A network of governance committees and interest groups plays a vital role in informing our work under the National Immunoglobulin Governance Program.
The NBA's principal Ig governance committee is the National Immunoglobulin Governance Advisory Committee (NIGAC). The NIGAC and 4 immunoglobulin specialist working groups (SWGs) provide expert guidance to ensure our criteria reflect current scientific evidence. They also provide advice on other Ig governance-related issues, including:
- education
- governance framework
- performance improvements
- research.
Our Jurisdictional Immunoglobulin Performance Improvement (JIPI) Group provides a forum for the NBA and jurisdictions (states and territories) to share information and coordinate and discuss immunoglobulin governance-related activities and initiatives. This complements the work of the jurisdictions’ own immunoglobulin interest groups, known as the Jurisdictional Immunoglobulin Interest Groups, or JIIGs.
We also have an informal National Immunoglobulin Interest Group (NIIG). We invite anyone involved in any aspect of Ig use and management, from medical professionals to patients and carers, to join this group if they would like to keep abreast of, and potentially contribute to, discussions on relevant topics. Occasionally, we may contact NIIG members and invite them to participate in activities.
Learn more about how we manage immunoglobulin products.
For recent activities of Ig governance committees and groups, see our latest updates.
National Immunoglobulin Governance Advisory Committee
Our peak Ig governance committee is the National Immunoglobulin Governance Advisory Committee (NIGAC). The NIGAC is a statutory committee established under section 38 of the National Blood Authority Act 2003 (Cth)(Opens in a new tab/window).
The NIGAC meets up to 3 times a year. The committee provides advice and makes recommendations about our Ig governance program.
The committee helps to ensure access to government-funded Ig is fair and equitable. It also aims to evolve and improve Australia's Ig governance and management.
Membership
NIGAC members are leaders who act as champions for our Ig governance program.
Our Chief Executive appoints members based on their experience and expertise and renews memberships through a rolling review process. Appointments are initially for 3 years, with a maximum term of 8 years.
NIGAC members represent key stakeholders from different clinical disciplines, organisations and jurisdictions.
Become a NIGAC member
When required, we seek formal expressions of interest for NIGAC membership approximately every 3 years.
Current members
Each medical specialist member also chairs their relevant Specialist Working Group.
Chair
Professor Robert Moulds, Medical Advisor, Therapeutic Guidelines Ltd; Emeritus Professor of Medicine, Fiji National University.
Medical specialist – haematology
Professor Dipti Talaulikar, Senior Staff Specialist, Clinical Haematologist, Canberra Hospital, Professor, School of Medicine and Psychology, Australian National University
Medical specialist – immunology
Associate Professor Pravin Hissaria, Immunology Staff Specialist, SA Pathology/Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia. Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, University of Adelaide
Medical specialist – neurology
Associate Professor Stephen Reddel, Staff Specialist Neurologist, Concord Repatriation General Hospital, New South Wales
Medical specialist – transplant medicine
Associate Professor Ross Francis, Senior Staff Specialist - Kidney Medicine/Kidney Transplantation, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland
Consumer representatives (2)
Dr Lisa Wright, Myasenthia Alliance Australia (MAA) board member; committee member of Myasenthia Gravis Association of Queensland (MGAQ)
Ms Jackie Murphy, President, Australian Primary Immune Deficiency Patient Support (AusPIPS)
Dispenser representative
Ms Kylie Fitch, Assistant Manager, Sullivans Nicolaides Pathology, Corporate Blood Bank, Bowen Hills, Queensland
Epidemiologist
Dr Surendra Karki, Research Fellow/Epidemiologist, Research and Development, Australian Red Cross Lifeblood; Adjunct Lecturer, School of Population Health, University of New South Wales, NSW.
Health economist
Dr Hansoo Kim, Health Economist, Senior Lecturer, Centre for Applied Health Economics, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Griffith University, Queensland
Nurse representatives (2)
Ms Rachael Dunn, Clinical Nurse Specialist Immunology, Perth Children’s Hospital, WA.
Position vacant.
Commonwealth representative
Dr Neil Everest, Senior Medical Adviser, Technology Assessment and Access Division, Department of Health and Aged Care.
Large jurisdiction representative
Ms Helen Seeto, Principal Policy Adviser– Specialty Programs, Commissioning and Systems Improvement Division, Department of Health, Victoria
Small jurisdiction representative
Ms Susan Dalkie, Nurse Clinical Coordinator - Transfusion, Territory Pathology, Northern Territory Health
NBA representatives (2)
Mr John Cahill, Chief Executive, National Blood Authority.
Mr Ben Noyen, Deputy Chief Executive, National Blood Authority.
Observer
Lifeblood Authoriser Representative
Immunoglobulin Specialist Working Groups
Our Immunoglobulin Specialist Working Groups (SWGs) provide expert advice in:
- haematology
- immunology
- neurology
- transplant medicine.
There's an SWG for each of these 4 specialisations. The chair of each SWG sits on the NIGAC to represent the views of their group.
We seek input from other specialist areas, such as rheumatology or dermatology, on an as-needed basis.
SWGs usually meet remotely 2 to 3 times per year. They may hold extra meetings for urgent single-issue advice.
Among other things, our SWGs:
- give specialist feedback and clinical advice
- make recommendations on our criteria for access to Ig
- provide advice on contingency planning
- provide insight and advice to guide continuous improvement activities.
The SWGs work with each other and the network of national and jurisdictional committees to inform our Ig governance program.
Membership
SWG members are leaders who act as champions for our Ig governance program.
Our Chief Executive appoints members based on their experience and expertise. Appointments are for 3 years, with the possibility of reappointment.
Become an SWG member
When required, we seek formal expressions of interest for SWG membership approximately every 3 years.
Current members
Haematology SWG
Chair
Professor Dipti Talaulikar, Clinical haematologist, Canberra Health Services, School of Medicine and Psychology, College of Health and Medicine, Australian National University
Members
Dr Philip Choi, Consultant Haematologist and Clinical Director of the National Platelet Research and Referral Centre, The Canberra Hospital, Australian Capital Territory
Professor John Gibson AM, Consultant Emeritus Haematologist, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, New South Wales
Associate Professor Anna Johnston, Director, Clinical Haematology and Statewide Bone Marrow Transplant Service, Royal Hobart Hospital, Tasmania
Dr Meg Wall, Genetic Pathologist, Victorian Clinical Genetics Services (VCGS), Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria
Dr Gemma Crighton, Consultant Haematologist, Department of Haematology, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria
Dr Michelle Spanevello, Senior Staff Specialist, Haematology/BMT and Deputy Director of Haematology, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland. Senior Medical Officer Haematology, Icon Cancer Centre Chermside, Brisbane, Queensland
Immunology SWG
Chair
Associate Professor Pravin Hissaria, Immunology Staff Specialist, SA Pathology/Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia. Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, University of Adelaide
Members
Associate Professor Theresa Cole, Paediatric Immunologist, Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria
Dr Alisa Kane, Acting Director of Immunology and HIV, St Vincent's Hospital, Darlinghurst, New South Wales
Dr Daman Langguth, Director of Immunology at Sullivan Nicolaides Pathology, Brisbane, QLD; Clinical Immunologist, The Wesley Hospital Campus, Brisbane, Queensland
Associate Professor Patrick Quinn, Medical Unit Head, Department of Paediatric Allergy and Clinical Immunology, The Women's and Children's Hospital, North Adelaide, South Australia. Paediatric Allery and Clinical Immunologist, Adelaide, South Australia
Neurology SWG
Chair
Associate Professor Stephen Reddel, Staff Specialist Neurologist, Concord Repatriation General Hospital, NSW.
Members
Dr Nicholas Crump, Neurologist and Neurophysiologist, Austin Health, Victoria
Professor Russell Dale, Professor of Paediatric Neurology, The Children's Hospital at Westmead; Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, New South Wales
Dr Christian Gericke, Clinical Director of Neurology, The Prince Charles Hospital, Brisbane; Professor of Medicine, University of Queensland, Queensland
Dr Judith Spies, Senior Staff Specialist, Neurology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, New South Wales
Dr Belinda Cruse, Deputy Director of Neurology, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria
Transplant medicine SWG
Chair
Associate Professor Ross Francis, Senior Staff Specialist - Kidney Medicine/Kidney Transplantation, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland
Members
Dr Kovi Levin, Respiratory and Lung Transplant Physician, The Alfred, Victoria
Dr Joshua Kausman, Director of Nephrology and Staff Paediatric Nephrologist, Department of Nephrology, The Royal Children’s Hospital, Victoria
Professor Peter Macdonald, Staff Specialist, Heart and Lung Transplant Unit, St Vincent’s Hospital, New South Wales
Associate Professor William Mulley, Nephrologist and Transplant Physician, Department of Nephrology, Monash Health, VIC. Clinical Adjunct Associate Professor, Monash University, Victoria
Observer
Lifeblood Authoriser Representative
National Immunoglobulin Interest Group
The National Immunoglobulin Interest Group (NIIG) is an informal group for anyone interested in Ig use or management.
Members of the NIIG receive our National Ig Governance Program updates. We may also invite them to comment on Ig issues such as:
- BloodSTAR functionality and usability
- educational material and resources
- governance policy
- governance program implementation and improvement.
Membership
Membership to the NIIG is open to anyone interested in Ig use or management.
Members could include:
- administrators
- carers
- medical professionals
- patients
- policymakers
- other interested parties.
Become an NIIG member
To join the NIIG, email us at IgGovernance@blood.gov.au.
You may also like to subscribe to receive regular Ig program updates.
Subscribe to Ig program updates
To subscribe for updates, email us at IgGovernance@blood.gov.au and include the following in your email:
- in the subject line, put 'SUBSCRIBE Ig Program Updates'
- in the body of the email, let us know whether you're a healthcare professional, patient or other Ig stakeholder
- in the body of the email, add your contact details or signature block.
Other interest groups
There are other interest groups and forums outside the National Blood Authority where you can get involved. This includes patient support groups and jurisdictional Ig interest groups.
To find out how to get in touch with a patient support group, please contact us.
Jurisdictional Immunoglobulin Interest Groups
State and territory health departments create their Jurisdictional Immunoglobulin Interest Groups (JIIGs).
While they don’t sit under the NBA, they’re an integral part of the network responsible for Australia’s Ig governance and management.
JIIGs foster communication between policymakers and the people who implement Ig governance in jurisdictions.
Among other things, JIIGs can help us:
- identify, communicate and resolve Ig policy and criteria issues
- develop and implement program improvements.
Membership
JIIG members differ across jurisdictions, but they're usually people who have an interest in Ig use and governance.
Members might be:
- medical specialists in haematology, immunology, neurology or transplant medicine
- medical scientists
- nurses
- patients
- representatives from Australian Red Cross Lifeblood
- other people a jurisdiction selects.
Become a JIIG member
Each jurisdiction selects its JIIG members. Contact your state or territory's health department to register your interest.
Get in touch
For more information about our committees, including membership, contact us.
Phone: 1300 025 663 (13 000 BLOOD)
Email: IgGovernance@blood.gov.au
Last updated: 27 Mar 2024