Policy and strategies
We develop policies and work with experts, organisations, states and territories and other agencies to protect Australia against disease outbreaks.
We work to reduce the spread of communicable diseases and their impact on society, including their financial costs, including by:
- administering the National Immunisation Program
- guiding a national response to outbreak incidents of national significance
- working with key committees and networks, to reduce incidence of disease and respond to outbreaks
- providing public health information and advice.
We follow the Australian Centre for Disease Control’s National Framework for Communicable Disease Control. This framework outlines a national approach to preventing, detecting and responding to communicable diseases.
Prevention
Vaccination is the most effective medical intervention to prevent diseases or reduce their severity. We fund the:
- National Immunisation Program – which provides free immunisation services for many vaccine-preventable diseases
- National COVID-19 Vaccine Program – which provides free COVID-19 vaccines for Australians
Awareness and education
We educate people with the facts on:
- communicable diseases, including through public education campaigns
- antimicrobial resistance
- immunisation.
Response to disease outbreaks
Australia’s states and territories are responsible for public health action including managing disease outbreaks in their jurisdictions.
We provide national support and coordination, particularly for outbreaks that cross state, territory or international borders.
We might activate the National Incident Centre (NIC) to coordinate a national health emergency response when a disease outbreak has national implications.
This could be because:
- a state or territory government requests Australian Government assistance
- multiple states or territories are affected by the outbreak
- state or territory response resources are overwhelmed
- the public expects national leadership
- the number of people affected – or at risk of becoming affected – is significant for that disease
- an international outbreak poses a potential threat to Australia.
We then coordinate a national response:
- guided by our most relevant national health emergency plan
- supported by the surveillance, reporting and advice of the Australian Centre for Disease Control
- supported by the advice of the Australian Health Protection Committee with support from relevant subcommittees and technical advisory committees.
We:
- support the Communicable Diseases Network Australia in investigating and controlling outbreaks, drawing on advice from scientific, technical, and policy committees and experts
- support the Public Health Laboratory Network to provide nationally coordinated advice on all aspects of public health microbiology to inform outbreak response decisions
- establish and maintain an incident-specific action plan while the NIC is activated to support preparedness and response actions for the outbreak
- follow the guidance of other emergency management plans, when required
- coordinate, deploy and communicate capabilities, resources and safety measures including
- human resources (like AUSMAT)
- medical countermeasures (like vaccines)
- approved public health and safety measures.
Learn more about our role in emergency health management.
Diseases of international concern
If a disease of international concern arises, the NIC responds and reports de-identified case data to the World Health Organization.
Consultation and engagement
We regularly consult the public about health issues. See our consultation hub for consultations related to communicable diseases.
Legislation
There are both national and state laws about communicable diseases.
We administer some parts of the Biosecurity Act 2015, which is about managing diseases and pests that may cause harm to human, animal or plant health or the environment. Some diseases are classified as listed human diseases under the Biosecurity Act.
Learn about all legislation we administer.
Who we work with
We work with other agencies in Australia and across the world.
This gives us access to experts in the field so we can respond quickly and appropriately to disease outbreaks.
It also helps us have high-quality input into public health decisions, policies and programs.
Committees and groups
We support the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI), which advised the Australian Government on immunisation issues.
International engagement
As a World Health Organization (WHO) member, Australia agrees to collect data on, report about and respond to communicable diseases.
The WHO International Health Regulations require members to monitor for and respond to diseases. This helps the international community respond to health emergencies that can cross borders. Learn more about the international health regulations.