Meet WA’s new CHOsen one

A former Goldfields doctor who worked her way up to deputy chief health officer during the pandemic will replace retired chief health officer Andy Robertson and become the first woman to hold the role.

Dr Clare Huppatz, who has been deputy CHO since 2021 will take over Robertson’s role, which he held for seven years.

Huppatz has worked extensively as a doctor throughout regional Australia, including in WA’s Kimberley and Goldfields regions, and joined the Department of Health in 2019 as senior medical advisor and human biosecurity officer.

Within a year and with the advent of the coronavirus pandemic, Huppatz was appointed to run the Public Health Emergency Operations Centre before being promoted to Robertson’s deputy.

The role of CHO was a relatively behind-the-scenes one until the coronavirus pandemic, when Robertson became the state government’s main outlet for health advice, which drove the McGowan government’s COVID-19 response.

Huppatz said it was a privilege to take on her new role.

“Public health is vast in its scope and reach, providing so many opportunities to create meaningful change and transform people’s lives,” she said.

“My public health career has been grounded by my time spent in rural and remote areas and working with Aboriginal communities. As a doctor in training, I spent many years working in rural communities.

“A pivotal time in my career was when I worked at Nindilingarri, an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service in Fitzroy Crossing.

“My chief executive impressed upon me the importance of prevention and finding ways to help everyone in the community take steps to improve their own health.

“We then made great strides forward with positive grassroots initiatives like teaching first aid, programs to improve environmental health, working with the stores to encourage good nutrition, enabling the community to discuss alcohol reforms and lobbying for a local swimming pool.

“Advancing Aboriginal health is a priority for me, and working together with communities and the Aboriginal Health Sector is key to improving Aboriginal health and wellbeing.”

Huppatz said she also spent time working for the World Health Organisation in the Pacific Islands.

“This taught me that you could be anywhere in the world, and local conditions on the ground may be different, yet the principles behind public health are the same,“she said.

“At the heart of public health, it’s about preventing, promoting, protecting and enabling the health of populations or communities – and this is a purpose which I find inspiring.

“I always say that public health is a team sport – you can’t do it alone and need to work closely with people, communities and other professionals to drive positive outcomes

Health Minister Meredith Hammat said Huppatz brings a wealth of expertise in public health, general practice, epidemiology, health promotion and leadership to the position.

“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 Andy Robertson,” she said.

“Her particular interest in Aboriginal health, and remote and regional communities positions her well for this role in our vast and unique state.”

Huppatz was awarded a Public Service Medal in 2023 for her role in the COVID-19 response. In 2024, she shared her story with Flinders University.

“For about three years I barely had time to chew my food. I almost burnt out, but I also knew this was what I’d trained for. I got 15 years of experience in three, and an opportunity like that doesn’t come along often.”