Investor Presentaiton
The department collaborated on a multi-agency response to manage the risk of
Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), a mosquito-borne virus detected in WA for
the first time in 2023. A total of 79 paired feral pig serum and tonsil samples were
tested. Also, 1,065 mosquito traps were set with 5,586 mosquito pools tested as
part of the response. Since May 2022, 3,000 people at higher risk of JEV have
been vaccinated by WA Health, and program and prevention messages have been
translated into 4 local languages for Kimberley and Pilbara communities.
In May 2023, the Australian Government announced funding for a new National
Lung Cancer Screening Program, commencing in July 2025. In anticipation of
this announcement, the department worked with key stakeholders to consider
implications for WA of the proposed population screening program. The
department is now preparing for implementation, considering factors such as
workforce, infrastructure, and data needs.
Climate health
Through the Western Australian Climate Policy, the WA State Government is
committed to net-zero emissions for WA by 2050 and improving the state's
resilience to the effects of climate change. In addition, the State Government
recently announced an ambitious interim emissions reduction target of 80 per
cent by 2030, based on 2020 levels, for all public sector agencies.
The department is leading and coordinating the WA health system response on
climate action and sustainability.
Strategic focus to reducing emissions
In early 2023, the department led an extensive consultation process across the
system to inform the development of a strategy to build a climate resilient and
sustainable health system. The strategy will outline a systemwide approach to
reduce greenhouse gas emissions, operate more sustainably, and implement
adaptation measures to protect the community from the health risks associated
with climate change.
In October 2022, clinicians, consumers, and health directors from across the
state came together to discuss low carbon health care. This was a virtual event
consisting of a series of 3 webinars with local, national, and international speakers.
A discussion paper was then developed to facilitate stakeholder engagement and
broader system input into the strategy. WA Health staff and health sector leaders,
including key government partner agencies and service providers, were invited to
comment on the discussion paper via an online survey at the beginning of 2023.
A total of 74 responses, including 31 on behalf of organisations or entities, were
received.
Consumer and community engagement was undertaken via 2 targeted
community workshops in March 2023. Consultation concluded with a half-day,
interactive Senior Leaders Forum with 40 senior executives from across WA Health
to finalise key elements of the strategy.
Integrating sustainability into work-based practice
The health workforce has a key role in delivering sustainable health care and
responding to the health impacts of climate change. To build organisational
capacity, the department rolled out a scholarship program to support climate and
health related education and training opportunities for WA Health staff. There were
7 staff members who completed the Environmental Sustainability and Health Care
Systems online course delivered by the University of Notre Dame Australia in 2022,
and the department will support 5 staff members to complete the course in 2023.
To inform staff of ways to reduce their environmental impact and carbon footprint
at work, the WA Health Greening the Office Guide was developed. This guide
assists office and administration staff by providing examples of interventions that
can be implemented at both an organisational and at an individual level.
In addition, the Gateway clinical practice changes to reduce carbon emissions in
WA Health report4 identifies and prioritises interventions that can be implemented
by health service staff in clinical practice to help reduce WA Health's carbon
emissions.
4. MacKenzie H. Gateway clinical practice changes to reduce carbon emissions in WA Health. Perth (Australia): Department of Health; 2022.
< 44 >
Contents About us Significant issues Report on operations Agency performance Operational disclosures
Key performance indicators • Financial disclosures and compliance • AppendixView entire presentation