Annual progress reports

Annual Progress Reports of Funded Research

Healthy Environments And Lives (HEAL) - National Research Network on Human Health and Environmental Change (2008937)

• Professor Sotiris Vardoulakis (Chief Investigator A)
• University of Canberra
• Budget: $10,000,000.00
• Funding period: 2021 to 2027

Project Synopsis

HEAL aims to transform the human health and environmental change research landscape in Australia by establishing a highly innovative, inter-disciplinary, geographically distributed, dynamic and equitable network of researchers and research end-users from across Australia. It will strengthen research capacity and capability in order to generate and communicate the evidence urgently needed to protect the health of the Australian community from environmental and climate change, and to build a resilient and responsive health system. It will assess the complex and reciprocal interactions between the environment, climate change and human health, and co-design and evaluate innovative adaptation and mitigation solutions across populations and sectors of the Australian economy.

HEAL's specific objectives are to:

• Enhance capacity and capability through inter-disciplinary collaboration, training, and sustained interaction between researchers and stakeholders, with a focus on strengthening Indigenous research capacity and capability
• Characterise the complex interactions between the primary, secondary and tertiary health effects of the environment and climate change
• Quantify the current and future environmental burden of disease under a range of climate, environmental and socio-economic scenarios, at high spatiotemporal resolution
• Evaluate policy options, for example, accelerated adaptation and mitigation action vs. delayed action or inaction, on health-related costs and benefits and health equity
• Monitor the health sector’s carbon footprint and the efficacy of interventions to reduce emissions and waste, and improve its resilience to environmental change over time
• Improve data linkages for the early detection and rapid response to future environmental health risks and related diseases
• Use knowledge brokering and innovative research translation and communication methods to raise awareness, debunk myths, promote action and avert polarisation in public debate.

Progress report as of 30 April 2024

The HEAL Network initiated priority research projects across 10 themes. Eight new projects were competitively selected for funding through the HEAL Innovation Fund.

Over 36 publications, 3 new videos, and multiple news stories, book chapters and presentations were produced in the second year of the Network.

The Network expanded to include over 50 new affiliate members and generated approximately $13.2 million of research revenue.

HEAL responded to consultations on the National Health and Climate Strategy and National Adaptation Plan. It provided expertise to the National Health, Sustainability and Climate Unit in support of the National Health and Climate Strategy, and to CSIRO on the National Climate Risk Assessment (Phase 1).

HEAL organised a successful annual conference on Collective Action for Health, Environment and Climate (nearly 1000 registrations), and had a strong presence at the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28).

Key evidence gaps and research priorities were identified through the development of the HEAL Roadmap 2024-2026.

Publications, conference abstracts and other resources

Peer-reviewed scientific journal publications

Bailie J, Reed K, Matthews V, Scott KM, Ahern C, Bailie R. Volunteering as prosocial behaviour by medical students following a flooding disaster and impacts on their mental health: A mixed-methods study. Med Educ. 2023;1‐13.  

Bailie R. Climate-Related Natural Disasters: Reflections on an Agenda for Rural Health Research. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2023; 20(8):5553.

Bansal A., Cherbuin N., Davis D.L., Peek M.J., Wingett A., Christensen B.K., Carlisle H., Broom M., Schoenaker D.A.J.M., Dahlstrom J.E., Phillips C.B., Vardoulakis S., Nanan R., Nolan C.J., 2023. Heatwaves and wildfires suffocate our healthy start to life: time to assess impact and take action. Lancet PH 7(8), E718-E725.

Beggs PJ, Trueck S, Linnenluecke MK, Bambrick H, Capon AG, Hanigan IC, Arriagada NB, Cross TJ, Friel S, Green D, Heenan M, Jay O, Kennard H, Malik A, McMichael C, Stevenson M, Vardoulakis S, Dang TN, Garvey G, Lovett R, Matthews V, Phung D, Woodward AJ, Romanello MB, Zhang Y., 2024. The 2023 report of the MJA-Lancet Countdown on health and climate change: sustainability needed in Australia’s healthcare sector. Medical Journal of Australia 220(6):282-303.  

Bhatta M, Field E, Cass M, Zander K, Guthridge S, Brearley M, Hines S, Pereira G, Nur D, Chang A, Sing G, Trueck S, Truong C, Wakerman J and Mathew S. Examining the Heat Health Burden in Australia: A Rapid Review. 2023, Climate 11(12):246.

Bolan S, Hou D, Wang L, Hale L, Egamberdieva D, Tammeorg P, Li R, Wang B, Xu J, Wang T, Sun H, Padhye LP, Wang H, Siddique KHM, Rinklebe J, Kirkham MB, Bolan N, 2023. The potential of biochar as a microbial carrier for agricultural and environmental applications. Science of the Total Environment 886, 163968.  

Bolan S, Kempton L, McCarthy T, Wijesekara H, Piyathilake U, Jasemizad T, Padhye LP, Zhang T, Rinklebe J, Wang H, Kirkham MB, Siddique KHM, Bolan N, 2023. Sustainable management of hazardous asbestos-containing materials: Containment, stabilization and inertization. Science of The Total Environment 881, 163456.  

Bolan S, Padhye LP, Jasemizad T, Govarthanan M, Karmegam N, Wijesekara H, Amarasiri D, Hou D, Zhou P, Biswal BK, Balasubramanian R, Wang H, Siddique KHM, Rinklebe J, Kirkham MB, Bolan N, 2024. Impacts of climate change on the fate of contaminants through extreme weather events. Science of the Total Environment 909, 168388.

Bolan S, Padhye LP, Kumar M, Antoniadis V, Sridharan S, Tang Y, Singh N, Hewawasam C, Vithanage M, Singh L, Rinklebe J, Song H, Siddique KHM, Kirkham MB, Wang H, Bolan N., 2023. Review on distribution, fate, and management of potentially toxic elements in incinerated medical wastes. Environ Pollution 321:121080.  

Bolan S, Sharma S, Mukherjee S, Kumar M, Rao CS, Nataraj KC, Singh G, Vinu A, Bhowmik A, Sharma H, El-Naggar A, Chang SX, Hou D, Rinklebe J, Wang H, Siddique KHM, Abbott LK, Kirkham MB, Bolan N, 2024. Biochar modulating soil biological health: A review. Science of the Total Environment 914, 169585.  

Bolan S, Sharma S, Mukherjee S, Zhou P, Mandal J, Srivastava P, Hou D, Edussuriya R, Vithanage M, Truong VK, Chapman J, Xu Q, Zhang T, Bandara P, Wijesekara H, Rinklebe J, Wang H, Siddique KHM, Kirkham MB, Bolan N, 2024. The distribution, fate, and environmental impacts of food additive nanomaterials in soil and aquatic ecosystems. The Science of The Total Environment 916, 170013.  

Borchers Arriagada N, Vander Hoorn S, Cope M, Morgan G, Hanigan I, Williamson G, Johnston F, 2024. The mortality burden attributable to wood heater smoke particulate matter (PM2.5) in Australia. Science of the Total Environment 921, 171069.  

Chaston T, Knibbs L, Morgan G, Jalaludin B, Broome R, Dennekamp M, Johnston F, Vardoulakis S. Air pollution mortality benefits of sustained COVID-19 mobility restrictions in Australian cities. Public Heath 2024;226: 152-256. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2023.10.050  

Cherbuin N., Bansal A., Dahlstrom J.E., Carlisle H., Broom M., Nanan R., Sutherland S., Vardoulakis S., Phillips C., Peek M.J., Christensen B.K., Davis D., Nolan C.J., 2024. Bushfires and mothers’ mental health in pregnancy and recent post-partum. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 21(1), 7.

Dong J., Goodman N., Rajagopalan P., 2023. A review of artificial neural network models applied to predict indoor air quality in schools. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 20(15), 6441.  

Haque S, Mengersen K, Barr I, Wang L, Yang W, Vardoulakis S, Bambrick H, Hu W, 2024. Towards development of functional climate-driven early warning systems for climate-sensitive infectious disease: Statistical models and recommendations. Environmental Research 249, 118568.

Hertzog L, Morgan G, Yuen C, Gopi K, Pereira G, Johnston F, Cope M, Chaston T, Vyas A, Vardoulakis S, Hanigan I, 2024. Mortality burden attributable to exceptional PM2.5 air pollution events in Australian cities: A health impact assessment. Heliyon 10(2), e24532  

Jegasothy E, Hanigan IC, Van Buskirk J, Morgan GG, Jalaludin B, Johnston FH, Guo Y, Broome RA, 2023. Acute health effects of bushfire smoke on mortality in Sydney, Australia. Environment International 171, 107684. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2022.107684

Jones A., Walker I, 2023. Place attachment, identity threat, and wellbeing in bushfire-affected areas. Wellbeing, Space and Society 5, 100179.  

Lee GW, Van Buskirk J, Jegasothy E, Knibbs LD, Cowie C, Morgan GG. 2023. Cleaner air for vulnerable people – finding better locations for essential building premises. City and Environment Interactions 20, 100116.

Lee GW, Vine K, Atkinson AR, Tong M, Longman J, Barratt A, Bailie R, Vardoulakis S, Matthews V, Rahman KM, 2023. Impacts of climate change on health and health services in Northern New South Wales, Australia: A rapid review. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 20, 6285.

Leviston Z, Stanley SK, Rodney RM, Walker I, Reynolds J, Christensen B, Monaghan C, Calear AL, Lal A, Lane J, Vardoulakis S, 2023. Solastalgia mediates between bushfire impact and mental health outcomes: A study of Australia's 2019–2020 bushfire season. Journal of Environmental Psychology 90, 102071.

Li A, Toll M, Bentley R, 2023. Mapping social vulnerability indicators to understand the health impacts of climate change: a scoping review. The Lancet Planetary Health 2023; 7(11): e925-e37.

Lyne K, Williams C, Vardoulakis S, Matthews V, Farrant B, Butt A, Walker I, Chu C, Dennekamp M, Espinoza Oyarce DA, Ivers R, Jalaludin B, Jones PJ, Martin K, Rychetnik L, 2023. A Research translation, implementation and impact strategy for the Australian Healthy Environments and Lives (HEAL) Research Network. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 20(14), 6383.

Matthews V, Vine K, Atkinson AR, Longman J, Lee GW, Vardoulakis S, Mohamed J. 2023. Justice, culture, and relationships: Australian Indigenous prescription for planetary health. Science 381(6658):636-641.

McClymont H, Bambrick H, Si X, Vardoulakis S, Hu W. 2022. Future perspectives of emerging infectious diseases control: A One Health approach. One Health 14:100371.

Meadows J, Mansour A, Gatto M, Li A, Howard A, Bentley R. Mental illness and increased vulnerability to negative health effects from extreme heat events: a systematic review. Psychiatry research 2023: 115678.

Robinson DL, Goodman N, Vardoulakis S, 2023. Five years of accurate PM2.5 measurements demonstrate the value of low-cost monitors for population exposure and health impacts estimates. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 20(23), 7127.

Somboonsin P, Vardoulakis S, Canudas-Romo V, 2023. A comparative study of life-years lost attributable to air particulate matter in Asia-Pacific and European countries. Chemosphere 338, 139420.

Vardoulakis S, Johnston FH, Goodman N, Morgan GG, Robinson D, 2024. Wood heater smoke and mortality in the Australian Capital Territory: a rapid health impact assessment. Medical Journal of Australia 220(1), 29-34.

Watson TPG, Tong M, Bailie J, Ekanayake K, Bailie RS, 2024. Relationship between climate change and skin cancer and implications for prevention and management: a scoping review. Public Health 227, 243-249.

Weeda LJZ, Bradshaw CJA, Judge MA, Saraswati CM, Le Souëf PN. 2024. How climate change degrades child health: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Sci Total Environ 920:170944.

Woodward A, Hinwood A, Bennett D, Grear B, Vardoulakis S, Lalchandani N, Lyne K, Williams C, 2023. Trees, climate change, and health: an urban planning, greening and implementation perspective. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 20(18), 6798.

Wyrwoll CS, 2023. The heat is on: how does heat exposure cause pregnancy complications? J Endocrinol. 259(1):e230030.

Xu R, Yu P, Liu Y, Chen G, Yang Z, Zhang Y, Wu Y, Beggs P, Zhang Y, Boocock J, Ji F, Hanigan I, Jay O, Bi P, Vargas N, Leder K, Green D, Quail K, Huxley R, Jalaludin B, Hu W, Dennekamp M, Vardoulakis S, Bone A, Abrahams J, Johnston F, Broome R, Capon T, Li S, Guo Y, 2023. Climate change, environmental extremes, and human health in Australia: challenges, adaptation strategies, and policy gaps. The Lancet Regional Health - Western Pacific 40, 100936.

Yang J, McClymont H, Wang L, Vardoulakis S, Hu W. Epidemic features of COVID-19 and potential impact of hospital strain during the omicron wave - Australia, 2022. China CDC Wkly. 2023 Feb 17;5(7):165-169

Zhou Y, He G, Bhagwat G, Palanisami T, Yang Y, Liu W, Zhang Q. 2023. Nanoplastics alter ecosystem multifunctionality and may increase global warming potential. Global Change Biology 29(14):3895-3909

Conference abstracts

The HEAL Network held its annual conference titled 'Collective Action for Health, Environment and Climate' on 14-16 November 2023. This hybrid three-day event comprised plenary and breakout sessions, presentations and posters from all HEAL Research Themes and Communities of Practice.

Other conference presentations

Capon T, Matthews V, Armstrong F, Plenary Session: Preventing health impacts from climate change, PHAA Preventive Health Conference, Building prevention success stories, Darwin 30 Apr-3 May 2024.

Chaston T., Knibbs L., Morgan G., Jalaludin B., Broome R., Dennekamp M., Johnston F.H., Vardoulakis S., 2023. Air pollution mortality benefits of sustained COVID-19 mobility restrictions in Australian cities. 35th International Society for Environmental Epidemiology Annual Conference, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, 17-21 September 2023.

Goodman N., Morgan G., Cowie C., Tovey A., Runcie P., Paolini R., Vardoulakis S., 2023. Supporting local government in the use of low-cost sensors for urban air quality management. 11th International Conference on Urban Climate, Sydney 28 Aug - 1 Sept 2023.

Matthews V, Climate change and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health: new guidance for primary care professionals to think, discuss and act on the climate crisis for health of patients and the planet. Lowitja Institute 3rd International Health and Wellbeing Conference, Cairns, 14-16 June, 2023.

Matthews V, Nona F, Telford A, Billy D, Frank J, Frank N. Panel session: Climate and Health. Lowitja Institute 3rd International Health and Wellbeing Conference, Cairns, 14-16 June, 2023.

Mohammed J, Matthews V, 2024. Panel session: Making Australia more resilient to the climate crisis by prioritising cultural knowledge and understanding. Aboriginal Health & Medical Research Council of New South Wales (AH&MRC) Indigenous Health Summit, Sydney, 4-6 March, 2024.

Vardoulakis S. 2023. Participatory Co-Design of the HEAL Network on Human Health and Environmental Change. 3rd Ecosystem Change and Population Health Symposium, QUT, Brisbane, 20-21 June 2023.  

Vardoulakis S., 2023. Climate change, biomass smoke and air pollution: Implications for Global Public Health. 8th International Indian Conference on Air Quality Management, Bengaluru, India, 6-8 December 2023.  

Vardoulakis S., Feng X., Bentley R., Matthews V., Hart M., Paolini R., Goodman N., Mathew S., Tong M., Gunn L. Willand N., Ford L., Rajagopalan P., Nelson J., Bai X., Santamouris M., 2023. HEAL Network: Strengthening health resilience to climate change in urban areas. 11th International Conference on Urban Climate, Sydney 28 Aug - 1 Sept 2023.  

Vardoulakis S., Matthews V., Ford L.P., Farrant B., Johnston F., Cass A., Williams C., Bentley R., Chu C., 2023. HEAL Investigators. Research Priority Setting for Public Health and Environmental Change – HEAL Network. Australian Public Health Conference, Hobart 26-28 September 2023.  

Vardoulakis S., Nagendra S., Ford L.P., Matthews V., Mathew S., Joyce C., Vasudevan K., Zander K., Joshy A., Mitra S., Indu G., Shekar S., Sharma P., Mukherjee B., Borah P., Chawla P., Vine K., 2023. Clean Energy for Healthy Environments and Lives (CE4HEAL): rural and remote community leadership in clean energy solutions for Central Australia and South India. 35th International Society for Environmental Epidemiology Annual Conference, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, 17-21 September 2023.

Book chapters

Nolan C, Bansal A, Davis D, Sutherland S, Wyrwoll C and Vardoulakis S., 2023. Climate Crises and the impacts on our future generations. Inspire Magazine Issue 9 pp58-59.

Vardoulakis S., Bambrick H., 2023. An Integrated Approach to Health and Wellbeing in Response to Climate Change. In: Toward an Integrated Science of Wellbeing. Edited by E. Rieger, R. Costanza, I. Kubiszewski, and P. Dugdale. Oxford University Press.

Vardoulakis S., Walker I., Aitken S., 2023. The fires this time: Health impacts. In P. Christoff (Ed.), The fires this time. Melbourne: Melbourne University Press.

Public consultations

The HEAL Network responded to the following national consultations:  

• National Health and Climate Strategy consultation of the Australian Department of Health (2023)
• National Adaptation Plan (issues paper) consultation of the Australian Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (2024).

COP28 Prospectus of Climate Change and Health Solutions

Healthy Environments and Lives (HEAL): Australia’s first nationally funded research network at the nexus of climate and health. Case Study 5.

Non-academic publications

Wilya Janta Collaborative. Homes celebrating culture and Country: decolonizing remote community housing for healthy homes and families in a changing climate. Health Advocate. Issue 74 February 2024. Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association. https://ahha.asn.au/system/files/docs/publications/the_health_advocate_-_february_2024.pdf 

Danger of poor housing in remote communities. 360info. https://360info.org/danger-of-poor-housing-in-remote-communities/ 

Datasets

Hanigan I, Yuen C, Gopi K, Borchers-Arriagada N, van Buskirk J, Morgan G, 2023. Bushfire specific PM2.5 output from v1.3 based on satellite and other land use and other predictors for Australia 2000-2021 produced for the CAR Bushfire Smoke Exposures project. CAR. (Dataset). https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/WQK4T

Videos

The HEAL Network: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUn6f6HXBn4

Trees Climate and Health: Trees https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5Na-catgLM

Phasing out wood heaters to pave the way to cleaner air: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTrWL9GrBvA