Dr Robert Wooding

Dr Robert Wooding is the current head of the Information and Communications Division in the Department of Health and Ageing. The Division is responsible for e-Health, Health Information Management, Online Communications and Media and Public Relations work. The Division manages important Commonwealth health information initiatives such as HealthConnect, MediConnect and Health Insite.

Until May 2002 Dr Wooding was the First Assistant Secretary of Portfolio Strategies Division in the Department of Health and Ageing. The Division is responsible for central policy co-ordination and economic analysis, budget and financial management.

In 1999-2000, Dr Wooding was Assistant Secretary of the Private Health Industry Branch, which implemented several major Federal Government initiatives, including the 30% Private Health Insurance Rebate, Lifetime Health Cover and Gap Cover.

Dr Wooding holds a PhD in History from the University of Sydney. His research topic related to urban development in colonial India. In 1987 he joined the Department of Housing and Construction to work on policy issues relating to housing and urban administration. Since then, Dr Wooding has had a varied public service career encompassing the areas of policy development, program administration, financial management and corporate services. He has held senior positions in the departments of Finance and Administration, the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Immigration and Multicultural Affairs, most recently, Health and Ageing.