The Australian Health Protection Committee (AHPC) is the peak decision-making committee for public health emergency management and disease control in the Commonwealth of Australia. It is chaired by the Chief Medical Officer of the Australian Government and comprises the chief health officers of the states and territories.
The AHPC's stated function (according to website ) is to provide advice to the Australian Health Ministers' Advisory Council (AHMAC) "on health protection matters and national priorities", and AHMAC formerly supported the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Health Council. However, since the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia, the AHPC has provided advice directly to the National Cabinet.
The AHPC was established by the Australian Health Ministersâ Advisory Council (AHMAC) on 2 July 2009 to provide expert advice on high-level and intergovernmental coordination of public health emergency management. The AHPC is tasked with providing advice on health protection in the context of emerging health threats, infectious disease, environmental health, and natural disasters. The AHPC also collaborates with state and territory governments to develop consistency and standards for national health protection.
The AHPC is also responsible for authorising the deployment of the Australian Medical Assistance Team (AUSMAT).
In response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the AHPC has provided expert advice to the National Security Committee, the Cabinet of Australia, and the National Cabinet of Australia. The National COVID-19 Health and Research Advisory Committee was established in April 2020 to provide advice on Australia's health response to the COVID-19 pandemic to the Commonwealth Chief Medical Officer and the AHPC.
The AHPC is chaired by the Chief Medical Officer of the Australian Government and comprises the Chief Health Officers of the State and Territory Governments. It previously included (as of at least 2017) nominated health disaster officials, the chairs of the AHPC standing committees, a representative from Emergency Management Australia of the Department of Home Affairs, the Surgeon-General of the Australian Defence Force, a representative from the New Zealand Ministry of Health, and other public health and clinical experts.
The AHPC also provides strategic direction and support to five standing committees:
it also oversees one time-limited advisory group, the Aged Care Advisory Group.
The Office of Health Protection of the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing provides secretariat support functions for the AHPC and its standing committees.