Dr Caroline McElnay will be Victoria's Chief Health Officer from 4 August 2025. In the interim, Dr Christian McGrath and Dr Evelyn Wong are sharing the Chief Health Officer role.
The Chief Health Officer undertakes a variety of statutory functions under health and food-related legislation. The role also provides expert clinical and scientific advice and leadership on issues impacting public health.
Responsibilities
The Chief Health Officer:
- provides expert advice on matters relating to the health and wellbeing of the people of Victoria to:
- the Minister for Health and Ambulance Services
- senior leaders in the Department of Health
- Emergency Management Victoria
- the broader Victorian health sector
- issues health alerts and advisories to inform Victorians about health issues that may affect their health and safety
- performs the functions or powers specified in the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 or any regulations made under that Act
- is the spokesperson for the Victorian Government on matters related to health protection, including public health incidents and emergencies
- engages with the community on public health matters
- publishes a comprehensive report on public health and wellbeing in Victoria every two years.
About Dr Caroline McElnay
Following an extensive global recruitment process, Dr Caroline McElnay will be stepping into the role of Chief Health Officer of Victoria from the 4 August 2025.
Dr Caroline McElnay brings more than 20 years' public health experience in New Zealand and the United Kingdom. Dr McElnay has extensive experience responding to a variety of health emergencies, including leading New Zealand's COVID-19 response in her role as Director Public Health for New Zealand from 2017 to 2022.
A former President of the New Zealand College of Public Health Medicine, Dr McElnay is highly regarded in the field with a strong background in communicable diseases, environmental health and epidemiology.
In 2023, Dr McElnay was named a companion of the Queen's Service Order in New Zealand for services to public health. As a strong advocate of health equity, she has continued to focus her efforts on increasing child immunisation rates in New Zealand – a transferable focus for Victoria and global communities.
In the interim, Dr Christian McGrath and Dr Evelyn Wong are sharing the Chief Health Officer role until 4 August 2025. Both Dr McGrath and Dr Wong have significant public health expertise and have worked for a number of years in the Department of Health, including in Deputy Chief Health Officer roles.
About Dr Christian McGrath
Dr Christian McGrath is a general and infectious diseases physician with extensive experience in multidisciplinary health environments. Christian has over a decade of experience in clinical infectious diseases and public health management. Christian was appointed Deputy Chief Health Officer in 2022.
About Dr Evelyn Wong
Dr Evelyn Wong is a Public Health Physician with a PhD which focussed on epidemiological modelling methods. She is experienced in leading and developing public health policy, epidemiological modelling, translation of research into policy and practice, program implementation and evaluation.
She has extensive experience in stakeholder engagement having worked in academia, industry and government including as Deputy Chief Health Officer in Victoria in COVID-19 response. Evelyn is particularly keen to work in collaboration with others, to find innovative ways to continue building a strong and effective networked public health system in Victoria.
Deputy Chief Health Officer (Communicable Disease)
Dr Helen O'Brien is the Deputy Chief Health Officer (Communicable Disease). The Deputy Chief Health Officer (Communicable Disease) provides expert clinical and scientific advice and leadership on communicable disease and public health. This role supports the Chief Health Officer and staff within the Health Protection Branch.
Responsibilities
The Deputy Chief Health Officer (Communicable Disease):
- leads the response to communicable disease incidents and emergencies
- acts as Chief Health Officer, in their absence
- engages with communicable disease clinicians
- provides expert advice on issues relating to communicable diseases to:
- the Chief Health Officer
- the Minister for Health and Ambulance Services
- senior leaders in the Department of Health
- Emergency Management
- the broader health sector.
Deputy Chief Health Officer (Environment)
Dr Danny Csutoros is the Deputy Health Officer (Environment). The Deputy Chief Health Officer (Environment) provides expert clinical and scientific advice and leadership on issues relating to environmental public health. This role supports the Chief Health Officer and staff within the Health Protection Branch.
Responsibilities
The Deputy Chief Health Officer (Environment):
- works closely with the Chief Health Officer and acts as Chief Health Officer in their absence
- engages with the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) and other external stakeholders
- provides expert advice on issues relating to environmental public health including climate, drinking water, legionella, radiation and food safety to:
- the Chief Health Officer
- the Minister for Health and Ambulance Services
- senior leaders in the Department of Health
- Emergency Management Victoria
- the broader health sector.
Reviewed 29 May 2025