FAQs

Public health is the combination of safeguards, policies and programs designed to protect, maintain, promote and improve the health of individuals and their communities and to prevent and reduce the incidence of illness and disability (State Public Health Plan for Western Australia, 2019).

Public health is also the science and practice of protecting and improving health by promoting well-being, preventing disease and disability, restoring health when compromised, and enhancing quality of life when recovery is not possible. Public health has a focus that aims to improve the health and wellbeing of a population as a whole rather than at an individual level.

Public health is multifaceted and takes into account not only the health status of the community but also the social determinants of health that may have an impact on health and wellbeing. Social determinants of health are those factors that may be beyond a person’s control but contribute either positively or negatively to their health.  The conditions in which a person is born into, grows up in, works and ages within can influence their health. Community access to healthcare, safe housing, safe workplaces, education, fair pay and social influences can all have an effect on health.

(Australian Institute of Health and Welfare – Australia’s Health 2016)

A Public Health Plan is a strategic health plan for the community within a local government area, which identifies health and wellbeing needs and establishes priorities and strategies to guide Council actions. It also provides a framework for an integrated and collaborative approach that will support and enhance the Fremantle community’s ability to lead healthy, productive and rewarding lives. A Public Health Plan should stretch the thinking within our City on how better to identify, plan and measure health and wellbeing services.

Using data gathered by the Health Department and public feedback gained from this engagement program, the City of Fremantle aims to identify the health issues of most importance to the community as a whole. This information will then be distilled into a draft Public Health Plan, which is a guide to integrating a public health focus into existing services and facilities and future public health initiatives. The draft Plan will identify priority areas for actions and objectives that aim to improve public health for the community overall.

The Public Health Act 2016 requires local governments to develop a Public Health Plan. Local government public health plans will align with the priorities of the State Public Health Plan to ensure the State and local governments are working together to target areas of public health need in a proactive way to achieve long term improvements in public health. 

A local government has the following functions in relation to the administration of this Act —

a) to initiate, support and manage public health planning for its local government district;

b) to develop and implement policies and programmes to achieve the objects of this Act within its local government district;

c) to perform the functions that are conferred on local governments by or under this Act;

d) to administer and enforce this Act within its local government district in accordance with the objects and principles of this Act.

The City must produce a Public Health Plan detailing the current health status of the community and provide key priority areas for the improvement of public health.  In conjunction with the legislative requirement, the City of Fremantle is committed to having a healthy community.  A Public Health Plan helps to achieve this as it is a comprehensive set of proposed activities that informs the way in which public health and wellbeing is managed within our City and provides an avenue of communication to our community.

Yes. A public health plan encourages its community to own the project. That is why the City is providing opportunities for genuine involvement in identifying community issues, strengths and assets, in formulating a vision, expressing concerns and in developing locally appropriate and creative strategies to address and measure these public health issues.

The consultation for the Plan is broad and covers many issues. All data gleaned through public and stakeholder engagement on the plan will be themed and prioritised. 

The City's Public Health Plan will not be able to address everyone’s number one issue. Instead, it will focus on the issues most reported, together with the main public health risks or issues that impact on our local government, our current resources and expertise and the public health services, projects or programs needed to be maintained, developed or delivered locally.

Health and wellbeing of the community has always been a priority for local governments, from the traditional roles of health protection by the provision of basic services (such as sewage, sanitation and safe drinking water), to the various other functions and services that we have come to know that local governments provide today, which help to build community and encourage healthy lifestyles and activities.

Some of the activities and services already undertaken by the City that contribute to public health include:

• Offering free and/or low cost events, workshops, and programs
• Providing parks, reserves and public open spaces
• Walking and cycling paths, playgrounds, and recreation spaces (e.g.basketball courts, skate parks, tennis courts etc.)
• Providing community facilities such as libraries, community centres, and recreation centres
• Supporting community groups and sporting clubs 
• Smoke and alcohol free environments
• Public health emergency management (e.g. disaster/emergency planning, response and recovery, pandemic planning)

Once the public feedback period has closed, all submissions will be analysed and the City's Public Health Plan will be drafted and revised as appropriate. 

The finalised Public Health Plan will then go to Council for adoption.

Hard copy surveys can be requested by emailing communityengagement@fremantle.wa.gov.au

Some printed forms will also be available from the Walyalup Civic Centre at 151 High Street, Fremantle. Just ask for a copy at reception.