Who we are
The RMA is an independent statutory agency established under Part XIA of the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 (VEA). The RMA is part of the Veterans’ Affairs portfolio.
The RMA consists of a panel of five practitioners eminent in fields of medical science. One of their number must be a person having at least 5 years experience in the field of epidemiology. The RMA is comprised of
- a Chairperson
- four other Members.
All members are appointed by the Minister on a part-time basis under section 196L of the VEA, and must be a registered medical practitioner, or medical scientist, with at least 10 years experience. One member must have at least 5 years experience in the field of epidemiology. The current membership consists of Professors Donald (Chairperson), Kaldor, Wilson, Byrne and Cicuttini.
The term of appointment of each of the current RMA Members is as follows:
Emeritus Professor Ken Donald AO, Chairperson: 1 July 2009 until 30 June 2011. A further appointment from 1 July 2011 until 30 June 2012 has recently been made by the Minister;
Professor Andrew Wilson, Deputy Chairperson: 1 October until 30 September 2015;
Professor Gerard Byrne: 1 July 2009 until 30 June 2012;
Professor Flavia Cicuttini: 1 July 2009 until 30 June 2012;
Professor John Kaldor: 2 February 2011 until 1 February 2016.
The staff necessary to assist the RMA consists of persons engaged under the Public Service Act 1999 and made available to the RMA by the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs under section 196T of the VEA. These staff make up the RMA Secretariat.
The Secretariat is managed by the RMA Registrar. Paul Murdoch is the Registrar of the Repatriation Medical Authority, and heads the RMA Secretariat based in Brisbane. The RMA Secretariat consists of medical research and administrative staff. Medical research staff have medical and/or other research qualifications and experience, and undertake literature reviews and investigations at the request of the Authority. The administrative staff collectively support the work of the Authority in undertaking its statutory role of determining SOPs and the medical research staff.
Note: This structure reflects ongoing and non-ongoing staff. A number of the positions are staffed on 'a part-time basis'.