Services & Programs
Communicable Diseases
What are Communicable Diseases?
A communicable disease is a disease that is spread from one person or animal to a person.
The NSW Public Health Act 2010 requires that certain diseases or medical conditions be notified to the local Public Health Unit.
How are they transmitted?
Communicable diseases can be transmitted:
- Through the air
- Through the environment
- From contaminated surfaces, water, or foods
- Through contact with bodily fluids
- Through insect bites.
What we do
Our Communicable Diseases Team works with doctors, laboratories, hospitals, child care centres, schools and directly with the public to follow up on notifications within Sydney Local Health District. These include single cases of high-priority diseases or outbreaks that may pose a public health risk.
The Communicable Diseases Team also provides health professionals and the community with information and advice about communicable diseases.
The Communicable Diseases Team contributes to local and state-wide research projects to inform the response to and management of communicable diseases.
Visit NSW Health infectious diseases to find out more.
Emergency Management
Stay healthy during bushfire season
Find out how you can prepare for the bushfire season to limit the impact on your health and the health of your family. With more hot days ahead, it is important to also know the risks of heat, who is at risk, how to prepare, and how to protect yourself and others.
Bushfires and bushfire smoke Beat the heat
The Public Health Unit works with NSW Health, healthcare facilities and partner agencies to prepare, prevent, respond to, and recover from emergencies and major incidents. Effective planning and preparation can reduce the impact on public health from many types of emergencies, including:
- Natural disasters and severe weather.
- Man-made emergencies (for example, a building collapse or major transport accident).
- Infectious diseases/food safety threats.
- Chemical and radiation emergencies.
Visit NSW Health emergency preparedness to find out more.
Environmental Health
Environmental Health addresses physical, chemical, and biological risk factors affecting human health. The Environmental Health Team conducts investigations for environmental determinants of health and notifiable diseases for the population of the District.
Environmental Health includes the provision of safe drinking water, safe recreational water and public swimming pools, sewage management, toxicology assessment, legionella control, skin penetration activities, funeral industries, arbovirus control and mosquito monitoring, air quality, waste management, hygiene, and tobacco control.
The Environmental Health Team has a shared role with local councils and other government agencies such as the Environment Protection Authority, Sydney Water, Department of Primary Industries and other agencies to protect and improve environmental health for our community under the Environmental Health Legislation.
The team has developed a health guide for urban development in Sydney’s Central and Inner West regions. ‘The Building Better Health’ report discusses the impact of the urban environment on health, chronic diseases, mental health, and sustainability.
NSW Health environmental health fact sheets Building Better Health
Epidemiology
The Epidemiology Team is a multidisciplinary group of public health professionals that specialise in providing methodological and analytical support to the Unit. Epidemiology, is the study of the distribution and disease in a population and the team provides disease surveillance, investigation, control and prevention of disease.
The team provides research, training, and expert advice to help the Unit respond to public health challenges. With a particular focus on priority populations, the Epidemiology Team delivers essential insights into disease patterns to help inform public health actions.
Small Area Local Health Indicators (SALHIs)
In 2024, Associate Professor Luke Knibbs and Mr Joseph Van Buskirk, in collaboration with the Epidemiology Team, released a report — Small Area Local Health Indicators (SALHIs). SALHIs aims to visualise 45 health indicators to identify variations across three broad domains of health within Sydney Local Health District.
Small Area Local Health Indicators Report Small Area Local Health Indicators Report - Data Tables
Immunisation
Immunisation is one of the most effective public health measures against serious illness. The Immunisation Team provides general immunisation advice to health practitioners, the general public and other stakeholders. The team also implements the school vaccination program, immunisation outreach clinics and other NSW immunisation programs within the District.
Immunisation milestones occur throughout all stages of life. Some vaccines may be recommended for individuals at higher risk due to factors such as their occupation, age or medical conditions. All vaccines on the NSW Immunisation Program Schedule are free to eligible babies, children, adolescents and adults. Some immunisation providers may charge a consultation fee for vaccines on the NSW Immunisation Program Schedule.
Immunisation is available through general practices, Aboriginal Medical Services, and some community health centres. Certain groups can also access specific vaccines through approved pharmacists.
In NSW, parents must provide an immunisation certificate when enrolling their child in childcare or school. This can be obtained from the Australian Immunisation Register by logging onto a MyGov account or the Medicare mobile app, calling 1800 653 809 or emailing air@servicesaustralia.gov.au.