Feedback is being sought on the First Interim State Public Health Plan , launched recently by Department of Health Chief Health Officer Professor Tarun Weeramanthri.
The final Plan is not required to be published until Part 5 of the Public Health Act 2016, related to public health planning, is enacted in approximately four years’ time.
However, Professor Weeramanthri has produced the interim plan to support organisations that seek to be consistent with the public health objectives and policy priorities of the WA Department of Health.
The online consultation (external site) is the first phase of the process and is targeted specifically at local government. The second phase of consultation will target WA State Governments, non-government organisations and other health bodies.
Feedback
Please refer to the online survey (external site) to provide your feedback on the plan.
The survey will close on 1 December 2017. Otherwise, please feel free to submit any feedback on the Public Health Act or the public health planning process via email to publichealthact@health.wa.gov.au
The survey should take approximately 30 minutes to complete, and you have the option to save your progress and return to the consultation at any point.
The Chief Health Officer will review and consider all feedback and may release a Second Interim State Public Health Plan at a later stage.
Why is this only an interim plan?
The Chief Health Officer has released the interim plan to support local governments that want to continue to be proactive developing their local public health plans in anticipation of Part 5 of the Public Health Act coming into effect.
It is important to note that the First Interim State Public Health Plan does not adhere to all the requirements specified in Part 5, section 43 of the Public Health Act 2016. In particular it does not address section 43(e) (f) or 43(3). Once Part 5 comes into effect, the WA Department of Health will work with our many partners in the development of the first State Public Health Plan.
Who should use the First Interim State Public Health Plan?
Although the key focus of this Interim State Public Health Plan is to support local governments in developing their local public health plans, it may also be used by government and non-government organisations with an interest in protecting, promoting and improving health and wellbeing, and helping to reduce the incidence of preventable illness.
Each of these groups has the opportunity to implement public health initiatives, projects and program to help to achieve the objectives and policy priorities outlined in this First Interim State Public Health Plan. In particular, local governments, a major partner in public health, already provide a number of services that have public health benefits for their local community.
Although it may not be possible to address all the objectives and policy priorities, this Plan will help to identify areas of need for a local government district.
Further information
Refer to the Department of Health website for further information on public health planning. Any queries should be directed to publichealthact@health.wa.gov.au