Michael Andrews

From improving access to healthcare in Papua New Guinea, teaching Australian children first aid in schools, and now rebuilding the ambulance service in Solomon Islands, I’ve had the opportunity to work across diverse settings, helping to strengthen resilience in each community I serve.

Brought into health services with a mandate to drive system reform, I’ve tackled complex challenges and pursued opportunities to expand traditional models of care and service delivery. Leading reforms in pre-hospital service delivery, I've introduced specialist clinical programs targeting areas of high need, such as mental health clinicians, family violence practitioners, and secondary and nurse-initiated triage. My focus has been on improving access, enhancing quality, and reducing costs—all to achieve better patient outcomes.

Recently, I’ve deepened my passion for digital and data, harnessing information to enable more integrated, timely decision-making at both operational and strategic levels. This work has included integrating the electoral roll with patient records, moving toward truly patient-centred care and generating insights that drive improvements at both population and individual levels.

My approach to healthcare leadership is rooted in values that centre every decision on people—both patients and practitioners. From making care accessible and adaptable to prioritising outcomes, these principles reflect a commitment to building systems that genuinely serve the needs of the communities they support.