Samantha Lavender is a registered nurse and a Policy Officer with the Commonwealth Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer Division in the Department of Health and Aged Care. Samantha provides policy advice on complex matters in nursing, the health system, health workforce, regulation and education. Samantha has a Bachelor of Nursing and a Master of Advanced Nursing, Infection Prevention and Control from Griffith University, and a Graduate Certificate in Health Service Management, Safety and Quality from the University of Tasmania. As an experienced registered nurse, Samantha has held a diverse range of roles across the health and aged care sectors including in both public, private and government settings.