Jillian Skinner has more experience in the health field than any other politician in Australia, having spent 14 years as NSW Shadow Health Minister and six years as Minister for Health and Medical Research.
She reformed the NSW public health system, increasing treatment, transparency and accountability through a devolved structure which involved establishing Local Health District Boards. She redeveloping hundreds of hospitals, boosting investment in IT, integrated community-based care, medical research and social policy programs including organ donation, pain management, improved palliative care and elimination of the transmission of HIV.
Since retiring as Health Minister in 1917, Mrs Skinner continues her involvement in numerous health initiatives including roles as:
- Chair of the Australian Healthcare & Hospitals Association
- Director of the Board of the Children’s Cancer Institute Australia;
- Member of the Cancer Australia Advisory Council;
- Member of the CSIRO Health & Biosecurity Advisory Group
- Member of the Violet Strategic Advisory Committee
- Member of DetectED-x Advisory Board
- Member of the Australian British Health Catalyst Advisory Board
- Patron Karitane
In 2018 she was conferred Doctor of Science (honoris causa) by Macquarie University in recognition of her contribution to healthcare and health policy in New South Wales. On April 20th, 2022, the University of Sydney will admit her to the degree of Doctor of Health Sciences (honoris causa) for “services to health, medical research, and politics in Australia” and in May 2022, the University of NSW will confer her as a Doctor of Medical Science (honoris causa) in recognition of her “influential role in the implementation of policies and programs, most significantly within the area of control of HIV”.