enHealth Council

Session Reports

Report of 13th Session of the enHealth Council
14 October 2003, Hobart

Opening of Thirteenth Session of enHealth Council

Administration Matters

Links with the National Public Health Partnership

Review of National Environmental Health Strategy (NEHS)

Water Issues

Air Issues

Indigenous Issues

Toxicology and Contaminated sites

Mosquito Borne Disease Management

Next Meeting

Opening of Thirteenth Session of enHealth Council

The thirteenth session of the enHealth Council was held in Hobart on 14 October 2003. The following Members were in attendance:

Mr Michael Jackson	Chair
Mr Owen Ashby	Australian Institute of Environmental Health
Ms Jan Bowman	Department of Human Services, Victoria
Dr Kevin Buckett	Department of Human Services, South Australia
Mr Peter Burnett	Environment Australia
Dr Helen Cameron	Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing
Mr Brian Devine	Department of Health, Western Australia
Ms Sophie Dwyer	Queensland Health
Ms Liz Gillam	Local Government Association of Tasmania (for Mr Russell)
Dr Andrew Langley	NHMRC Health Advisory Committee
Professor Ian Lowe	Australian Consumers' Association
Dr Anne Neller	Public Health Association of Australia
Ms Merle O'Donnell	Chair, National Indigenous Environmental Health Forum
Ms Linda Parmenter	Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Services
Mr Paul Prendergast	Ministry of Health, New Zealand
Ms Karen Roger	National Public Health Partnership
Mr Xavier Schobben	Territory Health Services, Northern Territory
Dr Vicky Sheppeard	Health Department, New South Wales
Dr Roscoe Taylor	Department of Health and Human Services, Tasmania
Mr John Woollard	Department of Health and Community Care, Australian Capital Territory (for Ms Langhorne)

Secretariat:
Ms Shannon Clarkson	Department of Health, Western Australia
Ms Nicole Parks	Department of Health, Western Australia

Other Participants :
Mr Michael Moore	Moore Connections
Ms Nicole Parks	Department of Health and Human Services, Tasmania
Dr Fay Jenkins	Department of Human Services, South Australia

Apologies
Mr Chris Russell	Australian Local Government Association (AGLA)
Ms Melissa Langhorne	Department of Health and Community Care, ACT

Administration Matters

Minutes of 12th Session of the enHealth Council

Members endorsed the minutes of the twelfth session and noted progress against the actions.

Links with the National Public Health Partnership

Report from NPHP Planning Meeting 27 August 2003

Members noted that the NPHP reconfirmed environmental health as part of its core program.

enHealth Council website review

Members noted the review and redesign of the NPHP website and supported the proposal to update the enHealth Council website, whilst maintaining the current enHealth Council branding.

enHealth Council Publications Policy

Members agreed that there is a need for a standard enHealth Council publications policy and supported a proposal for project specific editorial boards to facilitate the final production of each enHealth publication.

Review of National Environmental Health Strategy (NEHS)

MooreConnections provided members with an overview of the process that will be used for the review of the NEHS. The electronic survey is ready for distribution and this process will commence shortly.

Water Issues

Water Working Group Report

Members noted the Water Working Group has met twice by teleconference.
Members reconfirmed that the key output of the group should be a report on the current water safety arrangements in Australia and agreed that the results of the project would guide the Council on where it can contribute and/or collaborate with other agencies.

Rural and Remote Potable Water Project

Members noted a progress report on this project and that results of a nation-wide survey of town water supplies in rural and remote communities were not yet available.

Guidance on the Use of Rainwater Tanks

Members endorsed the revised edition of Guidance on the Use of Rainwater Tanks for publication following review by the editorial board.

Draft Australian Run-Off Quality Manual

Jurisdictional members agreed to provide individual comment on the Australian Run-Off Quality Manual being developed by the Institute of Engineers.

Air Issues

Air Working Group Establishment and Participation in National Air Processes

Members endorsed the proposal for an enHealth Air Working Group to oversee enHealth Council’s work on air quality issues and to advise on priorities for action.

Unflued Gas Appliances

Members agreed that Council should provide a statement to the NPHP on the potential health risks of unflued gas appliances.

Review of Australian Standard 1668.2

Members noted the current review of AS 1668.2 on ventilation and advocated for the current ventilation rates to be increased from 3.5 to 7.5 litres/second/person.

Review of Ozone and Sulphur Dioxide NEPM

Members agreed to nominate an enHealth representative to the EPHC Ozone/Sulphur Dioxide Standards Review Team.

Indigenous Issues

National Indigenous Environmental Health Forum (NIEHF) Workshop 5-6 August 2003

Members noted outcomes of the NIEHF Workshop which included a recommendation to appoint a dedicated project officer to progress the recommendations.

Indigenous Environmental Health Workforce Review

Members agreed to provide comments out of session on the National Review of Indigenous Environmental Health Workers – Discussion Paper.

Aborginal and Torres Strait Islander Services (ATSIS) Report

Members noted that the Office of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs (OATSIA) and ATSIS are preparing an environmental health action plan for consideration by Ministerial Council on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs (MCATSIA).

Toxicology and Contaminated Sites

Toxicology and Contaminated Sites Working Group

Members endorsed a proposal to establish a Toxicology and Contaminated Sites Working Group to oversee and advise on the Council’s work in this area.

Literature Review into the Health Effects of Lead

Members noted the draft literature review into the health effects of blood lead levels below 10 micrograms per decilitre.

Members agreed to recommend to the NHMRC the need for further analysis of recent research and to reinforce their recommendation to the NHMRC that the 1993 guidelines not be rescinded.

Community Response Project

Members noted the preliminary draft prepared by WA and agreed to provide comments out of session.

Asbestos in the Non-Occupational Setting

Members endorsed the release of the updated draft for broader consultation

Mosquito Borne Disease Management

National Uniform Guidelines

Members noted the proposal for a joint enHealth Council/National Arbovirus and Malaria Advisory Committee (NAMAC) project on the prevention and management of exotic mosquito incursions in Australia.

Economic Evaluation of Ross River Virus Interventions

Members noted the commencement of this study. The final report is due to be completed by the end of 2004.

Next Meeting

The next meeting of the enHealth Council is scheduled for April/May 2004.

Authorised by: Executive Officer, NPHP
Contact: Darryl Kosch, nphp@dhs.vic.gov.au
Page last modified: 6 May 2004