Australian Government Department of Health

The Department of Health is a department of the Government of Australia charged with overseeing the running of Australia's health system, including supporting universal and affordable access to medical, pharmaceutical and hospital services, as well as helping people to stay healthy through health promotion, participation and exercise and other disease prevention activities.

The incumbent Secretary is Brendan Murphy, who succeeded Glenys Beauchamp in July 2020. The incumbent Chief Medical Officer of Australia is Paul Kelly, who succeeded Brendan Murphy in June 2020. Both positions can occasionally be held by the same person. The incumbent Minister for Health is Greg Hunt, in office since January 2017. The junior ministers within the health portfolio are Richard Colbeck (Minister for Aged Care and Senior Australians, Minister for Youth and Sport; in office since May 2019) and Mark Coulton (Minister for Regional Health, Regional Communications and Local Government; since February 2020).