Healthy Environments and Lives (HEAL) National Research Network , 2023

Implementing Partners: Australian federal and local government (e.g., National Health and Medical Research Council, Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care, National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation, Environment Protection Authority Victoria, and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, NSW Department of Planning and Environment) Universities and Institutes (e.g., University of Canberra, Australian National University, University of Sydney, University of Melbourne, Menzies School of Health Research, Griffith University, Telethon Kids Institute, University of Tasmania, University of South Australia, Queensland University of Technology, University of Western Australia, University of New South Wales, RMIT, University of Queensland, Curtin University, Flinders University, Charles Darwin University, University of Newcastle, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Lowitja Institute, South Australia Health and Medical Research Institute, University Technology Sydney, Centenary Institute, Deakin University, James Cook University, Murdoch University.) NGOs (e.g., Doctors for the Environment Australia, Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association, Climate and Health Alliance, Public Health Association of Australia, Asthma Australia)

Published In: COP28 Prospectus of Climate-Health Solutions, 2023

Catalyzing research and translating knowledge into policy and practice to improve Australians’ health, the environment and the lives of disadvantaged communities.

Context

Climate change is posing a major threat to the Australian health system and communities. More frequent and intense extreme events, such as the 2019/20 Black Summer bushfires and 2022 eastern Australia floods, are directly harming human health and impairing delivery of healthcare by disrupting medical services and supply chains. Rising temperature are adversely affecting physical and mental health, while rising sea levels disrupt coastal economies and infrastructure. Changing patterns of air pollution and vector-borne diseases are impacting public health and healthcare delivery. Unevenly distributed, these risks exacerbate inequities across socioeconomic and demographic groups, and widen the health gap between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous Australians. 

Approach

The HEAL Network produces actionable evidence that informs strategies to tackle the health effects of climate change, extreme events, and environmental degradation. This is achieved by building capacity for inter-disciplinary collaborative research that improves our understanding of the interactions between climate, the natural and built environment, public health, and their inequitable impacts across and within communities. 

 

Figure 1. HEAL Community of Practice methodology

HEAL is embedding systematic co-design processes with policymakers, communities, First Nations, and health consumers and service providers on climate change mitigation and adaptation solutions. During its first year, the HEAL Network consulted with a wide range of stakeholders, including research organization, data providers, communities, advocacy groups, and policymakers from across Australia to identify evidence needs, refine research questions, and implement effective collaborative arrangements. Based on initial gap analyses and stakeholder consultations, the HEAL Network has established ten interdisciplinary research themes, including: Indigenous Knowledge Systems; Data and Decision Support Systems; Science Communication; Health System Resilience; Bushfires and Extreme Events; Food, Soil and Water Security; Biosecurity and Emerging Infectious Diseases; Urban Health; Rural and Remote Health; At-risk Populations and Lifecourse Solutions.  

Figure 2. Climate change and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health (Matthews V., Vine K., Atkinson A-R, Longman J., Lee G.W., Vardoulakis S., Mohamed J., 2023. Justice, culture, and relationships: Australian Indigenous prescription for planetary health. Science 381(6658), 636-641. DOI: 10.1126/science.adh9949)

Impact and next steps

HEAL is also addressing capacity and capability gaps in human health and climate change, by developing a range of training, dissemination and citizen science activities that support communities and nurture early career researchers. One crucial step is the development of the meta-capacity needed to formulate priorities, co-design research, and translate and implement research findings into policy and practice. This is implemented through training activities, industry placements, fellowships and grants facilitating mobility of early career researchers, stakeholder engagement, and interdisciplinary collaborations. The HEAL Innovation Fund, for example, provides seed funding to researchers aiming to develop and scale up novel project ideas involving industry, policymakers and communities.  

Figure 3. HEAL Innovation Fund concept

The HEAL Network received an AUD 10 million grant from the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC). Additional funding to establish the network was raised through co-financing arrangements with university partners, and cash and in-kind contributions from other research organizations and government agencies. This funding is supporting 28 postdoctoral fellows and 17 research students based in 20 Australian Universities. The Network has set up HEAL Communities of Practice in all Australian jurisdictions, and is organizing an annual conference and other events bringing together researchers, policymakers, and communities.    

Figure 4. Key stakeholder organisations involved in the HEAL Network

Impact and next steps

The HEAL Network prioritises evidence and capacity needs, and local action with community-led co-design of solutions embedded in a monitoring and evaluation framework. The Network is developing research projects that aim to assess key climate-relevant environmental exposures, health impacts, vulnerabilities and responses through robust indicators that will be incorporated into an online platform: the HEAL Observatory. This process involves, identifying, developing and visualising indicators in a meaningful and accessible format for scientists, policymakers, environmental and health practitioners, and communities. These indicators will be updated regularly at national and state level and will inform the implementation of the National Health and Climate Strategy and National Adaptation Plan. The HEAL Observatory will also support knowledge exchange between researchers, communities and policymakers to promote integration of climate and health research into policy and practice, providing state and territory profiles, publications, training materials, factsheets, and other communication tools to support decision-making, health sector adaptation planning, and health system decarbonisation. 

The HEAL Communities of Practice aims to provide a forum for local knowledge exchange between stakeholders from diverse backgrounds and expertise, comprising researchers, practitioners, Indigenous and other community organizations, businesses, government and NGOs. These open, inclusive, diverse and dynamic Communities of Practice use participatory action research methodology to identify evidence needs, co-design research programs, and ensure research is translated into policy and practice. 

Figure 6. Framework for building resilience to climate disasters in the health sector Vardoulakis S., Matthews V., Bailie R., Hu W., Salvador-Carulla L., Barratt A., Chu C., 2022. Building resilience to Australian flood disasters in the face of climate change. Medical Journal of Australia 217 (7), 342-345. DOI:10.5694/mja2.51595)