Rosemary McKenzie

Professor Rosemary McKenzie is a Professor of Public Health in the Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, at the University of Melbourne. She holds a PhD, Master of Public Health (MPH), Postgraduate Diploma in Health Promotion (PGDip Hlth Prom), Bachelor of Arts (BA), and Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD). As an educator, evaluator, and health services researcher, her research specializations focus on health service quality and outcomes, including evaluations of after-hours primary care policies and services, national primary care telephone triage and advice lines, and the quality of telehealth services. She has led evaluations of the Australian Government's national After Hours Primary Healthcare Program and conducted multiple biennial quality reviews of clinical appropriateness for Healthdirect Australia.

Professor McKenzie's career at the University of Melbourne includes serving as Director of Teaching and Learning in the Melbourne School of Population and Global Health for over a decade, Deputy Head of School from 2021 to 2023, Interim Head of School, and Deputy Director of the Centre for Health Policy. Her scholarly contributions include key publications such as 'The league of extraordinary generalists: a qualitative study of professional identity and perceptions of role of GPs working on a national after-hours helpline in Australia' (2016, BMC Health Services Research), 'Patient intention and self-reported compliance in relation to medicines use after emergency department discharge' (2016, Emergency Medicine Australasia), 'Consumer awareness, satisfaction, motivation and perceived benefits from using an after-hours GP helpline – a mixed-methods study' (Australian Journal of Primary Health), 'Safety on the line: a short report on the development of a quality improvement model for a nurse and GP helpline using simulation exercises' (2012, Quality in Primary Care), and 'Trachoma elimination in remote Indigenous Northern Territory communities: baseline health-promotion study' (2007). Beyond academia, she has demonstrated leadership in health and community sectors, including as Chair of the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre Board since July 2024, Chair of the Parkville Local Health Service Network, former board member of Hepatitis Victoria, Trustee of Bendigo Art Gallery, Deputy President of Bendigo College of Advanced Education Council, and member of Victorian Health Services Review Council and Health Complaints Commissioner Advisory Council. Her work has significantly influenced Australian health policy and service delivery.

Professional Email: r.mckenzie@unimelb.edu.au