The Shire of Ashburton (the Shire) is excited to announce the development of its first Public Health Plan, starting in 2025. We will be developing the plan in consultation with key stakeholders including community organisations, health service providers, sporting clubs, community groups and residents.
What is Public Health?
The WA Department of Health further defines Public Health as “the health and wellbeing of the community and the combination of safeguards, policies and programmes designed to protect, maintain, promote and improve the health of individuals and their communities to prevent and reduce the incidence of illness and disability” (Public Health Act 2016 (the Act).
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines Public Health as “the art and science of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organised efforts of society”.
What is a Public Health Plan?
The Shire will develop a Public Health Plan that will act as strategic informing document, providing clear focus on priorities and actions developed in response to its current health status and from community feedback gathered throughout the community engagement phase.
A Public Health Plan is designed to:
“Promote, protect and improve public health and is used to guide essential public health services and intervention (WA Department of Health)”.
The Public Health Plan will guide the Shire as a Local Government to collaborate and coordinate with key stakeholders effectively, to deliver on health and wellbeing actions that focus on improving the community’s health.
Why now?
The Shire is required by legislation to develop a Public Health Plan under Part 5 of the Public Health Act 2016 and by doing so, the Shire will be well positioned to prioritise the health and wellbeing of its community.
Project Timeline
- January to March:
- Stage 1 Pre-planning and evidence gathering
- March to June:
- Stage 2: Community and stakeholder engagement commences
- July to October:
- Stage 3: Draft Plan Preparation
- November to February 2026:
- Stage 4: Plan endorsement
- February to March 2026:
- Stage 5: Reporting and evaluation
What's Next?
Talking with key stakeholders, organisations and community is an important part of this project and the Shire is committed to ensuring your ideas and opinions relating to the health and wellbeing of our community is considered as part of developing our first Public Health Plan. We will be reach out to key stakeholders and organisations between March to June 2025.
How Can I Get Involved?
A Public Health Plan Community Consultation Survey will be coming out soon - watch this space!
More Information
For more information relating to this project, please contact:
Kris-Tee Halliwell, Coordinator Environmental Health Services: [email protected]
Public Health Planning: Public health planning for local government