ACT Health

The Population Health Division is headed by the Chief Health Officer (CHO) who is appointed under the *Public Health Act 1997.* They fulfil a range of statutory responsibilities and delegations under various public health legislation. The division is also responsible in exercising statutory responsibilities on behalf of the CHO to prevent and manage risks to the health of the ACT population. This includes planning and management of public health incidents and emergencies. The ACT Chief Health Officer (CHO) is Dr Kerryn Coleman who holds responsibilities and delegations under various public health legislation. **Improving the health of the ACT** The division provides a range of services and programs aimed at improving the health and wellbeing of the ACT population. We do this by: - developing preventive, population and public health legislation, policy and strategy - intervening to promote behaviour changes to reduce susceptibility to illness - altering the ACT environment to promote the health of the population - promoting interventions that remove or mitigate population health hazards. **Protecting the health of the ACT** We manage risks and implement strategies for the prevention of, and timely response to, public health risks. We do this through engagement, education, compliance, and enforcement in relation to: - food safety - substances of concern to human health - communicable diseases - pharmaceutical safety - radiation safety - infection control.