Health Act - MPHP

Page content: Functions of councils | MPHP | MPHPs today | Health Act Review

In 1988 the Parliament of Victoria enacted a series of major reforms to the state's public health legislation. These changes are designed to bring the law in Victoria into line with the public health concerns of the late 20th Century.

The Health (General Amendment) Act 1988 clarified and simplified the law relating to the activities of local government in public health. It removed a number of restrictive regulatory controls and gives councils greater freedom to determine their own priorities.

Functions of councils

29A. The function of every council under this Act is to seek to prevent diseases, prolong life and promote public health through organised programs including the prevention and control of:-

1. environmental health dangers; and
2. diseases; and
3. health problems of particularly vulnerable population groups-by :
4. isolating the special factors affecting the health of people within the municipal district; and
5. developing and enforcing up-to-date public health standards and intervening if the health of people within the municipal district is affected; and
6. monitoring the activities of and assisting other agencies who has an impact on public health and, if necessary, advocating on behalf of the people within the municipal district for adoption and enforcement by those agencies of appropriate standards; and
7. co-ordinating the immunisation of children living or being educated within the municipal district; and
8. ensuring that the municipal district is maintained in a clean and sanitary conditions.

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Municipal Public Health Plans (MPHP)

In order to take account of the dynamic nature of local government and the fact that public health problems and priorities change over time, the Act made provision for councils to document their major public health activities in a public health plan.

Under the Act:

29B.

1. Every council must in consultation with the Secretary, prepare at three year intervals a municipal public health plan.
2. A municipal public health plan must -
   (a)identify and assess actual and potential public health dangers affecting the municipal district; and
   (b) outline program and strategies which the council intends to pursue to -
   (i)prevent or minimise those dangers; and
   (ii)enable people living in the municipal district to achieve maximum well-being; and
   (c) provide for periodic evaluation of programs and strategies.
3. Every council must review its municipal public health plan annually and, if appropriate, amend the plan.

View the Victorian Health Act 1958

Municipal Public Health Plans today

There are 79 Victorian local governments with over 80% of Councils implementing a current MPHP.

Councils are recommended to use the Environments for Health framework in the development of their MPHP.

Health Act Review

The Public Health Group, Department of Human Services is conducting a review of the Health Act 1958 to ensure that Victoria has a modern legislative framework to support current and future directions for public health. The Health Act includes the legislative basis to support municipal public health planning.

Further information on the Health Act review is available at the Health Legislation website.

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