States Pull Together to Help out Queensland
Additional state and territory and local government environmental health officers, mental health officers and health department officials will be sent to Queensland to assist the flood recovery effort following a meeting on 14 January of the Australian Health Protection Committee.
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14 January 2011
Additional state and territory and local government environmental health officers, mental health officers and health department officials will be sent to Queensland to assist the flood recovery effort following a meeting today of the Australian Health Protection Committee (AHPC).
The Acting Minister for Health and Ageing, Mark Butler, praised the camaraderie and coordination of state and territory governments in pulling together to provide support for Queensland.
“State and territory and local government health authorities along with the Commonwealth are ready to assist these flood-affected regions,” Mr Butler said.
“Following a request from the Queensland Chief Health Officer at the Australian Health Protection Committee meeting today, the states and territories have agreed to dispatch environmental health officers, mental health officers and health department officials to assist Queensland as a matter of priority.
“The total number of officers involved is yet to be determined as they will be dispatched to Queensland as required by the Commonwealth Health National Incident Room in conjunction with Emergency Management Australia.
“The environmental health officers will be the first group to be deployed and they will play an important role in helping local communities maintain their food safety, pest control and water quality.
"The Environmental Health sub-committee of AHPC will be working to identify teams of staff with appropriate skills to provide support over the next few weeks."
This announcement follows additional health and ageing announcements made by Minister Butler yesterday, including an additional $1.3 million for mental health programs, ongoing care arrangements for older Australians and aged care staff and special pharmacy arrangements for flood-affected regions.
The Australian Health Protection Committee consists of the Australian Chief Medical Officer, Professor Jim Bishop, and the state and territory Chief Health Officers, as well as representatives from the New Zealand Ministry of Health and other health emergency organisations.
For all media inquiries, please contact the Minister's Office on (02) 6277 7280
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