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Public Health

Our unit provides environmental and public health services to improve health outcomes for the Gold Coast community.

We aim to promote health, minimise the spread of disease and prevent illness through communicable disease control, environmental health, and free immunisation services.

Our team includes epidemiologists and data officers, public health medical officers and nurses, environmental health officers, an immunisation team, health promotion officers and business support staff.

We partner with Gold Coast Primary Health Network, City of Gold Coast and Scenic Rim Councils, Universities, Queensland Government agencies and various non-government organisations.

Communicable disease control

Our unit is responsible for the management of communicable diseases in the community.


Environmental health hazards

We undertake health risk assessments and advise agencies and the public on environmental health hazards in our community.


Public Health Research and Training

We regularly conduct research and training activities to stay up to date with best practice and ensure the continual safety of the Gold Coast community.


Food safety and standards

We enforce regulations to ensure food is safe for eating and meets labelling, advertising and compositional requirements and standards.


Epidemiology and data

We investigate how, when, and why diseases occur in the Gold Coast community.


Health promotion

We deliver health promotion and disease prevention programs focusing on keeping people healthy.


Immunisation coordination

We coordinate the delivery of national and state immunisation programs with more than 300 vaccine service providers. Our unit also provides free school immunisation clinics and free community immunisation clinics.  


Medicines and poisons

We enforce legislation to minimise harm from medicines and poisons, as well as providing advice and issuing permits.


Public health incident management

The Public Health Unit contributes to a multi-agency response during disasters and events.


Tobacco regulation

Tobacco laws in Queensland include smoking and vaping bans for indoor and outdoor public places, restrictions on advertising, display and promotion of tobacco products.


Water quality and fluoridation

We partner with other agencies to respond to public health risks arising from water quality (potable and recycled) and fluoridation.



Last updated 23 Jul 2024