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Role
PHLN provides leadership and consultation in all aspects of public health microbiology and communicable disease control.
It does this through its proactive network of public health laboratories to protect and improve the health of all Australians.
Terms of reference
The network’s terms of reference document outlines its official terms of reference and strategies to meet them.
Members
PHLN consists of state and territory, Australian Government, expert, national and observer members.
State and territory members
| Name | State | Affiliation |
| Associate Professor Amy Jennison (Chair) | Qld | Public and Environmental Health Reference Laboratories, Queensland Health |
| Professor Benjamin Howden (Deputy Chair) | Vic | Microbiological Diagnostic Unit, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne |
| Dr Chuan Kok Lim | Vic | Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Royal Melbourne Hospital |
| Michael Thomas (proxy for Dr Claire Heney) | Qld | Department of Microbiology, Pathology Queensland |
Dr Jen Kok | NSW | Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology Laboratory Services, Institute of Clinical Pathology and Medical Research, NSW Health Pathology, Westmead Hospital |
| Professor Vitali Sintchenko | NSW | Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology Public Health, Institute of Clinical Pathology and Medical Research Pathology, NSW Health Pathology, Westmead Hospital |
| Professor William Rawlinson AM | NSW | Virology Division, Department of Microbiology SEALS, Prince of Wales Hospital |
| Associate Professor Morgyn Warner | SA | SA Pathology |
| Dr Lito Papanicolas | SA | SA Pathology |
| Dr David Speers | WA | Department Division of Microbiology, PathWest Laboratory Medicine |
| Dr Michelle Porter | WA | Department Division of Microbiology, PathWest Laboratory Medicine |
| Associate Professor Louise Cooley | Tas | Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Royal Hobart Hospital |
| Associate Professor Robert Baird | NT | Royal Darwin Hospital |
| Associate Professor Karina Kennedy | ACT | Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Department, ACT Pathology |
Australian Government member
| Name | Affiliation |
|---|---|
| Dr Gary Lum AM | Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing |
National members
| Name | Affiliation |
|---|---|
| Dr James Watson | Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Livestock Industries |
| Dr Sally Singleton | Communicable Diseases Network Australia Representative |
Expert member
| Name | Affiliation |
|---|---|
| Professor Ian Barr | World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza, Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity |
| Professor Monica Lahra | World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Sexually Transmitted Infections and Anti-Microbial Resistance; NSW Health Pathology, Microbiology; National Neisseria Network Chair |
Observers and associate members
| Name | Affiliation |
|---|---|
| Dr Jenny Robson | Private Pathology, Sullivan Nicolaides Pathology |
| Dr Erasmus Smit | New Zealand Microbiology Network |
| Ms Lora Starrs | Technical Forensics Intelligence, Australian Federal Police |
| Dr Sanmarie Schlebusch | Queensland Health Forensic and Scientific Services |
| Dr Gary McAuliffe | New Zealand Microbiology Network |
Meetings
PHLN holds regular meetings monthly by teleconference on the last Monday of every month, or as required to support public health responses.
It also has an annual face-to-face meeting.
Related committees
PHLN is a standing committee of the Australian Health Protection Committee (AHPC).
PHLN works with other AHPC standing committees as needed, such as the:
- Communicable Diseases Network Australia (CDNA)
- National Health Emergency Management Subcommittee (NHEMS)
- Environmental Health Committee (enHealth).
Members are active on a broad range of committees that require input on public health microbiology, where they offer information and advice on behalf of PHLN.
Publications
PHLN laboratory case definitions
This collection contains laboratory case definition documents for the diagnosis of key diseases in Australia. The Public Health Laboratory Network (PHLN) created these definitions for laboratory staff to use when determining if one of these diseases is present in a sample.
PHLN general laboratory and pathology guidelines and advice
This collection contains general laboratory guidance and advice developed by the Public Health Laboratory Network (PHLN).
PHLN COVID-19 publications
This collection contains publications and statements related to COVID-19, produced by the Public Health Laboratory Network (PHLN).
Contact
Public Health Laboratory Network (PHLN) secretariat
Contact the PHLN secretariat for more information about the network's work.