10 June 2026
Join the Medicinal Cannabis Expert Working Group
Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
Expression of Interest due date: 26 June 2026, 12:00PM (AEST)
What’s this about?
The Medicinal Cannabis Expert Working Group (Expert Working Group) provides advice to the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing (the Department) on the medicinal use of cannabis in Australia following the Narcotic Drugs Act 1967 and the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989.
The Expert Working Group involves up to 14 members (including up to two consumer representatives). It gives expert, balanced and timely advice to the Department on:
Current research on medicinal cannabis in Australia and overseas, including how it’s used, how safe it is, and how well it works. This also covers rules, regulations, and how it is prescribed in practice.
Ways to promote research into Medicinal Cannabis that will provide strong evidence for how it is used within Australia’s therapeutic goods regulation context.
Issues around prescribing medicinal cannabis, including costs, and what matters most to patients and their experiences.
Developing policies, guidelines, education, and training about medicinal cannabis for different groups, such as consumers, health professionals, medical colleges, and industry groups.
Looking at the medicinal cannabis rules and regulations in Australia, including how they meet international drug control agreements, especially when it comes to patient access.
Any other medicinal cannabis issues the department requests advice on
Learn more:
What is involved?
This Expression of Interest is for a consumer representative role on the Medicinal Cannabis Expert Working Group (July 2026 - April 2028).
The consumer representatives on the Expert Working Group are expected to contribute lived experience expertise to the advice developed. The upcoming workplan for the Expert Working Group will consider advice on:
Safety and surveillance
Framework development
Dosage
Educational initiatives
Research and data
Packaging and labelling
Note: The Expert Working Group considers evidence to inform expert advice, but does not make decisions about regulation, policy or their implementation.
Who should apply:
You’re encouraged to apply if you:
Have lived experience as either:
a health consumer who has been prescribed medicinal cannabis.
as a carer/advocate for someone who has been prescribed medicinal cannabis.
Have an interest in informing the regulation and use of medicinal cannabis in Australia
Feel comfortable sharing your views and experiences in a formal setting.
Have strong written and verbal communication skills.
Have experience with health policy, standards or guideline development (including reviewing available evidence).
Have prior experience in consumer engagement activities (such as advisory groups, committees, or consultations).
Are able to travel to the in person meetings in Canberra, ACT.
What you’ll need to do:
If selected, you’ll be asked to:
Actively participate in 3-4 meetings per year in-person in Canberra with some meetings held online.
Confirmed upcoming meeting dates include:
11am-3pm (AEST) Tuesday, 28 July 2026 [In person meeting - Canberra]
Tuesday, 20 October 2026: In person meeting – Canberra (Time TBC)
Commit to the full duration of the appointment until April 2028.
Read and prepare for each meeting using the resources provided by the Expert Working Group Secretariat.
A briefing with the Expert Working Group Secretariat to discuss the agenda and meeting papers can be arranged if needed.
Participate in additional work outside of the meeting schedule as needed.
Share your views on the available evidence shared with the Working Group members and provide a consumer perspective
Remuneration
You’ll be paid a sitting fee of $476 for attendance at a 4 hour meeting. A reduced rate is applied for attendance less than the full 4 hours.
Note:
If the Working Group is asked to do any extra work outside of scheduled meetings, it will be paid at the standard hourly rate and be subject to agreed time limits.
Travel costs for in-person meetings will arranged by the Department for Expert Working Group members.
Other details:
You’ll need access to a computer and reliable internet. If this is a barrier, please contact the CHF Consumer Engagement team: admin@chf.org.au
How to apply:
To be considered for appointment, you MUST complete an online application that will ask questions including:
Do you identify as:
Someone who has been prescribed medicinal cannabis
Carer or supporter/advocate for someone who has been prescribed medicinal cannabis
Briefly describe up to three lived experience factors that need to be considered by the Expert Working Group when developing advice on the regulation, education and packaging of medicinal cannabis in Australia (Maximum 900 characters)
Please describe why you are interested in joining the Medicinal Cannabis Expert Working Group? (Maximum 900 characters)
Share what motivates you to be part of this group. You might want to include your personal experiences, interests, or perspectives related to the prescription and use of medicinal cannabis in Australia.
Please provide a summary of your most recent and relevant consumer engagement experience (e.g. member of governance, advisory groups, research groups or as part of consultations)
Confirm availability to join the upcoming Medicinal Cannabis Expert Working Group meetings.
To submit your application:
Submit your expression of interest: Consumer Engagement Opportunities: Expressions of Interest Form (2026) – Fill out form
Submission deadline: Midday 12:00PM AEST (Melbourne/Sydney/Brisbane/Hobart), Friday, 26 June 2026 (Note equivalent time zone below)
Adelaide/Darwin: 11:30am
Perth: 10:00am
Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.
Questions?
If you have questions about applying or require support to submit your expression of interest, please email standards@racgp.org.au
