Australian Centre for Disease Control

Home
Australia
Canberra, ACT
Australian Centre for Disease Control

Directions Website

Australia’s national public health leader, providing independent, evidence-informed advice through disease surveillance and expert analysis.

21/10/2026

Disease outbreaks can happen at any time. At the Australian CDC, our team of epidemiologists and other public health professionals monitor diseases and provide advice to help Australia prepare for and respond to health threats.

By tracking disease data and identifying new health risks, they gather and communicate the information needed to save lives and protect communities.

But we can all play a part in preparedness by:
📰 staying informed
🧑‍⚕following public health advice
💉 keeping vaccinations up to date.

Learn more about Australia's disease preparedness efforts at https://www.cdc.gov.au/topics/about-us/our-role-and-priorities/preparedness

19/10/2026

Climate change affects health differently in different places.

We’ve launched a new interactive climate and health hazard data dashboard that shows what climate hazards look like across health districts in Australia – and who could be most affected.

You can explore information about:
✅ local climate hazards, like heat, fires, drought, rainfall, floods and storms
✅ population demographics that influence health impacts
✅ differences between regions across the country.

The dashboard is part of new guidance we’ve released to help health system organisations understand what climate change could mean for health and care delivery in their local area.

🔎 Explore the data for the region where you live: https://www.cdc.gov.au/resources/apps-and-tools/climate-risk-dashboard-australian-health-system-organisations

16/10/2026

Community-led care is making a real difference. 👏

An independent evaluation commissioned by us has found Aboriginal community-controlled blood-borne virus (BBV) and sexually transmissible infection (STI) programs are helping more people get culturally safe prevention, testing, treatment and follow-up care – especially in rural and remote communities.

The evaluation found:

🤝 local leadership and trust are helping more people access care
👩‍⚕️ sexual health workers are central to program success
⏱️ point-of-care testing is helping people get faster treatment closer to home
📈 ongoing delivery of programs with a gradual increase in testing could prevent more than 124,000 STI infections over the next decade.

We’ll use these findings and more to support strong, community-led and culturally safe BBV and STI responses.

🔗Learn more about the report delivered by IPS Management Consultants at https://www.cdc.gov.au/newsroom/news-and-articles/evaluation-demonstrates-value-aboriginal-community-controlled-bbv-and-sti-programs.

14/10/2026

Resources to help First Nations communities understand and manage the risks of H5 bird flu are now available.

These resources provide information on:

• the signs of H5 bird flu
• how to stay safe
• how to report sick or dead birds.

Find out about H5 bird flu and how you can help at birdflu.gov.au

13/10/2026

Climate change is already affecting our health and the health care services we rely on, including during heatwaves, floods and fires.

To help health system organisations assess and manage these challenges, we’ve released new national climate risk assessment and adaptation planning guidance.

The resources include:

✅ a step-by-step manual
✅ local climate and health hazard data
✅ practical planning templates.

This guidance supports practical system‑level action by health organisations.

Learn more: https://www.cdc.gov.au/newsroom/news-and-articles/step-ahead-new-climate-risk-assessment-and-adaptation-planning-guidance

05/10/2026

🤧 Think respiratory viruses only spread in winter? Think again.

Flu, COVID-19 and RSV are usually more common during colder months, but they can spread at any time.

Whether you're at work, school, travelling or spending time with family and friends, these viruses can spread wherever people gather. Help protect yourself and others by:

🏠 staying home if you’re sick
🧼 washing your hands and covering coughs and sneezes
💉 keeping up to date with recommended vaccinations.

These small actions can make a big difference in reducing the spread of illness.

Learn more about what you can do at https://www.cdc.gov.au/advice/preventing-spread-respiratory-viruses

02/10/2026

Did you know that Australia is working to eliminate local tuberculosis transmission in First Nations communities by 2030?

Despite being a preventable and treatable condition, tuberculosis continues to impact some First Nations communities.

That's why achieving Australia’s goal must be grounded in strong community partnerships, culturally safe and appropriate care, and community-led approaches to prevention, diagnosis and care.

The newly released ‘National Guidance for the Prevention and Response to Tuberculosis in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Communities’ provides a national framework to support exactly that.

The new guidance will help health professionals to:
• deliver culturally safe, appropriate and effective care
• support early detection and treatment
• strengthen community-led approaches to prevention and responses.

Learn more about our new guidance at https://www.cdc.gov.au/newsroom/news-and-articles/new-national-guidance-tuberculosis-prevention-and-response-aboriginal-andor-torres-strait-islander-communities.

Health

01/10/2026

Travelling soon? Stay safe from hepatitis A.

Hepatitis A is a viral liver infection that can cause serious illness and hospitalisation.

It is rare in Australia, but cases can be brought in from overseas when people eat or drink products contaminated with faeces (poo) or have contact with an infected person.

Stay safe overseas. Get vaccinated against hepatitis A before you travel and make safe food choices:
• drink bottled water with an unbroken seal
• avoid ice cubes
• don’t eat raw food like fruit or vegetables that have been washed in contaminated water
• don’t eat raw or undercooked meat and fish
• avoid shellfish and unpasteurised dairy products
• avoid food from street vendors.

Learn more about hepatitis A and who can get vaccinated at https://www.cdc.gov.au/diseases/hepatitis-a.

Learn more about safe food choices overseas at https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/travel-essentials/travel-health/avoiding-infectious-disease -borne.

21/09/2026

📢 We’re pleased to share that Professor Kristine Macartney has been appointed as Chief Medical Adviser to the Australian Centre for Disease Control.

This is a pivotal position at the centre of national public health leadership in Australia.

In her new role with us, Professor Macartney will work at the intersection of clinical expertise, public health, and national policy – helping to translate evidence into clear, trusted advice, and strengthen Australia’s preparedness for the future.

As a respected clinician, researcher and public health leader with a background in clinical care, public health policy and disease surveillance, Professor Macartney brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to this crucial position.

🎊 Congratulations Professor Macartney – we can’t wait to begin our work with you! 🎊

🔗 Read more about Professor Macartney’s appointment as Chief Medical Adviser at https://www.cdc.gov.au/newsroom/media-releases/professor-kristine-macartney-appointed-chief-medical-advisor

18/09/2026

Thank you to ASHM for hosting the joint Australasian HIV&AIDS and Sexual and Reproductive Health Conference.

Over the last week these conferences have brought together experts, clinicians, researchers, community organisations and policy leaders to share evidence and strengthen action across sexual and reproductive health.

At the Australian CDC, national HIV and STI monitoring and prevention are central to our work.

We bring together data, evidence and public health expertise to help:
✅ identify trends
✅ support coordinated responses
✅ inform prevention efforts with states and territories, the health sector and community partners.

By strengthening surveillance, sharing timely information and supporting nationally coordinated action, we can help reduce the impact of HIV and STIs and improve health outcomes for communities across Australia.

🔗 Learn more about preventing STIs at https://www.cdc.gov.au/advice/preventing-sexually-transmissible-infections.

&AIDSConference &ReproductiveHealthConference

Address

GPO Box 798
Canberra, ACT
2601

Website

https://www.cdc.gov.au/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Australian Centre for Disease Control posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Want your organization to be the top-listed government service in Canberra?