The Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences welcomes the Federal Government’s investment of $251.7m to deliver Australia’s Centre for Disease Control (CDC).
Effective administration of this funding, along with the timely passing of associated legislation, will be key to developing a CDC able to develop cost effective and sustainable disease surveillance systems, and link key state and national datasets.
The Academy has long called for the development of a CDC that is resourced to rapidly assess research and provide evidence-driven recommendations to time-poor policy makers and healthcare administrators.
In our submission to the 2023 COVID-19 Response Inquiry, the Academy highlighted the national need for a CDC whose surveillance activities are adequately resourced to quickly characterise emerging threats, coordinate data collection and inform research funding.
The Academy also used its COVID-19 submission to urge the Government to ensure that its investment in the CDC is guided by First Nations expertise – with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices embedded throughout every level of the CDC’s leadership, governance and operations.
A well-resourced CDC has wide-ranging roles to play beyond pandemic preparedness and disease surveillance. In our 2024 Advancing Prevention report, the Academy noted that the interim CDC is not yet adequately considering the broader prevention agenda in Australia. The Academy welcomes the Government’s indicated intention to expand the CDC’s preventive health responsibilities over time, and invites it to accompany the announced investment with a formal commitment as to how and when this will occur.
Academy President Professor Louise Baur emphasised the importance of the Government’s investment, “Investing in the CDC is an opportunity to create a national organisation that brings together critical information to protect all Australians from a range of health threats.”
“The Federal Government’s investment of $251.7m is a welcome step towards resourcing and developing Australia’s overdue CDC.”
“Investment in the CDC is investment in the nation’s ongoing health, wellbeing and security in the face of emerging health threats, including infectious and chronic disease.”
“As the leading expert body representing the health and medical sciences community, the Academy looks forward to contributing to the development of the CDC.”
Media: AAHMS Head of Media and Communication Katie Rowney, [email protected] or P: 07 3102 7212 M: +61 (0) 419 787 551