The Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 received Royal Assent in September 2008 and took effect on 1 January 2010.
The Act replaces the previous Health Act 1958. It is a key piece of legislation designed to protect the health of Victoria's population, with implications for:
- authorised officers within local councils and the Department of Health & Human Services
- pest control operators
- cooling tower operators
- the governance and management of a range of consultative councils established under the Act
- the management of infectious diseases, micro-organisms and medical conditions by medical and health practitioners, Victoria's Chief Health Officer and affected individuals
- the development of public health policy through providing for municipal public health and wellbeing plans, a State public health and wellbeing plan and in some circumstances, health impact assessments.
On 14 December 2019, the Public Health and Wellbeing Regulations 2019 came into effect and replaced the Public Health and Wellbeing Regulations 2009.
The Public Health and Wellbeing Regulations 2019 cover provisions including:
- consultative councils
- Vector-borne infectious disease control Registration of certain business premises (hair, beauty, colonic irrigation, skin penetration and tattooing industries)
- Aquatic Facilities
- Cooling tower systems and Legionella risks in certain premises (water delivery systems)
- Pest control
- Management and control of infectious diseases, micro-organisms and medical conditions.
They are available on the Victorian Legislation website.
Reviewed 01 June 2023
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