enHealth Council

Session Reports

Report of 9th Session of the enHealth Council
13 February 2002, Canberra

Opening of Ninth Session of enHealth Council

Administration Matters

Policy Issues

Guidelines and Publications Development

Environmental Health Issues

Other Business

Next Meeting

Opening of Ninth Session of enHealth Council

The ninth session of the enHealth Council was held in Canberra on 13th February 2002. The following Members were in attendance:

Professor Christine Ewan	Chair
Mr Owen Ashby	Australian Institute of Environmental Health
Dr Martin Bicevskis	Department of Health and Human Services, Tasmania
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	Australian Department of Health and Ageing
Dr Stephen Corbett	NSW Health Department
Mr Brian Devine	(for M. Jackson) Health Department of Western Australia
Ms Sophie Dwyer	Queensland Health
Mr Dieter Jurgeneit	Department of Health and Community Care, ACT
Dr Anne Neller	Public Health Association of Australia
Ms Merle O'Donnell	National Indigenous Environmental Health Forum
Mr Paul Prendergast	Ministry of Health, New Zealand
Mr Xavier Schobben	Territory Health Services, Northern Territory
Ms Alison Smith	(for Mr P Taylor) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission
Dr Roscoe Taylor	NHMRC Health Advisory Committee
Secretary - Ms Claire Brady	Australian Department of Health and Ageing

Others in attendance
Dr Cathy Mead	Executive Officer, National Public Health Partnership
Ms Marion Dunlop	Assistant Secretary, Strategic Planning Branch, Department of Health and Ageing
Ms Angela Gillman	Environment Australia
Mr Jens Light	Environment Australia
Mr John Woollard	Department of Health and Community Care, ACT
Dr Kuldeep Bahtia	Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
Mr Perri Timmins	Australian Institute of Health and Welfare

Apologies
Professor Ian Lowe	Australian Consumers' Association
Mr Peter Taylor	Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission

Administration Matters

Minutes of the eighth session and Session Report, October 2001

Members noted and endorsed the Minutes and Session Report from the eighth session of Council.

The Chair noted a number of changes in representatives for Council and thanked the contributions of members who had recently left Council.

Action arising

Members noted the status of action arising from the eighth session of Council.

Council meeting dates for 2002

Members agreed to hold the next meeting of Council on 11/12 June 2002. The next session of Council will involve a planning session to look at strategic directions of Council for the future. The location of the next meeting to be confirmed.

Policy Issues

National Environmental Health Strategy

a) Non-auditory Health Effects of Noise

Members acknowledged that a report on 'A Review of the Non-Auditory Health Effects of Noise' is currently being finalised and will be circulated to members out-of-session for consideration.

b) Sustainable Development

Members noted that the Sustainable Development and Environmental Health information kits are currently being finalised. The kits are to be circulated to Members out-of-session for final endorsement.

c) Workforce

Members agreed that an enHealth reference group is established to assist and advise the AIEH to progress environmental health workforce issues.

d) Research

Council agreed to support and act as an advisory collaborator on a research proposal to the Public Health Education and Research Program on 'Atmospheric Environment and Health' proposed by the National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health (NCEPH). If the research proposal is successful in receiving funding, Dr Anne Neller will be the enHealth Council representative on the project.

e) Mid-term Review of Implementation Plan

Members noted that the second stage of the mid-term Review of the Implementation Plan had been delayed and will be followed up out-of-session.

f) Economic Evaluation

Members noted the current status of activity lead by Queensland Health towards the development of guidelines for economic evaluation of environmental health.

Indigenous Environmental Health

a) National Indigenous Environmental Health Forum (NIEHF)

The Chair of Forum informed Members of the progress towards the 4th National Indigenous Environmental Health Conference to be held in Adelaide on 6-7 November 2002. Members considered and agreed to a proposal from the Chair of Forum that the appointment of current Forum members be extended from October 2002 to the end of November 2002 to ensure continuity for the organisation of the Conference. In addition, it was agreed that Forum considers the appropriate length of term for the appointment of the Forum Chair (currently 12-month rotating Chair).

Members discussed and reconfirmed that the role of Forum is to advise enHealth Council on Indigenous environmental health issues. It was agreed that a Forum member should be represented on the National Public Health Partnerships Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Working Group (ATSIWG). It was proposed that this issue be raised at the next meeting of ATSIWG, March 2002, and then be referred to the NPHP meeting for consideration.

b) Indigenous Environmental Health Map of Agencies, Roles and Responsibilities Project (Mapping Project)

Members noted that the final report prepared by Urbis Keys Young is due late February 2002.

c) National Review of Indigenous Environmental Health Workers

Members noted that there had been some delay in progressing this project to ensure that the project plan for the work considered a recently released report on the "Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workforce – Draft National Strategic Framework (November 2001)" by the Office of Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander Health.

It was reported that the project plan had been amended to highlight differences between the project and the Workforce Framework, and has been submitted within the Australian Department of Health and Ageing for funding approval.

enHealth Council Information Task Group

Members of the Information Task Group, Mr Perri Timmins and Dr Kuldeep Bhatia, presented to Council, the recommended framework for the development of environmental health indicators.

Members considered and discussed the recommended DPSEEA (Driving Force, Pressure, State, Exposure, Effect, Action) Framework querying how the process of developing environmental health indicators may contribute or add value to current indicator reporting for public and environmental health. Members also noted the need to liaise with the National Public Health Information Group (NPIG).

Comments raised by Council members are to be addressed in the paper on the framework for the development of environmental health indicators prior to release for public consultation.

Guidelines and Publications Development

a) Health Impact Assessment Series

Council reaffirmed that the Health Impact Assessment (HIA) of Intensive Animal Husbandry (cattle, poultry, and pigs), would cover the state of knowledge of the associated health impacts and not include specific guidelines as to how a HIA should be undertaken.

Members noted the work Queensland Health is undertaking on HIA of the poultry industry. The representative from Queensland Health, Ms Dwyer, will join the project Steering Committee.

The Management of Asbestos in the Non-Occupational Environment

Members noted the progress of this project.

Indoor Air Quality in the Home

Council acknowledged that the 'Healthy Homes' document has been revised in light of public comments and is currently being proofread. The document will be reconsidered by the Steering Committee and then circulated to the broader reference group set up for the project. The document will then be forwarded to Council for consideration.

Development of Air Quality Guidelines for WA

Members noted that this project is progressing and that details of the project would be discussed at the next meeting.

Environmental Health Issues

Rural and Remote Potable Water Project

Members were informed of the progress of this project noting that the next stage of the project is to undertake the health risk assessment to identify priorities in drinking water management.

NHMRC/enHealth Council joint project on Toxicity Assessment for Carcinogenic Soil Contaminants

Members noted that the Committee is in the process of being established.

Proposal for Setting an Australian Tolerable Intake for Dioxins

Members noted the draft NHMRC report on Dioxins: Proposal for Setting an Australian Tolerable Monthly Intake.

It was reported that release of this document has caused some concern in NSW, being referred to in a Parliamentary Inquiry. It was explained that by setting a Tolerable Intake for the population, this becomes an accepted level for remediation of contaminated sites.

The enHealth Council agreed to prepare a response to the NHMRC public consultation process that notes general concerns and informs the NHMRC that individual jurisdictions will also be making submissions.

Other Business

Report on AIEH Journal

Members noted that Volume 4 of the Environmental Health Journal is now available.

Report on Clinical Waste

Members were informed of a consultant's report prepared within Environment Australia on the 'Management of Clinical Waste". The report is currently being redrafted for consideration by the NEPC Executives.

CRC on Contamination Assessment and Remediation

Members considered the issue of Health sector involvement in a proposed CRC on Contamination Assessment and Remediation. Members noted that this matter is being considered within individual jurisdictions.

Directions for enHealth Council

Members were informed of changes within the Australian Department of Health and Ageing. The Strategic Planning Session for future directions for enHealth Council will now be progressed with members out-of-session.

Legionella – Health Warning Labels on Potting Mixes

Members agreed that this issue is referred to Directors of Environmental Health to consider whether this issue needs further consideration/action.

Next Meeting

The next meeting of enHealth Council will be held on Tuesday 11th and Wednesday 12th June 2002. Location to be advised.