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 Review of the Pandemic (Quarantine, Isolation and Testing) Orders (External link) A review of the Pandemic (Quarantine, Isolation and Testing) Orders undertaken due to the significant burden experienced by Victorians having to quarantine or isolate due to contracting COVID-19 or being exposed to the virus. These Orders resulted in people experiencing temporary social isolation and exclusion as well as loss of their ability to go to work or school. The review found that it was important that the Committee ensured that the Orders balanced protecting public health as well as supporting the wellbeing of individuals in isolation. 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 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
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
2021 Inquiry into the Victorian Government's Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic Report (External link) The second report reflecting the impact of the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the responses taken by the Victorian Government up until the end of December 2020. The report finds a number of issues—pandemic preparedness, infection rates, contact tracing, economic consequences and increased pressure on the Victorian community services sector. Parliament of Victoria
2021 Inquiry into the health impacts of air pollution in Victoria (External link) The report makes 16 findings and 35 recommendations on actions to minimise the health impacts of air pollution. Exposure to common air pollutants can exacerbate respiratory and cardiovascular conditions, lead to premature death and cost the Victorian economy hundreds of millions of dollars per year. Vehicle transport, electricity generation, heavy industry, bushfires and dust storms all contribute to poor air quality.

Parliament of Victoria
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
2021 The widening divide in Melbourne: How COVID-19 transmission through the city increased existing inequality. (External link) An examination of the unequal impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and how it further exacerbated Melbourne’s existing income inequality - while many suffered job losses, others were able to substantially increase their household savings.
 KPMG Australia
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