Health protection involves the prevention and control of threats to health from communicable diseases and the environment. Health protection is achieved through a complex array of activities involving multiple people and agencies. Among the factors that protect a population's health are:

• clean drinking water
  
• housing that is safe and not overcrowded
• the safe disposal of waste
• clean recreational water
• safe food
• clean air
• vaccination
• education about safe behaviours including hygiene and safe sex
  
• sterile equipment used for procedures that penetrate the skin
• effective medicines for the treatment and prevention of infectious diseases
• built environments that are conducive to good health
  

​​

In New South Wales, health protection activities are coordinated by Health Protection NSW, which includes:

• Communicable Diseases Branch
  

• Environmental Health Branch
  

  
  

Health Protection NSW works closely with public health units in local health districts in the development, implementation and evaluation activities to protect public health.