Strengthening the front-line health protection and environmental management workforce in Tasmania: a workforce development strategic plan for Environmental Health Officers

Environmental Health Officers (EHOs) are the front-line workforce of the health protection and environmental management system, particularly at a local community level. This system (and its workforce) manage risks to public health associated with modifiable environmental risk factors such as air, water and soil pollution, chemical exposure, environmental degradation, climate change and radiation. Despite being one of the most essential professions for protecting human health, the environmental health profession is under-recognised, overlooked and misunderstood. This is particularly the...  [+] Show more

Environmental Health Officers (EHOs) are the front-line workforce of the health protection and environmental management system, particularly at a local community level. This system (and its workforce) manage risks to public health associated with modifiable environmental risk factors such as air, water and soil pollution, chemical exposure, environmental degradation, climate change and radiation. Despite being one of the most essential professions for protecting human health, the environmental health profession is under-recognised, overlooked and misunderstood. This is particularly the case in Tasmania, a small State population with limited health system capacity and with a significant economic reliance on the tourist economy, which is particularly exposed to risk associated with environmental health and environmental management hazards. This strategic report serves to provide directions for improving areas related to: workforce management, planning and monitoring, whilst addressing recruitment and retention.

Edited excerpts from publication.