Local government public health plans

The Public Health Act 2016 allows local governments flexibility in assigning the task of developing their public health plans. Local governments can appoint anyone with the necessary skills and knowledge in public health and strategic planning, including:

• Existing staff or other qualified individuals: Utilising in-house expertise to develop the plan.
• External consultants: Engaging consultants with experience in public health planning to support the process.

If LGAs choose to engage a consultant to develop their local public health plan, it is recommended that the following points be considered.

1. Define clear objectives: establish specific, measurable goals for the public health plan to ensure the consultant’s efforts align with the local community’s needs.
2. Choose expertise wisely: select a consultant with proven experience in public health planning and a strong understanding of similar community profiles.
3. Ensure community involvement: engage diverse community stakeholders in the planning process to gather broad perspectives and ensure local buy-in.
4. Set transparent communication: arrange regular updates and check-ins to keep the project on track and adjust as needed.
5. Review past work: examine the consultant’s previous plans to assess their quality and relevance to current objectives.

LGAs may also benefit from forming a steering committee comprising key stakeholders to guide the plan’s development. This committee could include councillors, community representatives, business leaders, and government agency representatives, ensuring a well-rounded perspective and valuable input.

While each LGA is required to produce its own public health plan, collaboration between LGAs is encouraged. Sharing resources and expertise can streamline the process, reduce costs, and support consistent approaches to public health across neighbouring communities.

Local governments play a vital role in public health, often seen as the level of government closest to the community. Through their broad range of services, they directly influence many determinants of health, such as:

• Infrastructure and property services: Maintaining local roads, bridges, footpaths, drainage, and waste collection and management
• Recreational facilities: Providing parks, sports fields, stadiums, golf courses, swimming pools, sports centres, halls, campgrounds, and caravan parks.
• Health services: Conducting water and food safety inspections, delivering immunisation services, managing public facilities, enforcing noise control, and overseeing meat and animal inspections.
• Community services: Offering childcare, aged care, community care, and welfare services to support vulnerable populations.
• Building services: Handling inspections, licensing, certifications, and enforcement to ensure safe construction practices.
• Planning and development: Overseeing approval processes that influence urban planning and land use.
• Facility administration: Managing community assets like airports, aerodromes, ports, marinas, cemeteries, and parking facilities.
• Cultural services: Supporting libraries, art galleries, and museums to foster community engagement and cultural enrichment.
• Utility services: Delivering essential water and sewerage services in some states.
• Additional services: Managing facilities like abattoirs, sale yards, and participating in group purchasing schemes.

When developing local public health plans, LGAs should not only set priorities based on health data and community consultation but also evaluate the existing services and assets that contribute to public health outcomes. This assessment helps ensure that plans build on current strengths and address any gaps in service delivery for healthier, more resilient communities.

The State Public Health Plan provides overarching objectives and policy priorities for Western Australia, offering a framework for local governments to adapt according to their unique community needs. Local public health plans should reflect the specific context and priorities of their communities, recognising that not all State-level priorities will be relevant at the local level.

When selecting applicable policy priorities for a local district, it is essential to rely on health data and community consultation to understand the local health status and determinants. This approach ensures that each plan is tailored to the specific health needs and aspirations of the community.

To meet the requirement of the Public Health Act 2016  that local public health plans be consistent with the State Public Health Plan, LGAs are encouraged to document how they considered the State’s objectives and priorities during the development of their plan. This alignment demonstrates a commitment to a cohesive approach to public health across all levels of government, ensuring that local actions contribute to state-wide public health goals.

For LGAs with an existing public health plan in 2024 that remains in effect for several more years, there is no requirement to replace it before the end of its current five-year cycle. However, LGAs should review the objectives and policy priorities of the new State Public Health Plan to ensure alignment.

As outlined in Section 45 of the Public Health Act 2016, local public health plans must undergo an annual review to verify that they continue to be relevant and effective. This annual review provides an opportunity for LGAs to incorporate any necessary adjustments and maintain consistency with state priorities, ensuring that their plans remain aligned with evolving public health goals.

Local governments can obtain health and wellbeing data at no cost through two methods:

1. Contacting the local health service provider (HSP) who will coordinate the data request on behalf of the local government.
2. Submitting a data request form directly to the Epidemiology Directorate of the Department of Health.

Please note that a fee applies to external consultants who request a health profile on behalf of a local government. Details on costs can be found in the Epidemiology Directorate’s costing policy.