A doctor recognised for her public service during the COVID-19 pandemic and dedication to improving the health of rural and remote Australians has been named WA’s new Chief Health Officer.
Dr Clare Huppatz has been the state’s Deputy Chief Health Officer since September 2021 and has provided leadership on public health policy, legislation, strategy and emergency response.
She replaces Dr Andrew Robertson who retired after seven years in the role earlier this year.
She is the first woman to hold the role.
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Dr Huppatz joined the Department of Health in 2019 as senior medical advisor and human biosecurity officer.
Within a year she was thrust into a health crisis and played an integral role in the state’s COVID-19 leadership and response.
Her work later saw her awarded a Public Service Medal for outstanding public service through management of public health responses during COVID.
Dr Huppatz, who has worked in regional areas across the state and spent time a public health physician in the Goldfields, is dedicated to improving health outcomes for Aboriginal and rural and remote communities.
She has worked in Far North Queensland, the South Australian Riverland and WA’s Kimberley and Goldfields regions 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.
Health Minister Meredith Hammat said Dr Huppatz brings a wealth of expertise to the role.
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