Building adaptive capacity in the envrionmental health professional to a changing climate

Public health is missing from disaster management discussions, with most of the focus on immediate response and recovery. Understanding health risks is the dynamic interaction of hazards, exposure and vulnerability. Preventive health plays a central role in public health preparedness and is needed to help manage the risks of these factors, preventing adverse health outcomes and reducing long-term health impacts. There is a need for innovative strategies to develop the next generation of environmental health workforce to reduce disaster risks and complement disaster response.

This research will enhance understanding of how the environmental health profession can build adaptive capacity to climate change and its related health impacts by fostering community resilience.

This will be accomplished by examining the current attitudes and perceptions of Australian environmental health professionals regarding their involvement in climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction. Additionally, it will explore the role of preventive environmental health in enhancing the adaptive capacity of Australian communities.