Improving the health of rural Australians

Jane Halton

qualifications: xx

position: Secretary, Department of Health and Ageing

Jane Halton is Secretary of the Australian Department of Health and Ageing. She is responsible for all aspects of the operation of the Department including the provision of advice on and administration of Medicare, the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, Aged and Community Care, Population Health, regulation of Therapeutic Goods, plus hospital financing and Private Health Insurance. She also has responsibility for leadership on health security issues including matters related to bioterrorism.

Jane is a Commissioner of the Health Insurance Commission and a member of the board of the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. She currently chairs the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Council and the Australian Obesity Taskforce.

In addition, she is the co-chair of the OECD's ad hoc Health Project, and is Executive Board Member of the World Health Organisation.

Prior to her appointment in January 2002 as Secretary of the Department of Health and Ageing, Jane Halton was Executive Co-ordinator, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (PM&C) and was responsible for advising in all aspects of Australian Government Social Policy including the Status of Women.

Prior to joining PM&C, Jane Halton was national program manager of the Australian Government's Aged and Community Care Program with responsibilities for long term care. Jane holds an honours degree in Psychology for the Australian National University, is a fellow of the Australian Institute of Management and an honorary fellow of the Australian College of Health Service Executives. She was awarded the Public Service Medal in 2002, and the Centenary Medal in 2003.