Rachel Stephen-Smith is the Minister for Health, Families and Community Services and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT).
Rachel Stephen-Smith was first elected to the ACT Legislative Assembly as a Member for Kurrajong in 2016, after a 20-year career in public policy across Federal and ACT Governments and non-government organisations. Rachel was appointed a Minister in the Barr Government following her election, and currently holds the portfolios of Health, Families and Community Services and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs. Rachel has a Bachelor of Economics (Hons) from the Australian National University and a Master of Real Estate Development from the University of Maryland in the United States.
In her time as Health Minister, Rachel has been responsible for implementing nation leading drug and alcohol reform. This includes decriminalising the personal possession of small amounts of illicit drugs, opening Australia’s first fixed-site drug checking service and making record investments in the alcohol, tobacco and other drugs sector.
Rachel believes in evidence-based and practice informed policies to reduce alcohol and other drug-related harm for individuals, families and the broader community.
Rachel has a strong commitment to harm minimisation and working with people with lived experience, advocates, service providers and families to deliver services and programs that make a real difference.
