The Morrison Government welcomes the appointment of Professor Michael Kidd AM as Principal Medical Advisor to the Department of Health and Professor of Primary Care Reform at The Australian National University.
This appointment further strengthens the Government's focus on delivering major primary health care reforms for the benefit of all Australians.
This is a joint position across the Department of Health and The Australian National University (ANU).
Minister for Health, Greg Hunt, said Professor Michael Kidd was an outstanding leader grounded in expertise in primary health care in Australia and overseas.
"I'm delighted Professor Kidd has accepted this appointment because he has the qualifications and experience to help drive the Government's reforms to primary health care," Minister Hunt said.
"This includes the development of the Primary Health Care 10-Year Plan, reforms to our health workforce and the $550 million Stronger Rural Health Strategy."
ANU Vice-Chancellor, Professor Brian Schmidt AM, said Professor Kidd's appointment strengthens the University's contributions to national health policy.
"Professor Kidd is a globally-recognised authority in primary care. In his work to improve Australia's healthcare system, he will bring extensive policy and practice experience, research and education leadership, and all the relevant expertise our national university has to offer," Professor Schmidt said.
Professor Kidd has more than 30 years' experience working as a general practitioner in urban and rural locations across Australia, with special interests in the care of people with HIV, mental health and Indigenous health.
He served two terms as the elected president of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners from 2002-2006.
Professor Kidd completed his research doctorate with the Monash University Department of General Practice and has research expertise in primary care policy, digital health, chronic disease management, communicable diseases, preventive care, mental health, medical education, and safety and quality.
Since 2017, he was Professor and Chair of the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Toronto providing strategic leadership to the world's largest academic department of general practice and family medicine, and also leading the World Health Organization Collaborating Centre on Family Medicine and Primary Care.
He has worked for many years as a consultant with the World Health Organization, was president of the World Organization of Family Doctors, and prior to his work at the University of Toronto, was Executive Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences at Flinders University in South Australia.
The 2019-20 Budget committed $1.1 billion to the Strengthening Primary Care package to encourage better preventive care and management of chronic issues as well, as access to genomics testing and the rollout of telehealth for the benefit of all Australians.
