National Action Plan for Human Influenza Pandemic

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About this Publication

The National Action Plan for Human Influenza Pandemic was endorsed by the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) at its meeting of 14 July 2006.  It has been updated (April 2009) to reflect developments in preparedness planning and to incorporate the lessons of national exercises.

This publication builds on, and is consistent with, the health response to the pandemic influenza threat outlined in the Australian Health Management Plan for Pandemic Influenza (AHMPPI), equivalent State and Territory health plans and other emergency management plans.  The AHMPPI was revised in 2008 to take account of developments in preparedness planning and new scientific evidence underpinning the planning assumptions.

The National Action Plan for Human Influenza Pandemic will be updated as necessary as further information becomes available and as national policy directions are further developed.

Statement of Cooperation

At the COAG meeting of 14 July 2006, Commonwealth, state, territory and local government leaders agreed to a Statement of Cooperation to protect Australia against the threat of an influenza pandemic and to respond quickly and decisively should one occur.

Preparing Australia for a human influenza pandemic

The National Action Plan for Human Influenza Pandemic outlines how Commonwealth, State, Territory and local governments will work together to protect Australia against the threat of an influenza pandemic and support the Australian community should one occur.

Supporting this plan are plans that cover in more detail how individual governments and agencies are working together to prepare for, and respond to, an influenza pandemic. These are available through www.flupandemic.gov.au and relevant Commonwealth, State and Territory agency websites.

Governments acknowledge that no matter how well prepared they might be, they alone cannot control and manage the spread of an influenza pandemic.

All governments are committed to working with business and the community generally, and providing them with accurate and timely information, to help them prepare for the possibility of a pandemic in Australia.

An influenza pandemic could have a major impact on Australia’s economy, and the social and community impacts would be significant. Appropriate business planning and preparation will underpin our ability to recover quickly. Business continuity guides to help Australian businesses and non-government organisations consider how a pandemic might affect them and the COAG meeting of 14 July 2006 actions they should take to prepare are available through www.flupandemic.gov.au. Commonwealth, State, Territory and local governments will all play a role in supporting business continuity planning.

There is much that individuals can do to protect themselves and their families and to help stop an influenza pandemic from spreading throughout the community. Information, advice and support tools are available at www.flupandemic.gov.au.  Information on the website and related links will be updated regularly to keep the community informed of developments as a pandemic evolves.

Should an influenza pandemic spread to Australia, more information and support tools will quickly be made available, including through daily newspapers and television and radio bulletins, to help the community to deal with the situation at hand.  The ‘new media’ may also provide additional public communications opportunities to disseminate information.

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Communications

Public confidence and stability in the context of a global influenza pandemic is vital.  The Commonwealth, State and Territory governments and the Australian Local Government Association are committed to providing accurate and timely information to the public at all points in the preparation for, response to and recovery from a human influenza pandemic.

The National Action Plan for Human Influenza Pandemic outlines the National Influenza Pandemic Public Communications Capability through which this will occur. 

Additionally, the National Influenza Pandemic Public Communications Guidelines, which provide the framework for all levels of government to facilitate a whole of government approach to managing public communications, are at Appendix B.  They are also available as a ‘stand alone’ document.

Exercise Sustain 08

Recognising the importance of exercises in ensuring that plans are robust, readily understood and actionable, COAG agreed in 2007 to a series of pandemic exercises (Exercise Sustain 08) to build further on Exercise Cumpston 06 which tested the national health response to a human influenza pandemic.

With a focus on the maintenance of social and economic functioning and supporting recovery when a pandemic is widespread, Exercise Sustain 08 enabled Australian governments to consider policy issues, exercise national governance arrangements and assess the National Influenza Pandemic Public Communications Capability to support leaders in maintaining public confidence.


Supplementary Documents

Viewing and Downloading this Publication

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Contact Details

For more information about the National Action Plan for Human Influenza Pandemic, contact the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

Address:
PO Box 6500
CANBERRA ACT 2600 Australia

Telephone: 02 6271 5111

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Last Updated: 4 May 2009