Ahpra appoints Nicole McCartney to lead Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Strategy Unit
17 Aug 2026
Nicole McCartney is a Yorta Yorta woman living on Bunurong Country in Victoria and brings more than 20 years of experience in Aboriginal health, policy and reform.
She previously served as the inaugural Chief Aboriginal Health Adviser at the Victorian Department of Health, where she helped establish the Aboriginal Health and Wellbeing Division. Her work focused on supporting self-determination and improving cultural safety across the Victorian health system.
Earlier in her career, Nicole managed the Aboriginal Policy and Coordination Unit in Western Australia. In that role, she worked with Aboriginal communities to develop healthcare approaches that recognised the cultural and holistic needs of Aboriginal people and communities.
Nicole holds a Science degree from Murdoch University and has extensive experience working with both State and Commonwealth governments.
Ahpra CEO Justin Untersteiner welcomed her appointment and said the agency remains committed to improving cultural safety and addressing racism in healthcare.
He said racism and discrimination can harm people and create barriers to accessing healthcare.
Marilyn Morgan, Deputy Chair of the National Indigenous Health Leadership Alliance, also welcomed the appointment and said the organisation looks forward to working with Nicole and Ahpra on shared goals around cultural safety and eliminating racism from Australian healthcare systems.
Nicole commenced her new role at Ahpra on 17 August.
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Strategy Unit was established in 2021. It supports reforms aimed at making healthcare regulation culturally safe and free from racism, while ensuring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have a stronger role in decision-making.
Ahpra is also working with the National Indigenous Health Leadership Alliance through its Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Strategy Group. The group provides strategic oversight of efforts to improve cultural safety and address racism across Australia's healthcare system.
Under its Cultural Safety Strategy 2031, Ahpra aims to continue this work and support a healthcare system that is culturally safe, free from racism and responsive to the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and communities.
Ahpra appoints Nicole McCartney to lead Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Strategy Unit
Source: Australian Health Practitioner Regulati