Mapping the Evidence of Climate and Health Research in Australia

This project involves undertaking a review of the emerging field of climate and health research in Australia, mapping the current body of knowledge, and identifying key areas of research need.

Summary

Globally, climate change is predicted to be the most significant health issue of this century with Australia having a unique vulnerability amongst OECD nations. Climate change contributes to increased mortality from extreme weather events, the spread of infectious diseases, food and water shortages in some areas, and increases in allergens and air pollutants that cause respiratory illness. There is a growing body of research regarding the climate change impacts in Australia and globally, however there has been no systematic review of the academic literature on health impacts of climate change in Australia.

Aims and Activities

The aims of this project are to:

  1. Systematically review the research evidence to date regarding the climate impacts on health in Australia and New Zealand.
  2. Identify knowledge and research gaps in this area.
  3. Map the expertise, interest and any funding sources of University of Melbourne academics and key external stakeholders working in this area.
  4. Identify synergies for potential future directions in this area.

Project Team

  • Michelle Williamson, Research Fellow, Centre for Mental Health, School of Population and Global Mental Health
  • Dr Melissa Russell, Senior Lecturer in Epidemiology, Master of Public Health Course Coordinator, School of Population and Global Health/Centre of Epidemiology and Biostatistics
  • Professor Mark Stevenson, Professor of Urban Transport and Public Health, Melbourne School of Design
  • Dr Ken Winkel, Senior Research Fellow, Our Planet Our Health Breadth Subject Co-coordinator, Population Health MD teaching Coordinator, School of Population and Global Health/Centre for Health Policy
  • Dr Suzanne Mavoa, Senior Research Fellow, NHMRC Early Career Research Fellow, Master of Environment Health Stream Coordinator, Centre for Health Equity, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health
  • Dr Patricia Campbell, Research Fellow, Host Pathogens Interactions, Epidemiology, Indigenous Health, Public Health Unit, Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity
  • Dr Melanie Lowe, Lecturer in Public Health, School of Behavioural and Health Sciences, Australian Catholic University
  • Dr Celia McMichael, Senior Lecturer, School of Geography, Faculty of Science
  • Dr Lennart Reifels, Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Mental Health, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health
  • Prof John Wiseman, Professorial Research Fellow, Melbourne Sustainable Society Institute; Adjunct Professor, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health
  • Annabelle Workman, PhD candidate, Australian-German Climate and Energy College and School of Earth Sciences