enHealth Council

Session Reports

Report of 2^nd Session of the enHealth Council
8-9 February 2000, Canberra

Opening of Second Session of enHealth Council

Workshop on National Environmental Health Strategy draft Implementation Framework

Administrative Matters

Policy Issues

Guidelines and publications development

Environmental health issues

Next meeting

Opening of Second Session of enHealth Council

The second session of the enHealth Council was held in Canberra on 8-9 February 2000. The following Members were in attendance:

Professor C. Ewan Chair
Mr O. Ashby National President, Australian Institute of Environmental Health
Ms J. Bowman Department of Human Services, Victoria
Dr K. Buckett Commonwealth Department of Health & Aged Care
Dr S. Corbett NSW Health Department
Mr J. Dodds Queensland Health
Mr M. Jackson Health Department of WA
Dr M. Jacobs Department of Health & Human Services, Tasmania (9 February)
Mr D. Jurgeneit Department of Health & Community Care, ACT (for Mr Woollard)
Dr A. Langley Department of Human Services, South Australia
Mr C. McCarthy Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Commission
Dr A. Neller Public Health Association of Australia and the Australian Consumers Association
Mr D. O’Connor-Cox Environment Australia (for Mr M. Hyman)
Mr P. Prendergast Public Health Policy & Regulatory, Ministry of Health, NZ
Mr X. Schobben Territory Health Services, Northern Territory
Ms S. Tuffin Secretary to Council (Commonwealth Department of Health & Aged Care)

Apologies

Mr M. Hyman Environment Australia
Mr J. Woollard Department of Health and Community Care, ACT

Observers

Environmental Health Section (Commonwealth Department of Health & Aged Care)

Workshop on National Environmental Health Strategy draft Implementation Framework

The revised draft Implementation Framework was discussed in detail with Council supportive of the new structure. The Framework has been restructured into three components: environmental health justice, environmental health systems and the human-environment interface. Council endorsed the inclusion of the Australian Charter for Environmental Health and the guiding principles from the National Environmental Health Strategy as underpinning the Framework.

When finalised the Implementation Framework will be published in hard copy and electronically and will be circulated widely.

Administrative Matters

Minutes, action arising and session report from 14-15 December 1999

The first session report for the enHealth Council was endorsed and will be published and widely circulated.

Locations for April, July and October 2000 meetings

6^th & 7^th April 2000 – Canberra, ACT
25^th & 26^th July 2000 – Darwin, NT
12^th & 13^th October 2000 – Cairns, QLD

Executive Committee Terms of Reference

Members endorsed the Terms of Reference.

Mission Statement

Members agreed to provide wording suggestions for a mission statement that reflects the leadership role of the Council and provides a vision of where the Council aims to be.

Policy Issues

Issues paper on enHealth Council activities in the region and internationally

The Chair will represent the enHealth Council at the AusAid Advisory Group on International Health.

A letter will be sent to both the World Health Organization and the World Bank introducing the Council as the national body for environmental health and as a central point for information about environmental health expertise around Australia. Additional regional and international activities and opportunities will be considered in the planning of all environmental health projects.

Discussion paper on identification of, and engagement with, partners

Effective partnerships were confirmed as fundamental to the progression of environmental health issues nationally. To this end, a core list of partners will be developed, with an expanded list prepared on an issue or project basis. Contact will be made with the stakeholders on the core list, in the first instance, outlining the enHealth Council role and seeking to establish working relationships.

The Council supported the formalisation of a partnership between itself and the National Environment Protection Council, an agreement previously signed by the NEPC and the Directors of Environmental Health. Opportunities to include environmental health issues on the NEPC workprogram will be identified.

While the membership of the enHealth Council was endorsed by the Australian Health Ministers, the Council agreed to invite the National Health and Medical Research Council to participate as an observer.

Representation on Air Toxics Technical Advisory Group

The enHealth Council accepted an invitation from Environment Australia to join the Technical Advisory Group on Air Toxics. Toxins in air is an environmental health issue and enHealth Council input is important.

Management of Review of Environmental Toxicology Expertise

Council established a Steering Committee to oversee the conduct of the Review of Environmental Toxicology Expertise. The Review is an initiative of the National Public Health Partnership and is expected to commence in the next month.

Public Health Law and Indigenous Health Project Reference Group

Members agreed that in the absence of the Indigenous Environmental Health Forum an interim member be nominated to represent the enHealth Council. It was proposed that a nomination be sought from the Indigenous community representative, Mr McCarthy. However it was reported that the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission might be invited to join the Reference Group in its own right. As a result, three nominees were put forward, Stewart Heggie, Wayne Jolly and Craig Steele and will be considered.

Trial of Planning and Practice Framework for Public Health Practice

The proposal to trial the National Public Health Partnership Framework for planning within public health practice using and environmental health issue was discussed. The Directors of Environmental Health had been involved in early trials and the Council agreed to participate in the new round.

Ecosystem Health Conference

Members agreed that this Conference was a strategic initiative that should be supported. Joint sponsorship between the enHealth Council and Environment Australia would be ideal.

Guidelines and publications development

Draft Consultation Policy

An overarching policy on levels of consultation was discussed. Council agreed that an open and transparent advice development process must be established with peer review and public consultation a key component. Four levels of consultation are proposed ranging from workshop or conference participant comment through to peer review and full public consultation.

A number of draft documents are being finalised for release for consultation and the Policy will be used to determine the appropriate level of consultation or review.

Draft report of the 2^nd National Indigenous Environmental Health Workshop

The Council approved the publication of the final draft report under the enHealth logo.

Draft Guidelines on Health Impact Assessment Implementation

Considered to be the "flagship" document for the enHealth Council, an editorial group was established to review the draft Guidelines on the implementation of health impact assessment prior to release for public consultation. This document seeks to provide an overarching framework for consistency of implementation at the State and local level. The inclusion of health impact assessment into development and regulation is a key component of improving environmental health conditions in Australia.

Draft Disaster Management: Environmental Health Guidelines

The draft Guidelines on Disaster Management, prepared by Western Australia, will be refined to ensure that it has a national focus. The draft will then be released for consultation before finalisation and publication.

Progress report on draft Health-based Investigation Levels of aromatic Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons migrating from soil to dwelling interior: The case for Benzene

Council noted that the methodology and other aspects of the draft document had been presented to a number of journals for peer-review and publication. Once reviewed Council will consider the document for publication at the national level.

Nationally Agreed Triggers for Warnings – Heat Stress

The proposal to develop a nationally agreed trigger for heat stress was considered. Council agreed that give climatic variability across Australia, trigger warnings should be developed at the local level in conjunction with key organisations such as the Bureau of Meteorology.

Progress on reviewing Health Warnings for Air Pollution Forecasting

This item was deferred until the third session of the Council, to be held in April 2000.

Environmental health issues

Jurisdictional activities on Implementation Framework categories

The importance of identifying activities, being managed by other organisations and levels of government, that contribute to the overall goals of the National Environmental Health Strategy and Implementation Framework was acknowledged. Council agreed to provide information on jurisdictional and sector-based activities for inclusion on the website. Other organisations and sectors are also encouraged to contribute information. This reference tool provides important information for environmental health practitioners and other individuals and groups in managing environmental health across Australia.

Water Treatment Chemicals

Negotiations between Standards Australia, the National Health and Medical Research Council and the enHealth Council continue in relation to the need for the assessment and approval of drinking water treatment chemicals at the national level.

Standing items

Report from Chair

Council discussed the upcoming priority setting Forum of the National Public Health Partnership and recommended that the Implementation Framework be presented to facilitate discussion. Indigenous health, sustainable development and health impact assessment were identified as possible areas for NPHP involvement.

Report from NPHP Group – enHealth Council items and Deputy Chair report

Council noted that the NPHP Group meets on 22 February 2000, where the findings of the NPHP evaluation and the outcomes of the priority setting Forum will be discussed. A report of the meeting will be provided by Dr Jacobs at the April enHealth Council session.

Reports from enHealth Council representatives

Council recalled the request, by the National Environmental Health Forum in September 1999, that it be represented on the ARPANSA National Competition Review National Uniformity Implementation Panel. The request was made as responsibility for Radiation Protection was within the remit of Directors of Environmental Health in some States and Territories. Confirmation of the ARPANSA response will be sought.

Members noted that Dr Neller currently represents the enHealth Council on the Water Quality Management System group, a sub group of the Coordinating Group for the rolling review of the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines. enHealth Council representation at the higher level was considered appropriate and a request would be made to the National Health and Medical Research Council.

Reporting of hazardous incidents

Western Australia reported on a spill in Claisbrook Cove in East Perth. No contamination of water occurred with clean up of effected areas completed on the same day.

Reports from associated organisations

No reports were provided.

Next meeting

The 3^rd Session of the enHealth Council will be held on 6-7 April in Canberra.