Jennifer Smith-Merry for National Council

Professor of Health and Social Policy, Discipline of Social and Behavioural Sciences in Health and Centre for Disability Research and Policy, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health.

I’m a Professor of Health and Social Policy in the School of Health Sciences. I first joined the NTEU more than 20 years ago and over my career have variously been a casual, fixed-term and continuing staff member, in teaching, research-focused, and teaching and research positions. 

I’ve been a strong advocate for staff in marginalised positions in academia, including staff with disability and First Nations staff, using my funding to create positions and push for broader change, including through my former role as Director of the Centre for Disability Research and Policy.

Drawing on my academic skills in policy I will use my position on National Council to advocate to government for policy change to benefit NTEU members and the broader academic sector, including students.

I’m particularly interested in change in relation to university governance and in real steps to create less hierarchical, more flexible and diverse workplaces.

Vote for NTEU Renewal

For Secretary, vote Rebecca Connell.