Declaration and management of a public health event of state significance

Directive number: QH-HSD-046

Effective date: 23 July 2025

Review date: 23 July 2028

Supersedes: Version 3.0

On this page:

Purpose

The purpose of this Health Service Directive (HSD) is to ensure Hospital and Health Services (HHSs) respond to and follow the directions of the Chief Health Officer (CHO) or delegate to manage an incident that has been declared a public health event of state significance.

Scope

This directive applies to all HHSs and is specifically for the management of a public health event of state significance.

Principles

The principles of this HSD align with those outlined in QH-HSD-003 — Disasters and Emergency Incidents, and the Queensland Inspector-General Emergency Management’s Emergency Management Assurance Framework.

  • Leadership: leadership at all levels is demonstrated through a commitment to a shared responsibility for promoting excellence
  • Public safety: the safety of staff, patients and public are the foundation for disaster, emergency and continuity plans and arrangements
  • Partnership: partnerships are well-governed, drive clear roles and responsibilities and promote collaboration
  • Performance: effectiveness of the health service’s disaster management is evaluated, analysed against standards, and continually improved; and good practice is identified, shared, and embedded across prevention, preparedness, response and recovery.

Outcomes

HHSs included in the scope of this directive shall achieve the following outcome:

  • Respond to and follow the requests and directions from the CHO or delegate to manage an incident on the declaration and activation of a public health event of state significance.

Method of declaration

When the CHO or delegate has determined a public health incident should be managed under this directive, a written declaration will be provided to the Chief Executives (CEs) of the affected HHSs. This advice may include the requirement to respond using the working arrangements as described in the Queensland Health Public Health Sub-plan (a sub-plan to the Queensland Health Disaster and Emergency Incident Plan (QHDISPLAN)). Written advice from the CHO or delegate will be provided to the relevant CEs when the management of the incident under this HSD is no longer required.

Mandatory requirements

HHSs shall comply with the requirements and directions from the CHO or delegate, upon the declaration of a public health event of state significance, in accordance with the principles and guidelines established by the Queensland Health Public Health Sub-plan, the QHDISPLAN and the Queensland Health Incident Management System Guideline.

Compliance

HHSs are responsible for ensuring compliance with this directive.

Human Rights

Human rights are not engaged by this directive. The CHO or delegate will need to give due consideration to human rights prior to issuing a direction under this HSD.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander considerations

The impact this HSD will have on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stakeholders has been taken into consideration. Implementation of this HSD is expected to support the continuity of critical health services, including to First Nations people.

Supporting documents

Business area contact

  • Communicable Diseases Branch, Population Health Division.

Approval and implementation

Directive Custodian

Chief Health Officer and Deputy Director-General, Population Health Division, Queensland Health

Approval by Chief Executive

Director-General, Queensland Health

Approval date: 16 July 2025

Issued under section 47 of the Hospital and Health Boards Act 2011.

Review

This Health Service Directive will be reviewed at least every three years.

Next review due by: 23/07/2028

Definitions of terms used in this directive

TermDefinitionSource
Public health incidentIs a public health hazard that has actual or potential negative consequences for human health on a population basis. Queensland Health Public Health Sub-plan, November 2024
Public health event of state significance A public health incident where the actual or potential impact has state or national implications and/or extends across multiple HHSs. Queensland Health Public Health Sub-plan, February 2018
Written declaration For the purposes of this HSD, written declaration means the written communication, notifying the CEs of affected HHSs, of the decision to declare a public health event of state significance.  

Version control

VersionDate Prepared byComments
1.0 21 Oct 2014 Communicable Diseases Unit,
Chief Health Officer Branch 		New document
2.0 May 2019 Communicable Diseases Branch Supersedes Version 1
The purpose of this HSD is to ensure HHSs follow the direction of the CHO or delegate to manage an incident that has been declared a public health event of state significance and the subsequent requirement for HHSs to follow the directions of the CHO or delegate. The information already found within the QH-HSD-003:2017— Disaster and Emergency Incidents, the Queensland Health Disaster and Emergency Incident Plan and the Queensland Health Public Health Sub-plan has been removed, as already covered in the Disaster and Emergency Incidents Plan Health Service Directive QH-HSD-003:2017.
3.0 June 2022 Communicable Diseases Branch Supersedes version 2.
No changes to the intent of the document. Links and formatting updated.
4.0March 2025Communicable Diseases Branch

Supersedes version 3.0.

No changes to the intent of the document or requirements of HHSs. The HSD has been reviewed and updated to reflect the new template, organisational structure and updated legislation. The principles have also been updated to maintain alignment with the recently reviewed QH-HSD-003 (version 3.0).

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CLASSIFICATION – OFFICIAL – PUBLIC

Last updated: 15 March 2022