As the Australian Government's Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer, professor Alison McMillan provides high-level strategic policy advice on nursing, midwifery, health system reform, health workforce, regulation, and education to the ministers and to the executives and staff within the Department of Health and Aged Care, as well as other government departments. Professor McMillan has an adjunct appointment at Monash University in Melbourne as Professor (Practice), and a Distinguished Alumni from Latrobe University. She has received several awards including a Public Service Medal in June 2021 for outstanding public service to driving the Government's national health response priorities during the pandemic, a National Emergency Medal in recognition of service following the 2009 Victorian Bushfires and in 2021 a Humanitarian Overseas Medal.