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Your guide to the structures, organisations and key people in the Australian Government

Specialist Medical Review Council

Veterans' Affairs (part of the Defence Portfolio)
The Council reviews Statements of Principles and decisions of the Repatriation Medical Authority (RMA). The Council does not consider individual applications for compensation, but reviews the evidence upon which the RMA bases its decisions. All members of the Council must be registered medical practitioners, or medical scientists, with at least 10 years experience. Section 196ZE of the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 provides that they are to be selected from a list of nominees submitted by such colleges, or similar bodies of medical practitioners or medical scientists (e.g. the Royal Australian College of Physicians), as are asked by the Minister to submit nominees. The Council is assisted by staff made available by the Secretary of the Department of Veterans' Affairs. Part-time members are appointed by the Minister for Veterans' Affairs. Members numbers vary from time to time as needed for new reviews.

Further information

  • Type of Body

    E. Statutory office holder, offices and committees

  • Established By / Under

    Act / Regulation

  • Established By/Under More info

    Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986

  • Paid Members?

    Yes

  • Max No. of Board/Committee Members

    999

  • Annual Report Prepared and tabled?

    No

  • Classification

    B. Secondary statutory structure

  • Function Categorization

    Council

  • Creation Date

Current board appointments

Position Appointee Start Date End Date
Chair Professor Christian Gericke MBBS MD PhD Berlin, MPH Cantab, MSc London, MBA De 1 July 2024 30 June 2029
Member Professor Alexander McFarlane AO 1 July 2024 30 June 2029
Member Associate Professor Meagan Brennan FRACGP FASBP PhD 26 August 2022 30 June 2025
Member Professor Dianna Magliano 1 July 2024 30 June 2029
Member Dr Ian Gardner 1 July 2024 30 June 2029
Member Dr Robert Warlow 1 July 2024 30 June 2029
Member Professor Robert Cumming AO 1 July 2024 30 June 2029
Member Professor Stephen Clarke OAM 1 July 2024 30 June 2029
Member Dr Phillip Morris AM 1 July 2024 30 June 2029
Member Dr. Bradley Ng 1 July 2024 30 June 2029
Member Professor Guy Eslick 1 July 2024 30 June 2029
Member Dr Kate O'Connor 1 July 2024 30 June 2029
Member Professor Samantha Richardson 1 July 2024 30 June 2029
Member Professor Kimberly Alexander PhD (Epidemiology) MEd BHlthSc (Public Health) BNu 1 July 2024 30 June 2029
Member Dr Richard Arenson 1 July 2024 30 June 2029
Member Dr Catriona Melville MBChB, MSc, FRCOG, FFSRH, FRANZCOG, DipGUM 26 August 2022 30 June 2025
Last updated: