The Independent Pandemic Management Advisory Committee (IPMAC) was dissolved on 12 October 2022 to coincide with the end of Victoria’s pandemic declaration.
IPMAC was a statutory advisory body that was established under the pandemic management framework introduced in December 2021 through the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 (the Act) to inform the Victorian Government's pandemic response.
IPMAC was established on 11 February 2022 by the Minister for Health under the Act to:
- review and provide advice to the Minister in relation to the exercise of powers under Part 8A of the Act
- prepare and provide reports to the Minister including, but not limited to, reports that make nonbinding recommendations.
IPMAC is dissolved when the pandemic declaration is revoked or not renewed.
IPMAC's establishment and membership
As required by section 165CE(4) of the Act, the Minister must ensure as far as reasonably practicable that members of the committee, as a group, have skills, knowledge and experience in all the following areas:
- public health
- infectious diseases
- primary care
- emergency
- critical care
- law
- human rights
- the interests and needs of traditional owners and Aboriginal Victorians
- the interests and needs of vulnerable communities.
2022 IPMAC members
IPMAC consisted of the following members:
-
- Former Chairperson of Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System .
- Partner KPMG Australia since 2012. Secretary, Dept. of Justice from 2003–2012.
-
- Over 30 years experience in the field of supporting refugees and asylum seekers.
- Served on a wide range of state and federal government bodies advising on policy and multicultural affairs.
- Currently the Chair of the Refugee and Migrant Services Council.
-
- 20 years clinical nursing experience in public, community, aged care and private health.
- 20 years industrial and professional advocacy and representation at the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation. (Victorian Branch), most recently as Assistant State Secretary from May 2010 to Feb 2021.
-
- Dual trained and qualified infectious diseases physician (FRACP) and public health physician (FAFPHM).
- Full-time clinician researcher leading a clinical epidemiology and implementation research team across The Alfred, Monash University and Burnet Institute.
- Board member of the Australasian Society for Infectious Diseases, and on the Steering Committee of the National COVID-19 Evidence Taskforce.
-
- Indigenous education, employment and training roles in sport industry (AFL football club director and MCG trustee).
- Long-term appointment historically on VicHealth board.
- Currently CEO of Culture is Life – an Aboriginal not-for-profit.
-
- Sport and exercise physician in private and public clinical practice.
- Involved in the translation of COVID-19 knowledge and protocols at community and elite levels of sport, national and international.
- Involved in the translation of protocols for sport and entertainment venues and workforce.
-
- CEO of the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service and Acting Chair of VACCHO.
-
- Barrister at the Victorian Bar practising in criminal and regulatory law.
- Previously worked at the Office of Public Prosecutions, IBAC and as a criminal defence lawyer with the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service.
- Has been a member of various Victorian Bar committees and was a member of the Review Advisory Committee for the Review of Sexual Harassment in Victorian Courts.
-
- Chairperson – Victorian Multicultural Commission .
- Business executive and community leader in corporate, community and government settings agencies.
- Assists organisations with funding, governance, risk management, stakeholder relationships and to advance their social objectives.
-
- Emergency medicine doctor at Royal Melbourne Hospital.
- Reputable public health credentials, a PhD from Oxford (a Rhodes Scholar) and extensive experience working in low-income countries countering infectious diseases such as Ebola.
-
- Currently Chair of various boards including SCT Logistics, Goulburn Valley Water and Davidson Client Advisory.
- Previous CEO of Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
-
- Former Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commissioner and Australian Race Discrimination Commissioner
- Lead reviewer and member of advisory boards in health, legal, sporting and emergency service sectors.
IPMAC reviews 2022
IPMAC has completed 2 reviews relating to:
As required under the Act, the reports produced by IPMAC were provided to the Minister for Health and will be tabled in parliament.
Reviewed 25 October 2023