Public Health Partner Authorities

The health of individuals and populations is shaped by broad factors, including the social, economic and physical environment in which people carry out their lives, as well as individual behaviours and characteristics. The mandate, ability, and expertise required to address these factors do not sit in any one sector. Therefore partnerships across sectors involving different levels of government and non-government organisations are required to create the physical and social environments which support a healthy, thriving community.

The State Public Health Plan and the Public Health Act both introduce the concept of Public Health Partner Authorities. Their development and formalisation is recognised as an opportunity for collaboration to improve population health and wellbeing.

Public Health Partner Authorities are established with the intention that these agencies make a tangible contribution to population health and wellbeing, and may include government agencies, the non-government sector, universities, and private sector enterprises.

Public Health Partner Authorities are agencies which:

  • Contribute to key priority areas within the State Public Health Plan, and those emerging through regional public health planning;
  • Operate or impact at a state-wide or regional population level; and/or
  • Are a key stakeholder for addressing significant public policy issues that impact on population level health and wellbeing.

The identification of potential Public Health Partner Authorities is informed by:

  • The key priority areas identified in the State Public Health Plan
  • Themes emerging in Regional Public Health Plans
  • Public policy priorities.

Agencies enter into a consultation process with the Department for Health and Wellbeing to become a Public Health Partner Authority voluntarily, based on a co-benefits approach. Agencies then agree to collaborate on an issue of mutual interest that contributes to improving health and wellbeing outcomes for South Australians.

As the decision to become a Public Health Partner Authority is entirely voluntary, not all consultations with partners result in this formalisation of the partnership; however, this does not prevent ongoing collaborative endeavours. It is recognised that state government, local government, and NGOs have well established expertise and experience working in partnership. Partnerships, including those at a local level, play a valuable role in creating community wellbeing. These partnerships will continue, and do not necessarily need to be formalised through a Public Health Partner Authority process.

Find out more

To find out more about Public Health Partner Authorities read our newsletter. 

Current Public Health Partner Authorities

The current Public Health Partner Authorities are listed below. To find out more about what they will deliver go to the relevant link.

In addition to the below, The University of Adelaide (School of Public Health) is also a Public Health Partner Authority.