; whilst continuing in her nominal role as the Executive Director of Nursing and Midwifery for the Top End Health Service.

Mish is an energetic, pro-active and committed health care leader, focused on strategically planning and executing continually improving systems and processes to ensure effective, accessible, safe and compassionate patient centred care.”

Jennifer Hurley

Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer - South Australia

Adj Assoc Prof Jennifer Hurley is the Chief Nurse and Midwifery Officer of South Australia. Jenny’s working career is diverse, commencing her career in her hometown of Broken Hill then continuing her professional journey in paediatric education at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne, and midwifery education at the Queen Victoria Hospital in Adelaide.

Jenny has worked in a range of settings interstate, internationally and in regional Australia. Prior to joining SA Health, Jenny was responsible for clinical, operational and financial leadership for nursing and midwifery services across administration, nursing informatics, perioperative services, medicine and surgical services.

Throughout Jenny’s leadership career she has been a passionate advocate for nurses and midwives. She is a visionary leader continually and passionately working to enhance the role, value and profile of nurses and midwives in all settings. She is driven to progress and empower the professions of nursing and midwifery as a system influencer.

Jenny’s academic career has included certificates in Midwifery and Paediatric Nursing, graduate diploma in High Dependency and Ambulatory Care Nursing and a Master of Health Administration.

Jenny models honesty, integrity, commitment and passion for her work. Jenny continually supports lifelong learning and promoting rewarding careers and the value that nurses and midwives bring to the health system.

Deborah Miller

Senior Director Governance and Stewardship, Office of the Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer - Queensland

Deborah Miller has dedicated over 30 years’ to serving the Queensland community in a range of public and private sector clinical and health administrative roles at both a strategic and operational level. More recently also broadening her reach by taking on a position as Non Executive Director on a Regional Victorian Health Service Board.

Deborah is currently the Senior Director Governance and Stewardship, Office of the Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer, Clinical Excellence Queensland, Queensland Health. Providing stewardship and governance in managing over $400M in funding committed to Nursing and Midwifery initiatives across the State.

As a senior leader in health Deborah’s experience has included: health policy; planning; resourcing; clinical practice and organizational redesign; clinical workforce education and training; Audit, Risk, Compliance and managing the development of statewide and community based services. Deborah has participated on national health related Committees and undertaken short term consultancies in the General Practice sector; and internationally in Eastern Europe.

Deborah’s areas of particular interest include: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island health, rural health and leading health system reform to support the delivery of value based, person centered care to the community that we serve.