At the Department of Health and Aged Care, the work we do shapes health, aged care and sport policy, programs and research in Australia. Our work involves: 

• awareness and education 
• consultation and engagement 
• grants and tenders 
• initiatives and programs 
• administration of legislation 
• policy 
• regulation and compliance 
• research

Our department is led by 7 groups:

• Ageing and Aged Care Group 
• The Ageing and Aged Care Group guides and influences the direction of ageing and aged care, developing policy and implementing programs in collaboration with the sector through co-design. 
• Chief Medical Officer Group
• The Chief Medical Officer Group is made up of the principal medical advisers to the Minister for Health and the department. 
• Corporate Operations Group
• The Corporate Operations Group delivers a broad range of end-to-end ministerial support services, HR, Communication, ICT, Finance, our state network, law, assurance and managing the Budget process for the department. 
• Health Products Regulation Group 
• The Health Products Regulation Group (HPRG/TGA) looks after the regulation of therapeutic goods and certain controlled drugs and drug substances to ensure these products do not put Australians' health and safety at risk.  
• Health Resourcing Group
• The Health Resourcing Group oversees medical benefits, technology assessment and access, the health workforce, benefits integrity, digital health and the national COVID-19 vaccine program.
• Health Strategy, First Nations and Sport 
• The Health Strategy, First Nations and Sport Group oversees strategic policy and relations, health economics and research, sport and First Nations health.
• Primary and Community Care Group
• The Primary and Community Care Group is responsible for leading the department’s work on policies and programs relating to mental health, primary care, population health, prevention and cancer, hearing and chronic conditions. 

Project: First Nations Mental Health Study – Literature Review

First Nations students are strongly encouraged to apply

Summary

The government has funded a national study to better understand and measure the mental health and wellbeing of First Nations peoples. The study, which is still in the project initiation stage, will be developed in partnership with First Nations peoples, to ensure it is culturally appropriate and meets the needs of the community.

The project aims to build a mental health evidence base using Indigenous Data Sovereignty principles, for use by First Nations peoples, service providers and governments.

The literature review may include research into:
- Indigenous data sovereignty and governance principles, including examples of how these have been, or could be, implemented in government;
- Shared decision making principles and models, including best practice examples;
- Existing surveys and data sets in the First Nations mental health space;
- Data collection tools in the First Nations health space, either existing or in development.