Frequently Asked Questions

A public health plan is a strategic health plan for the community within the local government area. Using data gathered by the Health Department and feedback from the community, the City of South Perth has identified the health issues of most importance to the community as a whole. The draft Plan is a guide to integrating a public health focus into existing services and facilities and future public health initiatives. The draft Plan identifies priority areas for actions and objectives that aim to improve public health for the community overall.

Under the new Public Health Act 2016, which is currently being introduced to replace the Health Act 1911, the City must produce a public health plan detailing the current health status of the population of the City of South Perth and provide key priority areas for the improvement of the community’s health. 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.

Health is defined by the World Health Organisation as ‘a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity’.

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)

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

• public protection through Environmental Health Services
• the provision of parks, open spaces and recreational facilities
• library facilities
• facilitating community groups
• events and community programs
• supporting local sporting clubs.

You can provide your feedback a number of ways.

• Register or sign in. Before you can provide your feedback online, you will need to create a username and password for Your Say South Perth. If you have already registered, you can sign in here. Registration only takes a moment and it will make it easier for you to stay in the loop and get involved in future projects.
• Complete the online feedback form.
• Hard copy feedback forms are available at the South Perth Civic Centre and South Perth and Manning libraries.

Feedback closed at 4pm, Monday 10 August 2020.

Yes, in order to complete the online feedback form, you must register on Your Say South Perth and create a username and password. Registration only takes a moment, and it will make participating in future projects and online engagement easier in the future.

If you have already registered, you can sign in here.

All of the feedback received will be analysed and the draft Public Health Plan will be revised as appropriate.

No problem. Hard copy feedback forms are available from the City of South Perth Civic Centre and South Perth and Manning libraries. Simply return your completed form to the Civic Centre or libraries by 4pm, Monday 10 August 2020.

You can also come along to a drop in session. Project staff from the City will also be outside Coles, Waterford Plaza, any time between 2.30 and 4.30pm on Wednesday 29 July or under the Numbat at Mindeerup, any time between 9 and 11am on Saturday 1 August, where you can ask questions about the project or grab a hard copy feedback form.

Feedback closed at 4pm, Monday 10 August 2020.

Once the public feedback period has closed, all feedback will be analysed and the draft Public Health Plan revised as appropriate. The finalised Public Health Plan will then go to Council for adoption.

You can ask questions a number of ways.

• Ask us a question online on Your Say South Perth. We’ll either answer here on the project page, or we’ll email you directly.
• Drop in and visit us on Wednesday 29 July, any time between 2.30 and 4.30pm, outside Coles, Waterford Plaza, or on Saturday 1 August, any time between 9 and 11am under the Numbat at Mindeerup.
• Email the City at enquiries@southperth.wa.gov.au or phone 9474 0777 and ask to speak to someone about the City’s draft Public Health Plan.