Communications
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Policy Framework statement
The Communications Policy Framework specifies the requirements that all Health Service Providers (HSPs) must comply with in order to ensure effective and consistent communications activities remain across the WA health system.
Purpose
The purpose of this framework is to ensure:
- clarity and consistency of communication initiatives targeted to consumer, staff and stakeholder groups in the areas of media relations, websites, style guide, marketing and branding across the WA health system.
Applicability
This policy framework is binding on each HSP to which it applies or relates.
Principles
The key principles that underpin this policy framework are:
- consumers, staff and stakeholders have a right to accessible, consistent and high quality information about health care topics regardless of where they live
- information about health care and health services should be easy to find, simple to search and navigate and centrally available to all consumers, staff and stakeholders
- where more than one HSP is impacted by the communications activities of another HSP, a singular whole-of-health approach should be adopted.
Legislative context
This policy framework is made pursuant to ss 26(2)(a)(c)(d) of the Health Services Act 2016.
The Health Services Act 2016 refers to policy frameworks in ss. 26-27 and s. 34(2)(c).
The legislation below, may also apply:
- Disability Discrimination Act 1992
Mandatory requirements
Under this policy framework HSPs must comply with all mandatory requirements* including:
Policy framework custodian
Assistant Director General
Public and Aboriginal Health Division
Enquiries relating to this Policy Framework may be directed to: PolicyFrameworkSupport@health.wa.gov.au
Review
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This policy framework will be reviewed as required to ensure relevance and recency. At a minimum this policy framework will be reviewed within two years after first issue and at least every three years thereafter.
| Version |
Effective from |
Amendment(s) |
| 11. |
11 July 2023 |
Amendments to MP 0051/17 Language Services Policy. Inclusion of additional question in Data Sources section of related document: 'Language Services Annual Reporting Template'. Minor amendments to supporting information documents: 'Language Services Guidelines' and 'Decision making tree for engaging and interpreter'. |
| 10. |
2 May 2023 |
Minor Amendment to MP 0051/17 Language Services Policy. Insertion of supporting information document ' Decision making tree for engaging an interpreter'. |
| 9 |
6 April 2023 |
Policy review and amendment to MP 0051/17 Language Services Policy. Amendments as follows: Inclusion of the state government WA Language Services Policy 2020 in the purpose section; applicability section amended to WA health entities - inclusion of Department of Health; Policy Requirements and Compliance Monitoring sections refined, inclusion of related documents: Language Services Procedure, Language Services Annual Report Template and the Language Services e-Learning module; Inclusion of supporting information document: Language Services Guidelines and inclusion of definitions for 'staff member', 'system manager', 'contracted health entity' and WA health entities'. |
| 8 |
1 November 2022 |
Amendment to MP 0128/20 Use of Official Information, Digital Services (Social Media) and Public Comment Policy changed from Employment to Communications Policy Framework. Also, amendment to policy owner to Director, Communications. |
| 7 |
17 March 2021
|
Amendment to Policy Framework Supporting information WA Language Services Policy 2020 and MP 0051/17 WA Health Language Services Policy.
|
| 6 |
16 February 2021
|
Rescinded OD 0113/08.
|
| 5 |
27 November 2020
|
Rescinded OD 0652/16, IC 0127/12, OD 0368/12, OD 0435/13, OD 0510/14, OD 0565/14, OD 0653/16.
|
| 4 |
15 August 2019
|
Rescinded OD 0459/13.
|
| 3 |
21 December 2017
|
Updated Policy Framework Custodian in online PDF Document only. Changes were not made to Policy Framework landing page until 10 January 2018.
|
| 2 |
3 April 2017
|
New MP 0051/17 WA Health System Language Services Policy, superseded OD 346/11.
|
| 1 |
1 July 2016 |
Original version |
Approval
This policy framework has been approved and issued by the Director General of the Department of Health as the System Manager.
| Approval by | Dr David Russell-Weisz, Director General, Department of Health |
|---|
| Approval date | 01 July 2016 |
|---|
| Date published | 21 December 2017 |
|---|
| File number | F-AA-40145 |
|---|
Compliance
This policy framework is binding on those to whom it applies or relates. Implementation at a local level will be subject to audit.
Glossary of terms
| Term |
Meaning |
| Applicability |
Under Section 26 of the Health Services Act 2016, policy frameworks may apply to:
- All Health Service Providers
- A type of public health service facility
- A type of public health service
- A type of staff member of a health service provider.
|
| Communications |
An umbrella term referring to all activities in relation to media, branding, advertising, marketing, promotion, on line (web), publications and stakeholder engagement. |
| Health Service Provider |
Means a Health Service Provider established by an order made under section 32(1)(b) of the Health Services Act 2016. |
| WA health system |
Pursuant to section 19(1) of the Health Services Act 2016, means the Department of Health, Health Service Providers and to the extent that Contracted Health Entities provide health services to the State, the Contracted Health Entities. |