- Dr Clare Huppatz PSM has been appointed as WA's Chief Health Officer (CHO)
- Role includes preventive health initiatives, leading disease outbreak and emergency responses, stewarding legislation and representing WA nationally
- Dr Huppatz begins as CHO immediately after former CHO Dr Andy Robertson's retirement last month
The State Government has announced the appointment of Dr Clare Huppatz PSM as Western Australia's new Chief Health Officer.
Dr Huppatz is a senior public health physician who brings to the role significant experience in communicable disease control, emergency preparedness, public health regulation and preventative health.
She has been WA's Deputy Chief Health Officer since September 2021, providing leadership on public health policy, legislation, strategy and emergency response.
Her appointment follows the retirement of Dr Andrew Robertson PSM, who was the State's Chief Health Officer for the past seven years.
Joining the Department of Health in 2019 as senior medical advisor and human biosecurity officer, Dr Huppatz went on to play a central leadership role in the COVID-19 pandemic response.
In 2023, she was awarded a Public Service Medal for outstanding public service through management of public health responses during COVID.
Dedicated to improving the health of Australians in rural and remote areas, Dr Huppatz has worked in Far North Queensland, the South Australian Riverland and WA's Kimberley and Goldfields regions, giving her important insights into health challenges and opportunities facing regional communities.
She is committed to improving health outcomes for Aboriginal and rural and remote communities and has a longstanding involvement in community-led programs across regional WA.
Dr Huppatz graduated from Flinders University with a Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery in 1998, later going on to gain qualifications in General Practice, Public Health, Health Promotion and Epidemiology.
She is also a Fellow of the Australasian Faculty of Public Health Medicine.
As stated by Health Minister Meredith Hammat:
"I am pleased to welcome Dr Clare Huppatz to this vital role and acknowledge she is the first woman appointed as Chief Health Officer in Western Australia.
"Dr Huppatz brings to this position a wealth of expertise in public health, general practice, epidemiology, health promotion and leadership.
"She is already an asset to our State, protecting and promoting the health of Western Australians, and by stepping up to the role of Chief Health Officer we know she'll build on the outstanding work of her predecessor, Dr Andrew Robertson.
"Her particular interest in Aboriginal health and remote and regional communities, positions her well for this role in our vast and unique State."
