PRESS RELEASE: National research network to address health impacts of climate change

‘The Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association (AHHA) is proud to be part of the Healthy Environments And Lives (HEAL) network which will address the current and future health impacts of climate change,’ says AHHA Chief Executive John Gregg.
The network, announced today by Health Minister the Hon Greg Hunt MP, brings together Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge, sustainable development, environmental epidemiology, and data science and communication to address climate change and its impacts on health.
‘Climate change has devasting impacts on human health, particularly in Australia as witnessed during the 2019-20 Black Summer. This network of leaders will be critical to building a resilient and responsive health system and protecting the health of Australians.’
‘The network, led by the Australian National University will bring together policymakers, researchers and communities to work on issues such as urban health, bushfires, air, soil and water pollution, food security, heatwaves and other extreme events, and biosecurity,’ says Mr Gregg.
The network will be HEAL will be funded for five years through the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Special Initiative in Human Health and Environmental Change and operate across all Australian states and territories.
Participating organisations include The Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association, the 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, The University of Western Australia, National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation, University of New South Wales, RMIT, University of Queensland, Curtin University, Flinders University, Charles Darwin University, University of Newcastle, Lowitja Institute, South Australia Health and Medical Research Institute, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, University Technology Sydney, Centenary Institute, Deakin University, James Cook University, Murdoch University, Environment Protection Authority Victoria, and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation.
The HEAL Network will be launched with an inaugural digital conference on 17-18 November 2021. For more information visit: https://heal2021.com.au/