Information for Local Government

Page contents: Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal – Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 Information Pack | Training for Local Government Authorised Officers | Municipal public health planning

The Department of Health and the Municipal Association of Victoria have developed a number of documents to assist local government in their implementation of the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008.

MAV Public Health and Wellbeing Act Implementation Tool Kit (October 2009) – produced by the MAV the Tool Kit provides information about the making of resolutions, instruments of delegation of powers and functions under the PHWA, appointment of authorised officers, issuing of identity cards, and completion of a range of other activities to administer various provisions in the PHWA.

MAV Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 Guidance Manual for Local Government Authorised Officers (March 2010)  -
This Manual is primarily intended to be a guidance tool for authorised officers appointed by councils for the purposes of the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008. However, this Manual will also be of assistance to others within councils from time to time relating to operational matters arising from Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 and the Public Health and Wellbeing Regulations 2009.

Information Bulletin (November 2009) – This bulletin provides information about implementation of the PHWA including the implementation tool kit as well as changes to the Food Act 1984.

Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 – Local Government Bulletin 2 – November 2009 (95kb, pdf)

Information Bulletin (June 2009) – This bulletin provides information about powers to enter premises; infringement notices; prohibition and improvement notices; reviews and appeals; delegations; authorisations, forms and templates; and proposed regulations.

Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 - Local Government Bulletin 1 - June 2009 (71kb, pdf)

Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal – Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 Information Pack

VCAT has produced an information pack aimed at assisting with VCAT related applications and reviews arising from the PHWA. The Guide provides an overview of the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 in operation at VCAT, including a summary of VCAT’s jurisdiction in relation to the Act, information on VCAT processes, application lodgement, an explanation of what happens at a hearing as well as sample application forms, notices and directions. The Information Pack is available at the VCAT website.

Training for Local Government Authorised Officers

Training was designed for local government officers who will be authorised under the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008.
The trainers travelled across thirteen locations in Victoria during November and December 2009 to deliver workshops which covered aspects of the Act identified as priority matters for local government; new powers of entry, new enforcement tools and changed nuisance provisions.

The training was made available with the support of the Department of Health and with the cooperation of the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV).

The training location and dates were:

Municipal public health planning

Information in regards to municipal public health plans can be found in the document A Practical Guide to Municipal Public Health Planning.

Previous amendments to the Health Act 1958 required Councils to prepare a Municipal Public Health Plan (MPHP) by 27 November 2009 covering the period November 2009 to November 2013.

The amendments were intended to facilitate the smooth transition to new public health planning laws that came into effect on 1 January 2010 under the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008.

They were also designed to bring all Councils onto the same planning cycle based on a synchronised, four-yearly cycle linked to the general election cycle.

A factsheet about these requirements was forwarded to councils in March 2009.

For further information councils should contact their DHS Regional Public Health Manager.