Australian Health Protection Principal Committee

The Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) is the peak decision-making committee for public health emergency management and disease control in the Commonwealth of Australia.[1][2] It is chaired by the Chief Medical Officer of the Australian Government and comprises the chief health officers of the states and territories.[3]

Australian Health Protection Principal Committee
Committee overview
Formed2 July 2006
Preceding Committee
  • National Public Health Partnership
Committee executive
Parent departmentGovernance: National Cabinet
Secretariat: Department of Health
Websitewww.health.gov.au/committees-and-groups/australian-health-protection-principal-committee-ahppc

The AHPPC's stated function (according to website as of November 2020) is to provide advice to the Australian Health Ministers' Advisory Council (AHMAC) "on health protection matters and national priorities",[3] and AHMAC formerly supported the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Health Council.[4] However, since the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia, the AHPPC has provided advice directly to the National Cabinet.[5][6][7]

History and role

The AHPPC was established by the Australian Health Ministers’ Advisory Council (AHMAC) on 2 July 2006 to provide expert advice on high-level and intergovernmental coordination of public health emergency management. The AHPPC is tasked with providing advice on health protection in the context of emerging health threats, infectious disease, environmental health, and natural disasters. The AHPPC also collaborates with state and territory governments to develop consistency and standards for national health protection.[8]

The AHPPC is also responsible for authorising the deployment of the Australian Medical Assistance Team (AUSMAT).[9]

COVID-19 pandemic

In response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the AHPPC has provided expert advice to the National Security Committee, the Cabinet of Australia, and the National Cabinet of Australia.[10][5][6][7]

Membership

The AHPPC is chaired by the Chief Medical Officer of the Australian Government and as of November 2020 comprises the Chief Health Officers of the State and Territory Governments.[3] It previously included (as of at least 2017) nominated health disaster officials, the chairs of the AHPPC 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.[11][12]

Jurisdiction Position Office holder
Commonwealth Chief Medical Officer and Director of Human Biosecurity (Chair) Paul Kelly
New South Wales Chief Health Officer and Deputy Secretary Population and Public Health Kerry Chant[13]
Victoria Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton[13]
Queensland Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young[14]
Western Australia Chief Health Officer Andrew Robertson[13]
South Australia Chief Public Health Officer Nicola Spurrier[15]
Tasmania Chief Medical Officer Tony Lawler[16][17]
Australian Capital Territory Chief Health Officer Kerryn Coleman[18][19]
Northern Territory Chief Health Officer Hugh Heggie[20][21]

As of 2017 it also included:

Jurisdiction Position Office holder
Australian Defence Force Surgeon-General and Commander Joint Health Rear Admiral Sarah Sharkey
Commonwealth Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer Alison McMillan
Commonwealth Deputy Chief Medical Officer Nick Coatsworth
Commonwealth Deputy Chief Medical Officer Jenny Firman
Commonwealth Deputy Chief Medical Officer Michael Kidd

Standing committee oversight

The AHPPC also provides strategic direction and support to five standing committees:[3][8]

  • 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)

As of November 2020 it also oversees one time-limited advisory group, the Aged Care Advisory Group.[3]

Secretariat

The Office of Health Protection of the Department of Health provides secretariat support functions for the AHPPC and its standing committees.[8]

See also

References
  1. Australian Health Protection Principal Committee Department of Health
  2. From 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)
  3. "Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC)". Australian Government. Dept of Health.
  4. AHMAC Principal Committees Council of Australian Governments Health Council
  5. "Terms of Reference [National COVID-19 Coordination Commission (NCCC)]". Australian Government. Retrieved 23 November 2020. The CMO and the medical expert panel he leads – the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) - will continue their role of advising the National Cabinet on Australia’s health management and response to the virus.}
  6. "National Cabinet: Media Statement". Prime Minister of Australia. 26 June 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  7. "National Cabinet: Media Statement". Prime Minister of Australia. 4 September 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  8. "Australian Health Protection Principal Committee". Directory. Australian Government. 4 November 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2020.} Text may have been copied from this source, which is available under a Attribution 3.0 Australia (CC BY 3.0 AU) licence.
  9. Australian Government Response Plan for Overseas Mass Casualty Incidents Department of Home Affairs 2017
  10. Advice on coronavirus Prime Minister's Office Media Release 13 March 2020
  11. Department of Health’s Coordination of Communicable Disease Emergencies Performance Audit Report Australian National Audit Office Auditor-General Report No. 57 22 June 2017
  12. Emergency Response Plan for Communicable Disease Incidents of National Significance: National Arrangements (National CD Plan) Department of Health
  13. Farhart, Claudia (19 April 2020). "Who are the experts behind Australia's coronavirus response?". SBS News. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  14. "Queensland Health". Chief Health Officer. 24 September 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  15. "Chief Public Health Officer". SA Health. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  16. Kanapathippillai, Julia; Jervis-Bardy, Dan (3 August 2020). "Canberra coronavirus preparation: chief health officer says to be prepared, but don't stockpile". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  17. Hunt, Toby (5 July 2020). "ACT Chief Health Officer Kerryn Coleman". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  18. Kanapathippillai, Julia; Jervis-Bardy, Dan (3 August 2020). "Canberra coronavirus preparation: chief health officer says to be prepared, but don't stockpile". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  19. Hunt, Toby (5 July 2020). "ACT Chief Health Officer Kerryn Coleman". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  20. "Updates". Coronavirus (COVID-19). Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  21. "Members of the NHMRC Council, 2015-2018 triennium". NHMRC. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
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