Environmental Health Australia Ltd.

04/11/2026

🐦 Wildlife Health Matters: One Health in Action
Our health is connected to the health of animals and the environments we share.

Recent bird flu detections in an elephant seal and a kelp gull on Macquarie Island highlight why wildlife surveillance and responsible reporting are important.

Australian authorities report that the risk to human health remains low, with no detections in Australia's poultry or agricultural production systems reported in the latest update.

🛑 What should you do if you find sick or dead wildlife?
🔹 Don't touch or approach the animal.
🔹 Take a photo and note the location if you can do so safely.
🔹 Report the sighting to the relevant authorities.

Environmental health, wildlife health and biosecurity all contribute to a One Health approach — recognising that protecting animals and ecosystems also helps protect people.

👉 Read the latest Australian Government update: https://www.agriculture.gov.au/about/news/H5-bird-flu-updates

Attributable to Australian Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr Beth Cookson:Testing at CSIRO’s Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP) has confirmed H5 high pathogenicity avian influenza (bird flu) in samples collected from an elephant seal and a kelp gull on Macquarie Island, marking the first...

02/11/2026

🤢 EH Explained | What is Foodborne Illness? 🍽️
With Food Safety Week coming up next week, it's the perfect time to look at one of the biggest risks to our health: foodborne illness!

Foodborne illness occurs when we consume food contaminated with harmful bacteria, viruses, parasites or toxins. Symptoms can include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach cramps and fever.

🦠 How does food become contaminated?
🔹 Undercooked meat, poultry or seafood
🔹 Poor hand hygiene
🔹 Cross-contamination between raw and ready-to-eat foods
🔹 Incorrect food storage or temperatures

🛡️ How can we reduce the risk?
✅ Wash hands before handling food
✅ Keep raw and ready-to-eat foods separate
✅ Cook food thoroughly
✅ Store food at safe temperatures

🌏 Where does environmental health fit in?

Environmental Health Officers help protect communities by inspecting food businesses, educating food handlers, investigating food safety concerns and supporting compliance with food safety standards.

As we head into Food Safety Week, it's a great reminder that safe food practices help prevent illness and protect public health — every day!

31/10/2026

🎃👻 A Frightfully Healthy Halloween! 🦇
Halloween is all about spooky surprises — but when it comes to environmental health, there are a few things we don't want lurking in the shadows! 🕷️

Keep your Halloween fun safe with these not-so-scary environmental health tips:
🍬 Treats, not tummy troubles: Check packaged treats are sealed and look out for undeclared allergens.
🧼 Clean hands, happy monsters: Wash hands before handling food and after trick-or-treating.
🎃 Don't let mould haunt your home: Keep carved pumpkins in a cool spot and dispose of them when they start to decay.
🦟 No room for creepy crawlies: Empty standing water around your home to help prevent mosquitoes from breeding.
🕯️ Keep the spooky atmosphere safe: Use candles carefully, keep them away from decorations and never leave flames unattended.

Environmental health helps protect us from hazards in our everyday surroundings — even when things get a little spooky!

Have a safe, happy and frightfully healthy Halloween! 🧡🖤

30/10/2026

⛏️ Mining, Lead and Community Health: Understanding Environmental Risk
How do we balance resource development with protecting the health of nearby communities?

A recent ABC report examined community concerns about a proposed silver and lead mine in central-western New South Wales, with residents raising questions about potential lead exposure and its impacts.

Lead is a recognised environmental health hazard. Depending on the level and duration of exposure, it can cause serious harm — particularly to children.

Assessing potential exposure pathways, monitoring environmental conditions and communicating risks clearly are important parts of protecting public health.

🔎 Environmental health professionals help investigate environmental hazards and support evidence-informed decisions that protect communities.

👉 Read the ABC News report: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-10-17/ipc-hearing-on-bowdens-silver-mine-concludes/107274218

Dozens of residents have voiced their opposition to a proposed silver and lead mine in the NSW central west, but the proponents say it will help the region's economy.

28/10/2026

🦭 Bird Flu in Wildlife: Why One Health Matters
Avian influenza isn't just a concern for birds. Its impacts can extend to other wildlife, ecosystems and the people working to monitor and manage outbreaks.

The ABC recently reported detections of bird flu in samples from a southern elephant seal and a kelp gull on Macquarie Island.

This highlights the importance of monitoring disease across wildlife populations and understanding how animal, human and environmental health intersect.

🌏 One Health recognises that these connections matter. Collaboration between wildlife experts, veterinarians, biosecurity authorities and public health professionals helps strengthen our ability to detect and respond to emerging health threats.

👉 Read the ABC News report: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-10-15/bird-flu-macquarie-island-southern-elephant-seal-kelp-gull/107271424

Bird flu has been detected in samples taken from a southern elephant seal and a kelp gull on Macquarie Island, where expeditioners have recently been evacuated due to risks associated with a potential outbreak.

27/10/2026

📢 From the New EHA (QLD) Inc. President!
Dear Members, Colleagues and Partners,

It is a profound honour to serve as President of Environmental Health Australia (Queensland) Inc. My sincere thanks to outgoing President James Williams and our dedicated Board for their outstanding service.

Environmental health practitioners are the unseen backbone of Queensland’s public health and safety — protecting our air, water, food, communities and environments every day.

Since 2008, EHA (QLD) Inc. has served our profession with excellence. In our 90th year advocating for the profession, we are building strong governance and a clear, progressive agenda to elevate our vital work.

We will advocate strongly on the issues that matter most — ensuring our communities can trust that skilled professionals are working across government and industry to protect public health, safety and environmental sustainability.

I look forward to working alongside you all. Together, let’s build a safer, healthier Queensland.

For our QLD members we are having our Annual AGM at 5:00pm on Friday, 30 October 2026. For more details contact [email protected]

Warm regards,
Christopher Vakas
President - Environmental Health Australia (Queensland) Inc.

26/10/2026

🦠 EH EXPLAINED: What is Legionella?
Have you heard of Legionella? 👀

Legionella is a type of bacteria that can live in natural water sources and human-made water systems. Under the right conditions, it can multiply in places such as cooling towers, hot water systems, showers and spa pools.

When contaminated water produces tiny droplets or mist that people breathe in, it can cause Legionnaires’ disease — a serious form of pneumonia.

💧 So, where does environmental health come in?

Environmental Health Officers (EHOs) play an important role in preventing Legionella risks by supporting the safe management of water systems, conducting inspections and helping ensure appropriate control measures are in place.

From building maintenance to public health protection, managing water quality is an important part of keeping our communities safe!

💬 Had you heard of Legionella before? Let us know in the comments!

23/10/2026

🌊 When Water Quality Affects Our Food Supply
Harmful algal blooms can have consequences far beyond the water itself — affecting marine ecosystems, seafood production and the livelihoods of coastal communities.

A recent ABC report looks at the ongoing recovery of South Australian oyster growers following last year's harmful algal bloom, with some producers still facing challenges and uncertainty ahead of summer.

It’s a timely reminder of how closely environmental health, food systems and community wellbeing are connected.

Monitoring water quality and understanding environmental hazards are essential to protecting ecosystems and supporting safe, sustainable food production. 🦪

👉 Read the ABC News report: https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2026-10-19/oyster-farms-recover-after-south-australian-algal-bloom/107256954

South Australian oyster growers are reporting recovery after last year's harmful algal bloom is moving at different speeds along the coastline with challenges including a decrease stock and increase in barnacles.

22/10/2026

🎉 DAY THREE | The Final Day of the 48th EHA National Conference! 🌏
And just like that, we’ve reached the final day of the 48th EHA National Conference in Canberra!

It’s been an inspiring few days of thought-provoking discussions, knowledge sharing and connection as environmental health professionals from across Australia came together to celebrate 90 years of environmental health impact.

Today, we’ve heard from some fantastic keynote speakers, including Amy Crawford, CEO of the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA), whose contribution highlighted the important relationship between local government and the environmental health profession. With environmental health playing such a vital role in our communities, strong collaboration between our profession and local government has never been more important.

👏 We’ve also been fortunate to hear from an outstanding lineup of speakers throughout the conference, sharing their expertise, experiences and ideas to help shape the future of environmental health.

And behind every successful conference is a team working tirelessly behind the scenes! A special shout-out to Manal Yen, NSW Executive Officer, for the incredible work and dedication she has put into bringing this event together. So much effort goes into making a conference like this happen, and it deserves to be recognised. 💚

As we wrap up, thank you to our speakers, delegates, sponsors, exhibitors, volunteers and organising team for making this year's conference such a memorable celebration of our profession.

✨ Reflect. Renew. Reimagine. Here's to the next chapter of environmental health!

21/10/2026

🧪 PFAS: The Long-Term Challenge of Environmental Contamination
So-called “forever chemicals” continue to raise important questions about environmental contamination, public health and accountability.

A major Australian legal case involving PFAS contamination from firefighting foam used at military bases is now progressing through the courts, highlighting the long-term challenges and costs associated with contaminated land and water.

PFAS contamination is a reminder that environmental health risks can persist long after a hazardous substance has been used.

🌏 Environmental health professionals play an important role in identifying hazards, assessing risks and helping protect communities and the environments they depend on.

👉 Read the latest report from Reuters: https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/3m-argue-australias-14-billion-forever-chemicals-lawsuit-legally-flawed-court-2026-10-16/

US ​conglomerate 3M plans to argue a landmark case brought by Australia over contamination from the company's ‌use of PFAS "forever chemicals" in its firefighting foam is legally flawed, a court heard on Friday.