The AHMPPI 2008 highlighted the importance of timely communication of the best available information to decision makers, health professionals and the public during a pandemic. The Australian Health Pandemic Influenza Communications Strategy was published in May 2006, outlining an approach to informing and advising the general public, businesses and key stakeholders during a pandemic. This communications strategy was being updated to reflect changes in the AHMPPI 2008 when the 2009 pandemic was declared.
A whole-of-government public communications strategy was developed through the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) to complement the health sector’s public communication strategy. The National Influenza Pandemic Public Communications Guidelines, managed by the Australian Government Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, provide an overarching framework for all levels of government to facilitate a whole-of-government approach to managing public communications in preparing for, responding to and recovering from an influenza pandemic.
The Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing (DoHA) coordinates the National Health Emergency Media Response Network (NHEMRN), which comprises media liaison managers in the Australian Government, state and territory agencies, medical colleges and professional associations. The role of this network is to keep the public and the media informed during national health emergencies by providing consistent and coordinated media and public responses. The NHEMRN, which works closely with similar public health, emergency services and national security media liaison groups, meets regularly and holds exercises and workshops to continually refine coordinated public and media responses to new and emerging health crises.
In 2006 the Australian Government undertook a tender process to engage communications agencies to provide specialist services in the case of a pandemic. Templates, information and advertising materials were developed for a potential avian (H5N1) influenza pandemic.
The Australian Government established two pandemic-related websites that were in place prior to the pandemic. PanComm was developed as a secure whole-of-government website where talking points, advertisements, media monitoring and transcripts could be posted for sharing within a confidential environment during a pandemic. The Pandemic Influenza website (www.flupandemic.gov.au), launched on 5 December 2008, provides important information about preparing for a pandemic, including Australian Government actions and what individuals, businesses, communities and healthcare professionals can do to prepare for and respond to an influenza pandemic. This website contains links to other Australian Government and state and territory information and resources.
The Australian Government also has a dedicated Health Emergency website (www.healthemergency.gov.au). Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 was the first emergency supported on this platform.
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