Public Health Services

About Public Health Services

Public Health Services works to improve and protect the health and wellbeing of all Tasmanians. We partner with individuals, groups and communities statewide and nationally to achieve this outcome.

Because prevention is better than cure, we aim to:

• protect Tasmanians from public and environmental health hazards
• prevent and reduce chronic (long-term) conditions at the population level
• help people to achieve the best health possible.
• prepare for and respond to public health emergencies 
• reduce inequalities in health.

What we do

Public Health Services work across a range of Health Topics to manage and prevent the spread of certain diseases, to improve the general health and wellbeing of Tasmanians, and to provide information on trends of notifiable diseases and status of public health in Tasmania. 

Health Protection

• Environmental Health: including air quality, drinking water, food safety, mould, public health laboratory, radiation protection, recreational water quality and tobacco control
• Immunisation: including information about immunisation to protect you and others against many serious diseases
• Infectious diseases: providing advice and information about infectious diseases that can be caught and transmitted in Australia and overseas (notifiable diseases). 
• Pharmaceutical services: including managing policy, developing legislation and ensuring compliance with regulations for making, distribution, possession and use of drugs and poisons.

Health Improvement

• Healthy Tasmania: implementing the Government’s plan for preventative health in Tasmania, including grants programs
• 20-Year Preventive Health Strategy: community consultation is now open for the 20-Year Preventive Health Strategy, and we want to hear from all Tasmanians.
• Move Well Eat Well: promoting and providing resources for healthy eating and physical activity at early childhood centres and primary schools
• Nutrition and physical activity: providing advice on things you can do to help improve your nutrition and physical wellbeing
• Smoking: information about e-cigarettes (vapes) and smoking, quitting, and tobacco control. 

Health Intelligence 

• Public Health Data and Reports: including epidemiology reports and population health reports. 

The Director of Public Health

The role of the Director of Public Health includes:

• directing statewide public health policy and programs
• providing strategic and operational direction for public health services in Tasmania
• advising the Minister for Health on public health matters and emerging issues
• monitoring population health trends
• fulfilling legislative responsibilities under the Public Health Act 1997 and other Acts
• representing Tasmania on national committees like the Australian Health Protection Committee
• maintaining strong working relationships with major public health stakeholders inside and outside of the Department of Health.

Public Health Act and Associated Guidelines: the Director of Public Health has issued guidelines under the Public Health Act 1997 that contain compulsory requirements for certain people to follow.

The Chief Executive - Public Health Services

The Chief Executive - Public Health Services is responsible for:

• providing strategic leadership and direction to support the delivery of quality services across Public Health Services
• advising Government and the Health Executive regarding public health matters, service reform and the direction, development, and enhancement of public health-related services applicable to the needs of the community
• ensuring the integration of Public Health Services into the broader health policy development and health service delivery of the Tasmanian Government
• working closely with the Director of Public Health to ensure the delivery of the Director’s Statutory functions.