Heatwaves
Page content: Overview | Victorian heatwave strategy | Contact
Overview
Climate change is expected to increase the frequency and intensity of heatwaves in Victoria. International and Australian experiences show that heatwaves are known to increase the incidence of illness and death – particularly among vulnerable community members such as the elderly, people with a pre-existing medical condition and people with a disability.
Our Environment Our Future
Human health action 3.4 of the whole-of-Victorian government policy Our Environment Our Future Sustainability Action Statement 2006 identifies the development and implementation of heatwave plans and emergency responses at a community and local government level as a priority.
Local councils were identified as the most appropriate setting for heatwave planning because they:
- are the closest level of government to communities
- have knowledge about local demographics, as well as human services in their districts
- manage a significant portion of community-based services
- have mandatory planning requirements with structured processes to support effective heatwave planning.
Victorian Heatwave Strategy
In order to help Victoria better prepare for future heatwaves, the Public Health Branch developed and implemented the Victorian Heatwave Strategy.
The aims of the strategy are to:
- raise awareness about the impact of heatwaves on illness and death
- commission research to better understand heatwaves
- assist local councils in developing and implementing heatwave plans.
The Victorian Heatwave Strategy includes:
- Heat alert system
A trial heat alert system has been developed to notify local councils and departmental staff of impending heatwaves.
The department monitors the Bureau of Meteorology website for seven-day maximum and minimum temperatures. When the ‘threshold’ is reached, a heat alert is issued.
A ‘threshold’ is when the temperature is likely to impact on the health of the community. For metropolitan Melbourne, the threshold is the daily average of 30oC. Regional thresholds are currently being developed for Victoria.
 The Importance of 'Place': Victorian Climate Change Adaptation Program (1222kb, pdf)
- Research
Research continues to be an important part of understanding heatwaves and their impact on the community. The department has funded research into:
- reducing harm to older persons from extreme heat
- a simple heat alert system for Melbourne
- hot spots.
 Determining the awareness of health professionals and carers of the health risks to the elderly from extreme hot weather (147kb, ppt)
- Pilot heatwave planning projects
In 2008, the department funded 13 pilots projects (involving 22 local councils) to undertake the process of developing and implementing a heatwave plan into existing municipal plans, such as the Municipal Public Health Plan or the Municipal Emergency Management Plan.
The projects identified:
- current heat-related policies
- practices and actions for responding to extreme heat events
- council’s capacity to respond to extreme heat events
- effective ways of communicating with their communities.
Heatwave pilot projects (203kb, pdf)
The Heatwave Planning Guide is designed to assist local councils in addressing heatwaves at a community level. The guide draws from the experiences of the 13 pilot projects and the 2009 heatwave, as well as international knowledge. The guide provides local councils with:
- information about heatwaves and municipal planning
- guidance on how to develop a heatwave plan
- examples of stakeholders and partners to consider in the planning process
- actions recommended for councils to incorporate in their heatwave plan
- advice on developing a communication strategy
Heatwave Planning Guide: Development of heatwave plans in local councils in Victoria (1,881kb, pdf)
A comprehensive list of resources to help develop heatwave plans is also available.
Comprehensive review of the scientific literature including a summary of key findings (519kb, pdf)
- Heatwave Planning Guide Forum
On 12 June 2009, the department released the Heatwave Planning Guide at the forum.
The forum presented case studies from 4 of the 13 pilot projects, introduced the latest version of the Heatwave Planning Guide and gave local councils an afternoon to workshop some of the issues they may face in developing heatwave plans.
Approximately 120 people attended the forum representing a diversity of stakeholders from:
- local, state and Commonwealth governments
- emergency services
- primary care partnerships
- community health services
- greenhouse alliances
- non-government organizations
- academia
- consultancies
Heatwave planning guide forum (323kb, pdf)
- Heatwave Planning Seminar for Local Councils
On 18 September 2009, the department invited all Victorian government councils to attend a seminar on heatwave planning.
Speaker presentations from the seminar are available below:
Chief Health Officer's Heatwave Report 2009
The report by the Office of the Chief Health Officer concluded that there were 374 additional deaths during the January 2009 heatwave.
During this time, Victoria experienced an unprecedented statewide heatwave, with Melbourne experiencing three consecutive days of temperatures above 43oC and little overnight relief.
Heatwave newsletter
A heatwave newsletter 'Heatwave' is being produced regularly to provide ongoing communication about the pilot projects, guide, alert system and related initiatives.
Subscribe to the Heatwave newsletter
Forums / Workshops
The Public Health Branch hosts forums dedicated to heatwaves and climate change.
Heatwaves: Causes, consequences and responses – Professor Glenn McGregor
Professor Glenn McGregor from the University of Auckland Physical Geography and Climatology Department presented Heatwaves: Causes, Consequences and Responses.
Heatwaves: Causes, consequences and responses (608kb, pdf)
Climate Change: How we can turn the threat into an opportunity for better health – Professor Alistair Woodward
Professor Alistair Woodward, Head of the School of Population Health, University of Auckland, presented Climate Change: How we can turn the threat into an opportunity for better health.
Climate Change: How we can turn the threat into an opportunity for better health (497kb, pdf)
National Workshop on Heatwave Planning 2009
On 30 July 2009 the Department of Human Services, on behalf of enHealth and the Commonwealth Department of Climate Change, convened a National Workshop on Heatwave Planning. The workshop facilitated discussion with jurisdictions and relevant experts to prepare and manage heatwaves. Approximately 50 representatives from the commonwealth government, state and territory health departments, stakeholder agencies and sector representatives attended.
Speaker presentations from the workshop are available below:
Health impacts of heat stress – Dr Jane Canestra (346kb, pdf)
South Australian emergency management arrangements and extreme heat planning – Brenton Keen (115kb, pdf)
The Victorian experience 2009 – Dr John Carnie (966kb, pdf)
NSW real-time emergency department syndromic surveillance – Adam Craig, Glenis Lloyd (238kb, pdf)
NextGen forecast and warning system - A digital production environment – John Nairn (722kb, pdf)
Contact
The Heatwave Project Team can be contacted on 1300 761 874.
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