The Australian Health Protection Committee (AHPC) is the peak decision-making committee for public health emergency management and disease control in the Commonwealth of Australia.Australian Health Protection Principal Committee Department of HealthFrom plague to MERS: coordinating Australia’s response to emerging infectious diseases Firman J, Williams SA, Baggoley C. 2016 Public Health Research and Practice 26(5) It is chaired by the Chief Medical Officer of the Australian Government and comprises the chief health officers of the states and territories.
The AHPC's stated function (according to website ) is to provide advice to the Australian Health Ministers' Advisory Council (AHMAC) "on health protection matters and national priorities", and AHMAC formerly supported the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Health Council.AHMAC Principal Committees Council of Australian Governments Health Council However, since the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia, the AHPC has provided advice directly to the National Cabinet.
History and role The AHPC was established by the Australian Health Ministers’ Advisory Council (AHMAC) on 2 July 2009 to provide expert advice on high-level and intergovernmental coordination of public health emergency management. The AHPC is tasked with providing advice on health protection in the context of emerging health threats, infectious disease, environmental health, and natural disasters. The AHPC also collaborates with state and territory governments to develop consistency and standards for national health protection. Text may have been copied from this source, which is available under a Attribution 3.0 Australia (CC BY 3.0 AU) licence.
The AHPC is also responsible for authorising the deployment of the Australian Medical Assistance Team (AUSMAT).Australian Government Response Plan for Overseas Mass Casualty Incidents Department of Home Affairs 2017
COVID-19 pandemic In response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the AHPC has provided expert advice to the National Security Committee, the Cabinet of Australia, and the National Cabinet of Australia.Advice on coronavirus Prime Minister's Office Media Release 13 March 2020 The National COVID-19 Health and Research Advisory Committee was established in April 2020 to provide advice on Australia's health response to the COVID-19 pandemic to the Commonwealth Chief Medical Officer and the AHPC.
Membership The AHPC is chaired by the Chief Medical Officer of the Australian Government and comprises the Chief Health Officers of the State and Territory Governments. It previously included (as of at least 2017) nominated health disaster officials, the chairs of the AHPC standing committees, a representative from Emergency Management Australia of the Department of Home Affairs, the Surgeon-General of the Australian Defence Force, a representative from the New Zealand Ministry of Health, and other public health and clinical experts.Department of Health’s Coordination of Communicable Disease Emergencies Performance Audit Report Australian National Audit Office Auditor-General Report No. 57 22 June 2017Emergency Response Plan for Communicable Disease Incidents of National Significance: National Arrangements (National CD Plan) Department of Health
JurisdictionPosition Office holderCommonwealthChief Medical Officer and Director of Human Biosecurity (chair) Michael KiddNew South WalesChief Health Officer and Deputy Secretary Population and Public HealthKerry ChantVictoriaChief Health Officer Dr Caroline McElnayQueenslandChief Health Officer Dr Marianne GaleWestern AustraliaChief Health Officer Andrew RobertsonSouth AustraliaChief Public Health OfficerNicola Spurrier TasmaniaChief Health Officer Dr Dinesh AryaAustralian Capital TerritoryChief Health OfficerKerryn ColemanNorthern TerritoryChief Health Officer Paul Burgess
JurisdictionPosition Office holderAustralian Defence ForceSurgeon-General and Commander Joint HealthRear Admiral Sarah SharkeyCommonwealthChief Nursing and Midwifery OfficerAlison McMillanCommonwealthDeputy Chief Medical Officer Jenny FirmanCommonwealthDeputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Claire Behm
Standing committee oversight The AHPC also provides strategic direction and support to five standing committees: Communicable Diseases Network Australia (CDNA) National Health Emergency Management Standing Committee (NHEMS) Public Health Laboratory Network (PHLN) Environmental Health Standing Committee (enHealth) Blood Borne Viruses and Sexually Transmitted Infections Standing Committee (BBVSS)
it also oversees one time-limited advisory group, the Aged Care Advisory Group.
Secretariat The Office of Health Protection of the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing provides secretariat support functions for the AHPC and its standing committees.
See also National COVID-19 Coordination Commission National Cabinet of Australia Council of Australian Governments National Security Committee War Cabinet of Australia
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