HEAL – National Research Network in Human Health and Environmental Change 

The HEAL Network aims to strengthen the Australian community and health system resilience to climate change, extreme events such as bushfires, heatwaves and floods, and other environmental stressors such as air pollution, and water and soil contamination. This is achieved by building capacity and stimulating collaborative solutions-oriented research that will improve our understanding of the interactions between climate, the natural and built environment, and health services, and of the inequitable impacts of environmental change across communities. The HEAL Network is regionally distributed across Australia and has established multiple Communities of Practice, including in ACT, comprising researchers, health practitioners, community organisations, and decision-makers.

HEAL – National Environmental Health Risk Assessment – Heat Risk Assessment on Population Health  

Environmental health risks, such as heat, air pollution, bushfires, floods, and droughts, have significantly affected population health in Australia. However, studies have primarily focused on major cities in Australia and have predominantly utilized mortality as health indicator. The assessment of morbidity and associated healthcare costs due to climate change has not been thoroughly examined. This assessment will utilize heat as a case study to evaluate the risk posed to a broader population, including those residing in ACT, regional areas, and rural communities throughout the entire country. 

Wood heaters are the main source of air pollution in many Australian cities and towns in winter. Australians with asthma often suffer from worsening of their symptoms from breathing air polluted with smoke from wood heaters. Portable air cleaners with high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters are a promising way for reducing smoke pollution in homes throughout the year. However, their ability to improve asthma control and related quality of life has not been tested in Australia. This study will evaluate the ability of portable air purifiers with HEPA filters to: (a) Reduce air pollution in homes with and without wood heaters; (b) Reduce asthma symptoms and improve quality of life for people with asthma in four Australian regions that are affected by wood heater smoke during winter.  

Canberra, is surrounded by an array of water features such as lakes, ponds, and wetlands and water-based recreation is an integral aspect of the outdoor lifestyle and tourism in the city. But poor water quality can have negative impacts, such as the closure of swimming beaches when faecal indicator bacterial (FIB, enterococci) concentration exceeds safe levels (FIB > 200 colony-forming unit per 100 mL). This research aims to provide insights into the challenges and opportunities for promoting safe and enjoyable water-based recreational activities in urban Canberra. The presentation will cover recreational use of urban ponds and community perception of water quality in Canberra suburbs, spatio-temporal variation of faecal indicator bacteria (FIB) exceedance, and the association between hydro-meteorological parameters and FIB concentration in the city’s three main swimming lakes (Lake Burley Griffin, Lake Ginninderra and Lake Tuggeranong).