An Alice Springs-based Remote Health lecturer has been appointed as one of 10 commissioners on the Federal Government's National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission.
Sabina Knight is a remote area nurse, senior lecturer and academic based at the Centre for Remote Health, a joint facility of Charles Darwin University (CDU) and Flinders University.
Her appointment was announced by the Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, and Health Minister Nicola Roxon earlier this month and she joins nine eminent Australians advising government on reforms to the Australian health system.
Ms Knight brings expertise gained as a leader in nursing, rural and remote health, a remote area nurse, lecturer and senior academic working with many Central Australian and Northern Territory health services.
She is also a long-term resident of Alice Springs.
The Commission will focus on big picture reform, health financing, maximising a productive relationship between public and private sectors, and improving rural health.
It will advise the Government on the key aspects of the framework for the next health care agreements between the Commonwealth and the states and territories.
Professor Sandra Speedy, Head of School, Health Sciences congratulated Ms Knight’s on her appointment.
“Sabina is an excellent choice and it’s timely the Rudd Government is ensuring appropriate people are being chosen to bring a remote and rural perspective to health issues, which is long overdue,” she said.
“Her experience and academic capacity will add great value to this Board.”
Professor John Wakerman, Director of the Centre for Remote Health, said the Alice Springs community was delighted at Ms Knight's appointment.
"Sabina will bring a wealth of health service experience to the job and, as an academic, she also has an extensive understanding of the research evidence that can inform policy," he said.