IS on agenda when Aust chairs UN meetings

The war against Islamic State and the Ebola crisis will dominate the agenda when Australia assumes presidency of the United Nations Security Council for the last time.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop on Wednesday will chair a meeting in New York on countering violent extremism with the focus on the threat of IS - also known as ISIL and ISIS - in Iraq and Syria.

It's hoped the meeting will build on the council's special summit in September, which explored ways to combat citizens heading abroad to fight alongside jihadists in the Middle East.

Ms Bishop will also chair an inaugural meeting dedicated to the role of police in UN peacekeeping missions, and another on Friday on the threat of the Ebola outbreak to world peace.

The foreign minister plans to also use the presidency to highlight Australia's contribution to the UNSC during its two-year term at the power table.

Australia last held the council presidency in September 2013, when the world was demanding the UN take a stand against Syrian president Bashar al-Assad's use of chemical weapons on his own people.