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The New Environmental Health in Australia: Failure to Launch?

Author

Listed:
  • James C. Smith

    (Environmental Health, College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Bedford Park 5042, Australia)

  • Harriet Whiley

    (Environmental Health, College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Bedford Park 5042, Australia)

  • Kirstin E. Ross

    (Environmental Health, College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Bedford Park 5042, Australia)

Abstract

Background: The New Environmental Health is an approach to environmental health adopted in 1999. The new approach was in response to emerging health risks from the pressures that development placed on the environment, climate change, and increasing vulnerabilities of local communities. The new approach heralded a change in perception and roles within environmental health. Twenty years on, it seems these changes have not been embraced by local government. Methods: To determine whether this was the case, we assessed the use of the term “environmental health” in local government annual reports, and where environmental health functions sit within the organisational structure of councils. Results: We found that the New Environmental Health has not been adopted by councils and environmental health relates solely to the delivery of statutory services and legislative compliance. Conclusions: One result of this is local environmental health practitioners, who constitute the major health protection capability of councils, are defined by the narrow legislative obligations imposed on councils. This represents a significant lost opportunity as public health is not protected in the way that was envisaged with the adoption of the New Environmental Health.

Suggested Citation

  • James C. Smith & Harriet Whiley & Kirstin E. Ross, 2021. "The New Environmental Health in Australia: Failure to Launch?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-10, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:4:p:1402-:d:492453
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Surindar Dhesi & Jill Stewart, 2015. "The Developing Role of Evidence-Based Environmental Health," SAGE Open, , vol. 5(4), pages 21582440156, October.
    2. Awofeso, N., 2004. "What's New about the "New Public Health"?," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 94(5), pages 705-709.
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    Cited by:

    1. James C. Smith & Harriet Whiley & Kirstin E. Ross, 2023. "Climate Change and Health: Local Government Capacity for Health Protection in Australia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-12, January.
    2. Harriet Whiley & James C. Smith & Nicole Moore & Rebecca Burton & Nadia Conci & Helen Psarras & Kirstin E. Ross, 2023. "Climate Change and Health: Challenges to the Local Government Environmental Health Workforce in South Australia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(14), pages 1-11, July.

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