Research

Page content: Overview | Projects

Overview

The Department has undertaken a program of research projects to identify and assess the potential impacts of climate change on human health. The outcomes of this work will:

1. help to fill some of the knowledge gaps in relation to climate change and human health
2. inform the development of adaptation programs and strategies to protect vulnerable Victorians from adverse health impacts
3. inform the development of information and educational resources for individuals, communities, carers and health professionals
4. assist in engaging with a range of stakeholders such as health and community service agencies, the non-government sector and professional groups.

Projects

Reducing harm to older persons from extreme heat

The project undertook a survey of health professionals and carers of the elderly, to determine their level of knowledge regarding the risks to the elderly from extreme weather events, and their ideas about useful adaptation strategies to minimise health impacts in this group.

Reducing harm to older persons in Victoria from extreme hot weather (389kb, pdf)

A simple heat alert system for Melbourne

The heat alert system identifies a threshold for metropolitan Melbourne of 30°C (mean of daily maximum temperature and overnight minimum temperature) at which the average daily mortality of people aged 65 years or more is about 15–17% greater than usual.

Development of alert levels based on temperature threshold (441kb, pdf)

Impact Assessment

This project will identify our most vulnerable individuals and communities and develop ways to protect them.

Scoping climate change impacts on population health and vulnerabilities, April 2009 (441kb, pdf)

Scoping climate change impacts on population health and vulnerabilities, August 2009 (424kb, pdf)

Hot spots

A Geographic Information System (GIS) map of factors that increase the risk of heat-related illness in the elderly across metropolitan Melbourne.

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