Protection and enhancement of human health are recognised as priorities in Australia. The National Environmental Health Strategy highlights the basic entitlements and responsibilities required to maintain and improve the quality of health for all Australians. Those responsibilities and entitlements operate at the individual, community, business, industry and government level.
In Western Australia, an increased emphasis on sustainability has seen an integrated consideration of potential environmental, economic and social issues in activities to meet the needs of both current and future generations.
In 2003, the State Government released Hope for the future: the Western Australian State Sustainability Strategy followed by the Sustainability code of practice for government agencies and resource guide for implementation in 2004. These publications established the basis for an integrated approach in WA to consideration of environmental, social and economic factors in decision-making. The strategy seeks to enable industry, the community and government to find ‘net benefit' in these three areas.
The elements which determine health can be found in all three dimensions of sustainability. Engagement with health experts through the development of new policy and other activities within agencies which may have the potential to impact on the health and wellbeing of communities provides potential to improve the outcome of these proposals for communities.
Sustainability in the Department of Health
Environmental Health Directorate
The Environmental Health Directorate has significant involvement in sustainability assessments used to inform planning and decision-making through the control of environmental hazards and ecological health issues. Assistance is provided to proponents to take all reasonable steps to avoid, minimise or mitigate any likely adverse environmental health impacts (direct or indirect) from future development, land disposal programs or existing land uses.
EHD also participates in whole of government activities to provide for the creation of opportunities to reduce disease and disability from lifestyle choices and new environmental hazards that affect health.
The Department of Health
The Sustainability Code of Practice provides the foundation for agencies to understand sustainability and be aware of their obligations in relation to the code’s goals, which are:
- Planning, reporting and decision making are conducted in accordance with sustainability principles.
- Agency operations support sustainability.
- Public sector employees are encouraged and empowered to support sustainability.
The Department of Health Sustainability Action Plan 2005-2007 (PDF KB) (External link)provides the current and future direction of the Department’s activities in sustainability.
For further information please contact the Environmental Health Directorate on (08) 9388 4999.
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