Public health emergencies can be caused by events which impact on public health or events that can potentially overwhelm the health-system.

For example, a highly infectious disease spreading through the community, health impacts arising from emergencies (for example smoke from a major fire or waterborne diseases during a flood), and any mass casualty situations or weather-related events such as thunderstorm asthma.

Examples of significant public health emergencies include the Victoria’s thunderstorm asthma event of 21–22 November 2016, and the current worldwide COVID-19 pandemic. 

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Publish year Assurance activity Summary Organisation
2022 Human Biosecurity for International Air Travellers during COVID-19 (External link) An audit conducted to provide assurance that human biosecurity for international air travellers has been managed effectively, the Auditor-General made six recommendations to improve governance arrangements and ensure that departmental systems for traveller processing adequately support human health outcomes. Australian National Audit Office
2022 Review of the Pandemic (Visitors to Hospitals and Care Facilities) Orders (External link) A review of the Pandemic (Visitors to Hospitals and Care Facilities) Orders undertaken due to the considerable impact visitor restrictions have had on patients, residents of care facilities, and their loved ones. Restrictions on visiting a care facility were in place until June 2022, and it was only in April 2022 that restrictions under the pandemic orders were relaxed for hospital visitors. The review also considered the issues caused by the pandemic orders more generally finding that the way Victorian Government communicates pandemic orders and changes to orders should be improved. Parliament of Victoria
2022 Review of COVID-19 Mandatory Vaccination Orders in Victoria (External link) An assessment of vaccine mandates imposed on workers through pandemic orders, the report found that while the benefits of vaccine mandates protected essential services and supply chains, reduced economic disruptions and protected the health system, the decision-making process for why classes of workers were included in pandemic orders was not clearly communicated. Parliament of Victoria
2022 Review of COVID-19 Communications in Victoria (External link) An assessment of the Victorian Government’s approach relating to pandemic orders and health related communications against best practice. The report found that significant effort was made to ensure the timely provision of consistent and relevant information utilising a diversity of methods and platforms. Parliament of Victoria
2022 Select Committee on COVID-19: final report (External link) On 8 April 2020, the Senate resolved to establish a Select Committee to inquire into the Australian Government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The final report identified as government failures: the failure to open quarantine facilities, the slow start to the vaccine rollout, and handling of COVID-19 outbreaks in aged care facilities. Parliament of Australia
2022 Public Reporting on the investigation into decision-making under the Victorian Border Crossing Permit Directions (External link) On 7 December 2021, the Victorian Ombudsman tabled in Parliament the final report following an investigation into decision-making under the Victorian Border Crossing Permit Directions. As a result of the investigation, the Ombudsman made five recommendations with Recommendation 5 being that the Secretary to the Department of Health report publicly on Recommendations 1-4 on or before 31 March 2022. Department of Health
2022 Business Continuity during COVID-19 (External link) An examination of all eight Victorian Government departments - plus IT provider Cenitex - on their preparation for a major disruption prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, and if plans were effectively implemented to maintain prioritised services during the pandemic. Victorian Auditor-General's Office
2022 Hazelwood Mine Fire Inquiry Implementation of recommendations and affirmations - Progress Report 2021 (External link) IGEM’s sixth report as sole monitor on the progress of the implementation of recommendations and affirmations from the 2014 and 2015–16 Hazelwood Mine Fire Inquiry reports, it summarises implementation progress to August 2021, of the eight government actions and one recommendation directed to the Latrobe Valley coal mine operators that were reported as in progress in IGEM’s Progress Report 2020. Inspector-General for Emergency Management
2021 Public reporting on the Victorian Ombudsman investigation into the lockdown of 33 Alfred Street (External link) In July 2020, the Victorian Ombudsman announced an investigation into the detention and treatment of public housing residents at 33 Alfred St North Melbourne due to significant COVID-19 infection at the estate. A final report was tabled in Victorian Parliament on 17 December 2020 and made 10 recommendations with recommendation 10 requiring the Victorian Government to report publicly on steps taken to implement recommendations 3-9 on or before 30 June 2021. Department of Fairness, Families and Housing
2021 COVID-19 outbreaks in Australian residential aged care facilities (External link) An independent review into COVID-19 outbreaks in Australian residential aged care facilities, commissioned by the Australian government Independent