What we have learnt about Health Planning Frameworks in Queensland, Australia: Case Study on Townsville Healthy City Plan, 2003 - 2008.

Abstract

What we have learnt about health planning frameworks in Queensland, Australia: Case Study on Townsville Health City Plan 2003 – 2008. Peter Davey, Senior Lecturer and Program Convenor Environmental Health School of Public Health, Griffith University Chair Healthy Cities and Shires Network Queensland Abstract Planning Frameworks to action health development in communities are necessary because uncoordinated development will have diverse effects. Creating healthier and more sustainable communities requires new approaches to planning for health at the local city level. Queensland Health, Local Government and Griffith University have formed a working partnership to develop and implement Public Health Plans in Queensland. Each city has its own culture and planning for integrated health and environment outcomes has many opportunities for new partnerships to deliver health gain. This paper discusses what we have learnt about health planning frameworks in Queensland, Australia and includes discussion on the following: - 1.The ‘Whole of Government' Regional Framework for Growth Management for Sustainable Futures at a State level and Health Planning Outcomes; 2.Queensland Health Strategic Plan and Health Planning linkages; 3.Seven Steps to Public Health Planning; and 4.A Case Study highlights the key learnings in the development and implementation of the Townsville Healthy City Plan 2003 –2008. Finally, the paper describes an ‘Implementation Model for Public Health Planning’ in Queensland. The Model defines a need for horizontal and vertical integration of the strategies in the Public Health Plan with planning at each level of government, with partner agency strategic planning, with other state and local planning mechanisms and with community organisations. The paper demonstrates the need to engage ‘signed off’ lead partners in the public health plan implementation.