Australian Health Protection Principal Committee
The Australian Health Protection Principal Committee is the peak decision-making committee for public health emergency management and disease control in the Commonwealth of Australia. It is chaired by the Chief Medical Officer of the Australian Government and comprises the Chief Health Officers of the States and Territories. The AHPPC is a principal committee of the Australian Health Ministers' Advisory Council which supports the Council of Australian Governments Health Council.
Role
The AHPPC was established by the Australian Health Ministers’ Advisory Council 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.The AHPPC is also responsible for authorising the deployment of the Australian Medical Assistance Team.
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.Membership
The AHPPC is chaired by the Chief Medical Officer of the Australian Government and comprises the Chief Health Officers of the State and Territory Governments, 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.| Jurisdiction | Position | Office holder |
| Commonwealth | Chief Medical Officer and Director of Human Biosecurity | Professor Paul Kelly |
| New South Wales | Chief Health Officer and Deputy Secretary Population and Public Health | Dr Kerry Chant PSM |
| Victoria | Chief Health Officer | Professor Brett Sutton |
| Queensland | Chief Health Officer and Deputy Director-General Prevention | Dr Jeannette Young |
| Western Australia | Chief Health Officer | Dr Andrew Robertson |
| South Australia | Chief Medical Officer and Chief Public Health Officer | Dr Nicola Spurrier |
| Tasmania | Chief Medical Officer | Professor Tony Lawler |
| Australian Capital Territory | Chief Health Officer | Dr Kerryn Coleman |
| Northern Territory | Chief Health Officer | Dr Hugh Heggie |
| 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 | Dr Nick Coatsworth |
| Commonwealth | Deputy Chief Medical Officer | Dr Jenny Firman |
| Commonwealth | Deputy Chief Medical Officer | Professor Michael Kidd AM |
Standing committee
The AHPPC also provides strategic direction and support to five standing committees:- Communicable Diseases Network Australia
- National Health Emergency Management Standing Committee
- Public Health Laboratory Network
- Environmental Health Standing Committee
- Blood Borne Viruses and Sexually Transmitted Infections Standing Committee
Secretariat