Health Consumers’ Council WA (HCCWA) meets with WA’s incoming Chief Health Officer to strengthen consumer partnership in public health
Public health decisions affect every person in Western Australia. They influence disease prevention, environmental health, food safety, health equity, emergency preparedness and the policies that shape healthier communities. That is why we welcomed the opportunity to meet with Western Australia’s incoming Chief Health Officer, Dr Clare Huppatz.
HCCWA Executive Director, Clare Mullen spoke with Dr Huppatz’s on her vision for public health in WA, including ideas for involving health consumers, carers, families and communities across the broad range of portfolios under Dr Huppatz’s responsibility.
The recent consumer consultation on the WA Preventative Health Strategy is one of the pieces of work that Dr Huppatz is responsible for – but her responsibilities are much wider than that. The CHO responsibilities include
- reducing the inequalities in public health of disadvantaged communities
- promoting and improving public health and wellbeing and to prevent disease, injury, disability and premature death
- facilitating the provision of information to decision-making authorities about public health risks and benefits to public health
- monitoring trends in the health status of the WA community and representing Western Australia on national committees, including Australian Health Protection Principal Committee.
- Food hygiene and environmental health
Dr Huppatz is a senior public health doctor with extensive regional, national and international experience. She has worked across regional Australia, including the Kimberley and Goldfields, where she played a part in bringing the “Squeaky Clean Soap Aid” program to the Kimberley, Pilbara, Midwest and Goldfields – to tackle the barrier of affordable soap which has now seen over 1.4m bars of soap provided to the WA community. This is a major contributor to good hygiene, which in turn can help to reduce a range of diseases that are impacted by environmental health.
Dr Huppatz is keen to partner with consumers and the ‘two Clares’ discussed a range of options. As the independent peak body representing health consumers in Western Australia, HCCWA believes better health outcomes are achieved when the people most affected by decisions are involved in shaping them.
Dr Huppatz has a long list of stakeholders to talk with in coming weeks and months – as well as a huge amount of reform to oversee. From the WA Preventative Health Strategy to tackling health inequities and improving community wellbeing, the Chief Health Officer’s role touches many aspects of everyday life. Building strong partnerships between government, communities and health consumers is essential to creating a healthier, fairer Western Australia.
It was a productive discussion, especially so early in her tenure. We look forward to supporting Dr Huppatz, the Chief Health Officer, and her team to ensure the public are at the heart of public health.