PHAA CEO, Adj Prof Terry Slevin
The result of the 21 May election means Australia is now “under new management”.
The change of government means many developments, including the establishment of an Australian Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (ACDCP), which was Labor’s prominent commitment while in opposition.
PHAA has for decades lobbied for, and written about, the need for an ACDCP. Our recent actions include a webinar on the principles of its design, and pieces in ANZJPH and in the PHAA’s Intouch Public Health blog.
We believe the ACDCP will be the most important change in public health infrastructure in Australia for a generation.
We have advocated for a Taskforce to be established and given six months to determine the governance structures, scope, resources, and relationships necessary to give the new public health entity the best possible chance of success. Regardless of the process the new government adopts to establish the ACDCP, we believe there should and will be a process of consultation on the ACDCP’s key design features.
Consequently, we’ve established a new series in our Intouch Public Health blog called CDC Corner. Its purpose is to specifically create the opportunity for PHAA members to express their views on the ACDCP’s key features.
PHAA encourages members to share their views on how it should operate, what its scope should include or exclude, what might be its best governance structure, its powers, responsibilities, relationships, structures, and its focus.
We hope the CDC Corner will be a valuable hub for expression and exchange of views, as well as creating a resource that may be of use to those who make the key decisions about how the ACDCP is designed and established.
But it can only serve that purpose if you, as members, take the time and care to express your views.
Please email our communications team for more information. We’re keen for articles of up to 900 words.
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