enHealth Council

Session Reports

Report of 7th Session of the enHealth Council
28-29 June 2001, Canberra

Opening of Seventh Session of enHealth Council

Administrative Matters

Policy Issues

Guidelines and Publications Development

Environmental Health Issues

Other Business

Next Meeting

Opening of Seventh Session of enHealth Council

The seventh session of the enHealth Council was held in Canberra on 28-29 June 2001. The following Members were in attendance:

Professor C. Ewan	Chair
Mr O. Ashby	National President, Australian Institute of Environmental Health
Ms N. Bell	Secretary to Council (Commonwealth Australian Department of Health and Ageing)
Ms J. Bowman	Victorian Department of Human Services
Dr K. Buckett	South Australian Department of Human Services
Dr S. Corbett	NSW Department of Health
Ms S. Dwyer	Queensland Health
Ms A. Gillman	Environment Australia (for Mr P. Burnett)
Mr G. Gook	Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (for Mr P. Taylor)
Mr M. Jackson	Western Australian Department of Health
Dr M. Jacobs	Tasmanian Department of Health and Human Services
Ms P. Laut	Public Health Association of Australia (for Dr A. Neller)
Professor I. Lowe	Australian Consumers’ Association
Ms M. O’Donnell	Chair, National Indigenous Environmental Health Forum
Mr X. Schobben	Northern Territory Health Services
Dr R. Taylor	NHMRC Health Advisory Committee (Observer)
Ms S. Tuffin	Commonwealth Australian Department of Health and Ageing
Mr J. Woollard	ACT Department of Health and Community Care
Apologies
Mr P. Burnett	Environment Australia
Dr A. Neller	Public Health Association of Australia
Mr P. Prendergast	New Zealand Ministry of Health
Mr P. Taylor	Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission

Administrative Matters

Minutes of sixth session and Session Report, March 2001

The Minutes and Session Report of the 6th session of Council were endorsed by Council.

Action arising

The status of action arising from the sixth session of Council was noted.

Out of session items and decisions (March-May 2001)

Council noted the three out-of-session items considered between March and May and their status:

Approval to publish Environmental Health Risk Assessment
Provision of advice to Environment Australia for a submission they are preparing for the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) regarding a global assessment on mercury
Provision of advice to the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Framework for Management of Drinking Water Quality.

Policy Issues

National Environmental Health Strategy

a) Non-auditory Health Effects of Noise

Council supported the publication of the Non-Auditory Effects of Noise as an enHealth document, following the release for targeted consultation and the development of an action plan from the final report to progress issues relating to noise.

b) Sustainable Development

Ms Hilary Cadman of Biotext Pty Ltd, the consultant for the development of the Sustainable Development information kits provided a presentation to Council on the progress of the project. Members agreed that the target audience for the kit would include policy makers and environmental health practitioners.

c) Economic Evaluation

Council noted the current status of the Queensland lead for the development of a handbook with the project is expected to commence in July 2001.

d) Research

Council noted the progress in the process to identify needs in environmental health research within Australia.

The Chair of Council provided a report to Members on discussions with the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) to obtain funding for an environmental health research centre.

e) Workforce

Council noted that there has been no further progress on workforce issues for environmental health practitioners under the National Environmental Health Strategy. An update is to be provided to Council in October 2001.

f) Mid-term Review of Implementation Plan

Members noted that the midterm review of the National Environmental Health Strategy Implementation Plan is proceeding. A paper detailing stages 1 and 2 of the review plus the preliminary results of the report card is being prepared for Council endorsement. The Review is to be completed by the end of the year and will be followed by an independent review of the Strategy in late 2002.

Indigenous Environmental Health

a) National Indigenous Environmental Health Forum

The outcomes of the 3rd meeting of the National Indigenous Environmental Health Forum (NIEHF) held in Adelaide in May 2001 were noted. Members were provided with an overview of the current activities of the Forum and the draft NIEHF Workplan. The NIEHF Workplan will identify priorities and work to be undertaken by the Forum and will also assist Council in determining overall priorities.

Review of Environmental Health Workers (EHWs)
Council noted the role of the Steering Group in developing the project and procurement plans for the National Review of Indigenous EHWs.

Members discussed the need to increase the training and support for EHWs, particularly in relation to the inclusion of training material on environmental health that is culturally appropriate.

The Terms of Reference for the Review were discussed, and will be amended prior to endorsement by Council.
Representation
Council discussed the need for inclusion of Indigenous environmental health issues on the National Public Health Partnership (NPHP) agenda. Members agreed that a formal link with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Working Group (ATSIWG) of the NPHP would facilitate the progression of Indigenous environmental health issues. Council will request representation and membership on ATSIWG by an enHealth NIEHF Member. Members also agreed to seek agreement from ATSIWG to share information between ATSIWG and the NIEHF.
Cultural Awareness
Council discussed the need for cross-cultural awareness training within the enHealth Council and other NPHPG Committees. Members supported the scheduling of a 2002 Council meeting in an Indigenous community with a focus on Indigenous environmental health issues. Council would also recommend to the NPHPG that they also schedule a meeting in 2002 in an Indigenous community.

b) Mapping Exercise

The status of the ongoing project to map the roles and responsibilities of agencies involved in Indigenous environmental health was noted. The mapping project will clarify the roles and responsibilities of the agencies with responsibility for the management and improvement of Indigenous Environmental health and develop an agreed framework for action. The contract to undertake the Mapping Project has been signed and the project is scheduled for completion in August. Outcomes of the project will be presented to Council in October.

c) National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Strategy

Members discussed and endorsed the NIEHF comments on the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Strategy (NATSIHS) for submission to the National Population Health Partnership Group (NPHPG).

Council discussed the need for the NPHP response to the Strategy to address the concerns relating to the important role the health sector plays in environmental health and the inclusion of references to Environmental Health Workers.

d) NIEH Representation on State Decision Making Bodies

Council discussed the role of NIEHF Members in jurisdictional decision making processes on issues affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander environmental health. Members agreed that representation issues would be raised in each jurisdiction by the Director of Environmental Health.

e) 3rd NIEH Conference Monograph

The process for the finalisation and subsequent endorsement by Council of the monograph of the 3rd National Indigenous Environmental Health Conference held in Alice Springs in November 2000 was noted. Council supported the referral of the monograph and its recommendations to the Australian Health Ministers’ Conference (AHMC) through the NPHPG.

enHealth Council Task Group

a) Information Task Group

Council was provided with an overview of the plan by the Information Task Group for the development of a conceptual framework for environmental health indicators. Members confirmed that the process for the development of a conceptual framework for environmental health indicators including working with the Information subgroup of the National Public Health Partnership (NPHP) was appropriate.

Council noted the progress in the data linkage project on Australia-wide integration and spatial analysis of environmental, social and health data noting that a literature review data audit from stage 1 of the project had been received.

Guidelines and Publications Development

Health Impact Assessment Series

Members were provided with an overview of the proposed approach for progressing Intensive Animal Husbandry as the first topic in the Health Impact Assessment Series. The approach will include extensive consultation with relevant Commonwealth portfolios that have responsibility for, or whose work impacts on Intensive Animal Husbandry along with key industry groups. Council supported this approach and agreed to the establishment of a Steering Committee to guide the process.

The definition of Intensive Animal Husbandry was discussed, with Members agreeing that three industries to be initially considered should be cattle, pigs and poultry (specifically chickens). Council agreed that the issues to be addressed should include: water quality, waste disposal, antibiotics, odour, noise and dust.

The document will take the form of a report to enHealth Council, as a desktop research document with three chapters (one per industry) focussing on both the positive and negative impacts of Intensive Animal Husbandry.

Health Impact Assessment Implementation Guidelines

Council discussed the need for a final round of consultation on the draft HIA Guidelines. Members agreed that the Guidelines were a useful document and should be available for State managers and other environmental health professionals to use as soon as possible. A further round of consultation on the Guidelines was considered unnecessary as the document was not regulatory in nature.

Council also agreed that the Guidelines should be provided to the National Public Health Partnership Group for reference as part of their work on the wider implications of HIA in public health policy.

The Management of Asbestos in the Non-Occupational Environment

Council were provided with an overview of the project to develop Australian guidelines for the management of public health exposures to asbestos in the non-occupational environment and the attendance of an Australian representative at the 2001 Asbestos Health Effects Conference, held in California during May 2001.

Council noted that the project to produce the guidelines began in the first week of June and is progressing well. Members agreed that the development of the guidelines would provide an opportunity for enHealth to link with the National Occupational Health and Safety Commission (NOHSC) on asbestos issues. The Asbestos Steering Group is currently working on a project monograph which will be provided to Council for endorsement.

Indoor Air Quality in the Home

The status of activities towards the finalisation of the draft document Healthy Homes – a guide to indoor air quality in the home for buyers, builders and renovators was noted. Members expressed their strong support for the intent of the document but had some concerns about the document content given comments received during the consultation process.

Council agreed to the establishment of an editorial group responsible for identifying alternative formats, finalisation of the document content taking into account consultation comments, and consideration of issues such as target audience, appropriateness of the title, and possible distribution strategies for the information in the finalised document.

Guidance for the Control of Legionella

The updated appendix of the 1996 monograph was endorsed for publication as an enHealth document. The monograph and updated appendix will also be posted on the enHealth website.

Development of Air Quality Guidelines for Western Australia

Council noted that there is, at present, no further information available on the development of the Guidelines.

Environmental Health Issues

Rural and Remote Potable Water Project

Progress on the Bureau of Rural Sciences-lead project to measure quality, availability and access to water and map water supplies against populations, including key outcomes of the 2nd meeting of the Steering Committee was noted.

NEPC/NHMRC/enHealth Council Liaison Group

Council noted the issues discussed at the NEPC/NHMRC/enHealth Liaison meeting held in May 2001 in particular the importance of appropriate health representation in the National Environmental Protection Council (NEPC) work on national environmental protection measures.

Expert Committee on Toxicity Assessment for Carcinogenic Soil Contaminants

Council reaffirmed that the establishment of an Expert Committee on Toxicity Assessment for Carcinogenic Soil Contaminants to field-test the National Health and Medical Research Committee (NHMRC) Toxicity Assessment for Carcinogenic Soil Contaminants methodology for carcinogenic substances was a priority.

Members discussed and agreed upon the composition of the Expert Committee, and recommended that the Expert Committee should initially field-test three carcinogens: arsenic, dioxins and benzenes.

National Arbovirus Advisory Committee

The establishment of the National Arbovirus Advisory Committee (NAAC) under the auspices of the Communicable Disease Network of Australia (CDNA) was noted. Members elected an enHealth representative for the NAAC.

Other Business

Presentation from Institute of Environmental Science and Research Ltd in New Zealand on the WINZ Database

Council received a presentation from Mr Alistair Sheat and Mr Alan Ferguson from the Institute of Environmental Science and Research Ltd (ESR) in New Zealand on the role of the ESR and the Water Information New Zealand (WINZ) database. WINZ provides Government, local bodies, public health authorities and the general public with a range of information about potable water supplies throughout New Zealand.

Progress report on 2001 AIEH Conference – Perth

Council noted the progress of the 2001 Australian Institute of Environmental Health (AIEH) Conference, to be held in Perth during October.

Next Meeting

The next meeting of the enHealth Council will be held in Perth on 17-18 October 2001.