The South Australian Department of Health and Wellbeing approach to emergency management during the COVID-19 pandemic

This paper summarises the strategic and operational approaches to emergency management taken by the South Australian Department of Health and Wellbeing (better known as SA Health) during the COVID-19 pandemic State of Emergency declaration between 22 March 2020 and 24 May 2022. It identifies several lessons that may be useful for future responses to similar types of emergencies. It is concluded that SA Health’s response was highly effective, with all of the response’s strategic objectives achieved; however, activities in some areas could nevertheless have been more efficient.