The purpose of NEPHU is to work collaboratively to improve the health and wellbeing of the population of north east metropolitan Melbourne through evidence-informed approaches, reflecting the diverse needs across the region it serves. 

About us

NEPHU is one of nine Public Health Units (PHUs) across metropolitan and regional Victoria. NEPHU is funded by the Victorian Government and works closely with the Victorian Department of Health.

What areas of Melbourne do we serve?

NEPHU serves the northern and north-eastern metropolitan region of Melbourne, from the inner northern and eastern suburbs, extending north to include the Hume and Whittlesea local government areas, and north-east to include Nillumbik and the Yarra Ranges.

Serving a population of around 1.8 million people, across 12 local government areas and 277 postcodes, NEPHU is proud to be part of one of the most culturally and linguistically diverse regions in Australia.

Our work

Located at the Austin Hospital in Heidelberg, NEPHU works with communities to improve the health and wellbeing of the NEPHU population through health promotion, prevention, and protection activity, such as:

• Preventing and managing outbreaks of diseases
• Contact tracing and management of more than 80 notifiable conditions including COVID-19, mpox, and measles
• Providing health information and education to the community
• Collaborating on campaigns to promote healthy behaviours, places and activities

Our people

The NEPHU team is made up of public health doctors, infectious diseases doctors, infection prevention nurses, epidemiologists, public health and health promotion officers, and communication and engagement specialists. Representing over 30 cultural backgrounds and speaking over 25 different languages, the diversity of the team proudly reflects the diversity of our catchment. Each team member is integral to the overall work of NEPHU. 

Senior leadership team

Dr Annaliese van Diemen - Director

Annaliese is a specialist Public Health Physician. She graduated from medicine at Monash University, going on to train as a General Practitioner before moving into Public Health medicine.

Annaliese held several roles at the Department of Health, including Deputy Chief Health Officer (Communicable Disease) before joining NEPHU in May 2021, and was appointed Director in October 2023.

Dr Katherine Ong - Senior Public Health Physician

Katherine is a public health physician who has worked with State and Federal governments in the areas of health protection, regulation, policy, and health system management.

With research experience in health economics and health equity, Katherine leads NEPHU’s Medical and Epidemiology branch to help develop evidence-informed strategies and actions to strengthen public health outcomes for all communities in our catchment.

Asmara Jammali-Blasi – Senior Manager Health Protection Operations

Asmara is a registered nurse with more than 15 years of experience working in Public Health across government, not-for-profit, and private institutions.

Leveraging her knowledge, Asmara leads the Health Protection Team to monitor and manage more than 80 notifiable conditions that impact the NEPHU catchment at any given moment. This involves contract tracing, working with local councils, and local health services to provide a public health response and help minimise the impact of communicable diseases on the individual and community.

Melanie Chisholm – Senior Manager Population Health

With a Background in Dietetics, Mel has over 20 years' experience in Public Health both in the UK and Australia and leads NEPHU’s Population Health team in evidence-based policy and program development to support improved health outcomes across the catchment.

Previous roles have centered on health equity and community engagement, notably as Executive Director, Engagement and Partnerships in the Department of Health COVID-19 Vaccination Program and as Manager for Healthy Eating, Physical Activity and Sport at the Victorian Health Promotion Foundation (VicHealth).

Cathryn Baldwin – Senior Manager NEPHU Operations

Cathryn is an Occupational Therapist with broad experience in public health including key leadership roles in the child and youth mental health space, quality and risk management, project management, and workforce development.

The NEPHU Operations branch, which Cathryn leads, brings together the functions and services that support NEPHU to operate, including business and digital systems, education and training, quality and risk, contracts and finance, and business services.

Contact us

We love to hear from our community, but please note that NEPHU does not provide individual medical advice for patients.

Follow NEPHU on our social media channels

• Facebook - NEPHU
• Instagram - NEPHU
• LinkedIn - NEPHU
• YouTube - NEPHU

For urgent medical assistance

If you think your situation is an emergency, you should always call 000 as soon as possible, or head to an emergency department at your nearest hospital. Do not delay.

For non-urgent or general enquiries

If you have a non-urgent medical issue, speak to your local health service or General Practitioner (GP).

The Victorian NURSE-ON-CALL line (1300 606 024) is also available to put you directly in touch with a registered nurse for general health advice. 

The NURSE-ON-CALL line is available 24 hours a day and is free. 

While NEPHU is not a service for individual patient clinical advice, we encourage all members of the public to contact us with any public health concerns you may have by using the contact details below.

Contact NEPHU

You can directly contact our teams for more information using the details below:

Health Protection, Epidemiology and Public Health Medicine enquiries (including disease and outbreak management)

Email: healthprotection.nephu@austin.org.au

To report any individual cases or outbreaks of a notifiable infectious disease, condition or micro-organism, see the Victorian Department of Health's notification procedures for infectious diseases.

Population Health and Health Promotion enquiries (including healthy eating, and sexual and reproductive health initiatives)

Email: healthywell.nephu@austin.org.au

Engagement, Communications and Event enquiries

Email: engagement.nephu@austin.org.au

For all other inquiries, please email admin.nephu@austin.org.au or call the 03 9496 5000 and ask to be connected to the North Eastern Public Health Unit (NEPHU).

Helpful resources