Sustainable Health Network (SHN)

The SHN is a trusted leader in generating knowledge and translating evidence to real world solutions with a multi-disciplinary, co-designed and systems approach to sustainable health. We have expertise in three focus areas.

• addressing the health impacts of environmental change and unsustainable living, by focusing on priority populations/settings and prevention
• creating and promoting more environmentally sustainable and less wasteful healthcare systems
• promoting healthy and sustainable food systems.

The network brings together educators, researchers, community stakeholders and industry leaders to address sustainable health challenges, including climate change, environmental degradation and unsustainable living. At the heart of everything we do is a focus on finding new and improved ways to promote human health while not harming the environment.

The SHN is overseen by the Executive Dean – Health, Alfred Deakin Professor Rachel Huxley, and guided by the SHN Advisory Group and SHN student leaders.

We deliver research, education, workforce capacity and strategic partnerships for sustainable health around three priority areas.

Health impacts of environmental change and unsustainable living

Human health and wellbeing is inextricably linked to the health of the natural environment. Climate change, environmental degradation and unsustainable living are causing a range of physical and mental health impacts that require evidence-based, systems thinking and co-designed interventions. This focus area explores these physical and mental health impacts at individual, organisational, community and population scales. Our initiatives aim to protect and promote human health, especially among priority populations, as well as health of the natural environment in an era of rapid environmental change.

• Theme co-leaders: Dr Claire Henderson-Wilson and Dr Shannon Sahlqvist
• Related links: Health, Nature and Sustainability Research Group and IPAN
• Our partners: Hobsons Bay Wetland Centre and Trivector

Sustainable and less wasteful healthcare systems

Australia’s health system is responsible for approximately 7% of national greenhouse gas emissions. Our sustainable healthcare initiatives focus on responsible consumption, production and efficient allocation of resources in the health sector. We offer education and research on the future of environmentally sustainable healthcare, particularly the economic and financing impacts of climate change on health care systems.

• Theme leader: Dr Mike Forrester
• Related links: Sustainability, Environmental Change and Health, Institute for Health Transformation

Healthy and sustainable food systems

Ecological disruption poses a threat to future food supplies and food and nutrition security. While dietary behaviours pose a threat to the sustainability of food systems. As a result, global, national and local food systems and dietary behaviours will need to transform. Our researchers and educators are generating evidence and capabilities to promote healthy, equitable and sustainable diets and food systems. Our work forms part of an international and national effort to synthesise and translate evidence into policy activities for healthy and sustainable diets and food systems.

• Theme leader: Professor Mark Lawrence
• Related links: Enabling a sustainable world, Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition
• Partner: Future Food

Asthma—The canary in the Australian coalmine: Making the links between climate change, fossil fuel and public health outcomes

A recent paper by members of the SHN highlights current evidence on the relationships between climate change, air pollution, fossil fuel use and their impacts on public health, using asthma as a case study.

Download the article (PDF, 295.8KB)