We're changing the way Sapphire looks
Same platform, new visual identity. Learn more: Sapphire is becoming NHMRC Grant Management System.
We're changing the way Sapphire looks
Same platform, new visual identity. Learn more: Sapphire is becoming NHMRC Grant Management System.
HEAL aims to transform the human health and environmental change research landscape in Australia by establishing a highly innovative, inter-disciplinary, geographically distributed, dynamic and equitable network of researchers and research end-users from across Australia. It will strengthen research capacity and capability in order to generate and communicate the evidence urgently needed to protect the health of the Australian community from environmental and climate change, and to build a resilient and responsive health system. It will assess the complex and reciprocal interactions between the environment, climate change and human health, and co-design and evaluate innovative adaptation and mitigation solutions across populations and sectors of the Australian economy.
HEAL's specific objectives are to:
HEAL has delivered research and national impact by translating climate-health research into policy, practice, and community outcomes. Its work informed key state and national strategies, including the National Climate Risk Assessment, National Adaptation Plan, ACT Climate Strategy, Victorian Climate Change Strategy, and a presentation to parliament on algal bloom in South Australia. HEAL drove health system practice change through use of low emissions inhalers, reusable equipment and reduced anaesthetic gases resulting in benefit–cost ratios greater (>)18. HEAL strengthened Indigenous and community leadership and built national capacity and innovation through seed funding for 11 projects, 11 professional development grants and a Future Leaders School (48 early- and mid-career researchers (EMCRs)). The network has published 183 peer reviewed papers, supported 67 EMCRs, secured $13.4 million in research income, and delivered an international hybrid conference themed 'Weaving diverse knowledges into climate action for better health' in November with 250 speakers and 908 participants from 28 countries.
The project is progressing well, with investigators engaged and momentum building through new partnerships, alongside strengthened collaborations with health practitioners, policy makers, and Indigenous communities contributing to policy dialogues, research activities, and public consultations. Key highlights include conversations with the Hon Rebecca White MP, Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care, Indigenous Health and Women, and NHMRC CEO Professor Steve Wesselingh, exploring evidence needs. The HEAL Conference transcended international boundaries by showcasing Global South research from Australia, PNG, Thailand, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, and Laos, featuring academics, civil society, industry experts, and government representatives, including the Secretary of the Ministry of Health (of the Republic of the Marshall Islands). The Future Leaders School delegates engaged in person with HEAL’s Leadership Executive, exchanging generational perspectives on the future of climate–health research in Australia.
Bailie J, Reed K, Matthews V, Scott KM, Ahern C, Bailie R. Volunteering as prosocial behaviour by medical students following a flooding disaster and impacts on their mental health: A mixed-methods study. Med Educ. 2023;1‐13.
Bailie R. Climate-Related Natural Disasters: Reflections on an Agenda for Rural Health Research. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2023; 20(8):5553.
Bansal A., Cherbuin N., Davis D.L., Peek M.J., Wingett A., Christensen B.K., Carlisle H., Broom M., Schoenaker D.A.J.M., Dahlstrom J.E., Phillips C.B., Vardoulakis S., Nanan R., Nolan C.J., 2023. Heatwaves and wildfires suffocate our healthy start to life: time to assess impact and take action. Lancet PH 7(8), E718-E725.
Beggs PJ, Trueck S, Linnenluecke MK, Bambrick H, Capon AG, Hanigan IC, Arriagada NB, Cross TJ, Friel S, Green D, Heenan M, Jay O, Kennard H, Malik A, McMichael C, Stevenson M, Vardoulakis S, Dang TN, Garvey G, Lovett R, Matthews V, Phung D, Woodward AJ, Romanello MB, Zhang Y., 2024. The 2023 report of the MJA-Lancet Countdown on health and climate change: sustainability needed in Australia’s healthcare sector. Medical Journal of Australia 220(6):282-303.
Beggs, P.J., Woodward, A.J., Trueck, S., Linnenluecke, M.K., Bambrick, H., Capon, A.G., Lokmic-Tomkins, Z., Peel, J., Bowen, K., Hanigan, I.C., Arriagada, N.B., Cross, T.J., Friel, S., Green, D., Heenan, M., Jay, O., Kennard, H., Malik, A., McMichael, C., Stevenson, M., Vardoulakis, S., Vyas, A., Romanello, M.B., Walawender, M., Zhang, Y. 2025. The 2024 report of the MJA-Lancet Countdown on health and climate change: Australia emerging as a hotspot for litigation. Medical Journal of Australia 222(6),272-296.
Bhatta M, Field E, Cass M, Zander K, Guthridge S, Brearley M, Hines S, Pereira G, Nur D, Chang A, Sing G, Trueck S, Truong C, Wakerman J and Mathew S. Examining the Heat Health Burden in Australia: A Rapid Review. 2023, Climate 11(12):246.
Bolan S, Hou D, Wang L, Hale L, Egamberdieva D, Tammeorg P, Li R, Wang B, Xu J, Wang T, Sun H, Padhye LP, Wang H, Siddique KHM, Rinklebe J, Kirkham MB, Bolan N, 2023. The potential of biochar as a microbial carrier for agricultural and environmental applications. Science of the Total Environment 886, 163968.
Bolan S, Kempton L, McCarthy T, Wijesekara H, Piyathilake U, Jasemizad T, Padhye LP, Zhang T, Rinklebe J, Wang H, Kirkham MB, Siddique KHM, Bolan N, 2023. Sustainable management of hazardous asbestos-containing materials: Containment, stabilization and inertization. Science of The Total Environment 881, 163456.
Bolan S, Padhye LP, Jasemizad T, Govarthanan M, Karmegam N, Wijesekara H, Amarasiri D, Hou D, Zhou P, Biswal BK, Balasubramanian R, Wang H, Siddique KHM, Rinklebe J, Kirkham MB, Bolan N, 2024. Impacts of climate change on the fate of contaminants through extreme weather events. Science of the Total Environment 909, 168388.
Bolan S, Padhye LP, Kumar M, Antoniadis V, Sridharan S, Tang Y, Singh N, Hewawasam C, Vithanage M, Singh L, Rinklebe J, Song H, Siddique KHM, Kirkham MB, Wang H, Bolan N., 2023. Review on distribution, fate, and management of potentially toxic elements in incinerated medical wastes. Environ Pollution 321:121080.
Bolan S, Sharma S, Mukherjee S, Kumar M, Rao CS, Nataraj KC, Singh G, Vinu A, Bhowmik A, Sharma H, El-Naggar A, Chang SX, Hou D, Rinklebe J, Wang H, Siddique KHM, Abbott LK, Kirkham MB, Bolan N, 2024. Biochar modulating soil biological health: A review. Science of the Total Environment 914, 169585.
Bolan S, Sharma S, Mukherjee S, Zhou P, Mandal J, Srivastava P, Hou D, Edussuriya R, Vithanage M, Truong VK, Chapman J, Xu Q, Zhang T, Bandara P, Wijesekara H, Rinklebe J, Wang H, Siddique KHM, Kirkham MB, Bolan N, 2024. The distribution, fate, and environmental impacts of food additive nanomaterials in soil and aquatic ecosystems. The Science of The Total Environment 916, 170013.
Borchers-Arriagada, N., Campbell, S., Goodman, N., Wheeler, Amanda J., Vardoulakis S. Johnston, F.H. 2025. Assessing the health benefits and economic costs of interventions to reduce exposure to air pollution from biomass combustion in Australia. Environmental Science and Pollution Research 32(47), 26805-26820.
Borchers Arriagada N, Vander Hoorn S, Cope M, Morgan G, Hanigan I, Williamson G, Johnston F, 2024. The mortality burden attributable to wood heater smoke particulate matter (PM2.5) in Australia. Science of the Total Environment 921, 171069.
Campbell S., Wormworth, J., Green, D., Goodman, N., Vardoulakis S., Johnston, F.H., Wheeler, A. J. 2025. Community cleaner air spaces during landscape fire events: What do we know? Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health 49(1), 100222.
Chaston, T. B., Utembe, S., Choi, J., Gopi, K., Yuen, C., Knibbs, L., Hanigan, I. C., Broome, R., Vardoulakis, S., Mavoa, S., & Morgan, G. 2025. Health benefits of traffic emissions controls in Melbourne, Australia. Environmental Research 287:123122.
Chaston T, Knibbs L, Morgan G, Jalaludin B, Broome R, Dennekamp M, Johnston F, Vardoulakis S. Air pollution mortality benefits of sustained COVID-19 mobility restrictions in Australian cities. Public Heath 2024;226: 152-256. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2023.10.050
Cherbuin N., Bansal A., Dahlstrom J.E., Carlisle H., Broom M., Nanan R., Sutherland S., Vardoulakis S., Phillips C., Peek M.J., Christensen B.K., Davis D., Nolan C.J., 2024. Bushfires and mothers’ mental health in pregnancy and recent post-partum. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 21(1), 7.
Dong J., Goodman N., Rajagopalan P., 2023. A review of artificial neural network models applied to predict indoor air quality in schools. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 20(15), 6441.
Etherington, C., Rushby, A.M., Nguyen, V., Thompson, V., Lazarevic N., Vardoulakis, S., 2025. Asthma medication usage after environmental exposure to wildfire smoke: A systematic review. Environmental Research 277, 121504.
Goodman N., Campbell, S., Tong, M., Cameron, D., Brain, M., Arriagada, N B., Wheeler, A J., Matthews, V., Saini, B., Laachir, K., Walsh, E., Johnston, F H., Vardoulakis S., 2025. Interventions for reducing exposure to air pollution from landscape fires in a changing environment: systematic review. Science of the Total Environment 966, 178621.
Haque S, Mengersen K, Barr I, Wang L, Yang W, Vardoulakis S, Bambrick H, Hu W, 2024. Towards development of functional climate-driven early warning systems for climate-sensitive infectious disease: Statistical models and recommendations. Environmental Research 249, 118568.
Hertzog L, Morgan G, Yuen C, Gopi K, Pereira G, Johnston F, Cope M, Chaston T, Vyas A, Vardoulakis S, Hanigan I, 2024. Mortality burden attributable to exceptional PM2.5 air pollution events in Australian cities: A health impact assessment. Heliyon 10(2), e24532
Jegasothy E, Hanigan IC, Van Buskirk J, Morgan GG, Jalaludin B, Johnston FH, Guo Y, Broome RA, 2023. Acute health effects of bushfire smoke on mortality in Sydney, Australia. Environment International 171, 107684. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2022.107684.
Kelty, E., Gebremedhin, A., Mengersen, K., Maloney, S. K., Le Souef, P., Kearney, M., Larcombe, A., Rhaman, A., Judge, M., Price, A., Wild, K., Vardoulakis, S., West, M., & Wyrwoll, C. 2026. The impact of heatwaves on maternal, neonatal and child health outcomes in Western Australian climate zones: A protocol paper for a retrospective cohort study. Wellcome Open Research 11, 7.
Jones A., Walker I, 2023. Place attachment, identity threat, and wellbeing in bushfire-affected areas. Wellbeing, Space and Society 5, 100179.
Laachir, K., Goodman, N., Saini, Bandana., Taibi, M., J Jones, P., Vardoulakis, S., 2025. Perceptions of air pollution and health communication for people with asthma among Australia’s Arabic-speaking communities. Health Promotion International 40(4), p.daaf113.
Lee GW, Van Buskirk J, Jegasothy E, Knibbs LD, Cowie C, Morgan GG. 2023. Cleaner air for vulnerable people – finding better locations for essential building premises. City and Environment Interactions 20, 100116.
Lee GW, Vine K, Atkinson AR, Tong M, Longman J, Barratt A, Bailie R, Vardoulakis S, Matthews V, Rahman KM, 2023. Impacts of climate change on health and health services in Northern New South Wales, Australia: A rapid review. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 20, 6285.
Leviston Z, Stanley SK, Rodney RM, Walker I, Reynolds J, Christensen B, Monaghan C, Calear AL, Lal A, Lane J, Vardoulakis S, 2023. Solastalgia mediates between bushfire impact and mental health outcomes: A study of Australia's 2019–2020 bushfire season. Journal of Environmental Psychology 90, 102071.
Li A, Toll M, Bentley R, 2023. Mapping social vulnerability indicators to understand the health impacts of climate change: a scoping review. The Lancet Planetary Health 2023; 7(11): e925-e37.
Lyne K, Williams C, Vardoulakis S, Matthews V, Farrant B, Butt A, Walker I, Chu C, Dennekamp M, Espinoza Oyarce DA, Ivers R, Jalaludin B, Jones PJ, Martin K, Rychetnik L, 2023. A Research translation, implementation and impact strategy for the Australian Healthy Environments and Lives (HEAL) Research Network. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 20(14), 6383.
Matthews V, Vine K, Atkinson AR, Longman J, Lee GW, Vardoulakis S, Mohamed J. 2023. Justice, culture, and relationships: Australian Indigenous prescription for planetary health. Science 381(6658):636-641.
McClymont H, Bambrick H, Si X, Vardoulakis S, Hu W. 2022. Future perspectives of emerging infectious diseases control: A One Health approach. One Health 14:100371.
McGushin, A., Okokon, E., Haddock, R. E., O’Brien, A. T., Turner, M. R., McGain, F., McGinley, C., Wyns, A., Vardoulakis, S., Skellern, M. 2026. Interventions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from health-system solid waste: a systematic review. Lancet Planetary Health 10(2), 101418.
Meadows J, Mansour A, Gatto M, Li A, Howard A, Bentley R. Mental illness and increased vulnerability to negative health effects from extreme heat events: a systematic review. Psychiatry research 2023: 115678.
Robinson DL, Goodman N, Vardoulakis S, 2023. Five years of accurate PM2.5 measurements demonstrate the value of low-cost monitors for population exposure and health impacts estimates. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 20(23), 7127.
Somboonsin P, Vardoulakis S, Canudas-Romo V, 2023. A comparative study of life-years lost attributable to air particulate matter in Asia-Pacific and European countries. Chemosphere 338, 139420.
Vardoulakis S, Johnston FH, Goodman N, Morgan GG, Robinson D, 2024. Wood heater smoke and mortality in the Australian Capital Territory: a rapid health impact assessment. Medical Journal of Australia 220(1), 29-34.
Vardoulakis, S, Kazda, L, Haddock, R, Barratt, A.L., McGain, F., Wangdi, K., Okokon, E., Oyarce, D.E., Indu, G., Goodman, N., Matthews, V., Spurrier, P., McGushin, A., Behrens, G., Skellern, M. 2026. Australian research on climate change and health interventions: a systematic mapping review. Medical Journal of Australia 224(3), e70165.
Watson TPG, Tong M, Bailie J, Ekanayake K, Bailie RS, 2024. Relationship between climate change and skin cancer and implications for prevention and management: a scoping review. Public Health 227, 243-249.
Weeda LJZ, Bradshaw CJA, Judge MA, Saraswati CM, Le Souëf PN. 2024. How climate change degrades child health: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Sci Total Environ 920:170944.
Woodward A, Hinwood A, Bennett D, Grear B, Vardoulakis S, Lalchandani N, Lyne K, Williams C, 2023. Trees, climate change, and health: an urban planning, greening and implementation perspective. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 20(18), 6798.
Wyrwoll CS, 2023. The heat is on: how does heat exposure cause pregnancy complications? J Endocrinol. 259(1):e230030.
Xu R, Yu P, Liu Y, Chen G, Yang Z, Zhang Y, Wu Y, Beggs P, Zhang Y, Boocock J, Ji F, Hanigan I, Jay O, Bi P, Vargas N, Leder K, Green D, Quail K, Huxley R, Jalaludin B, Hu W, Dennekamp M, Vardoulakis S, Bone A, Abrahams J, Johnston F, Broome R, Capon T, Li S, Guo Y, 2023. Climate change, environmental extremes, and human health in Australia: challenges, adaptation strategies, and policy gaps. The Lancet Regional Health - Western Pacific 40, 100936.
Yang J, McClymont H, Wang L, Vardoulakis S, Hu W. Epidemic features of COVID-19 and potential impact of hospital strain during the omicron wave - Australia, 2022. China CDC Wkly. 2023 Feb 17;5(7):165-169
Zhou Y, He G, Bhagwat G, Palanisami T, Yang Y, Liu W, Zhang Q. 2023. Nanoplastics alter ecosystem multifunctionality and may increase global warming potential. Global Change Biology 29(14):3895-3909
The HEAL Network held its annual conference titled “Weaving Diverse Knowledges into Climate Action for Better Health” on 4-6 November 2025. This hybrid three-day event comprised plenary and breakout sessions, presentations and posters from all HEAL Research Themes and Communities of Practice. https://healnetwork.au/conference-2025/
Chaston T., Knibbs L., Morgan G., Jalaludin B., Broome R., Dennekamp M., Johnston F.H., Vardoulakis S., 2023. Air pollution mortality benefits of sustained COVID-19 mobility restrictions in Australian cities. 35th International Society for Environmental Epidemiology Annual Conference, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, 17-21 September 2023.
Goodman N., Morgan G., Cowie C., Tovey A., Runcie P., Paolini R., Vardoulakis S., 2023. Supporting local government in the use of low-cost sensors for urban air quality management. 11th International Conference on Urban Climate, Sydney 28 Aug - 1 Sept 2023.
Matthews V, Climate change and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health: new guidance for primary care professionals to think, discuss and act on the climate crisis for health of patients and the planet. Lowitja Institute 3rd International Health and Wellbeing Conference, Cairns, 14-16 June, 2023.
Matthews V, Nona F, Telford A, Billy D, Frank J, Frank N. Panel session: Climate and Health. Lowitja Institute 3rd International Health and Wellbeing Conference, Cairns, 14-16 June, 2023.
Mohammed J, Matthews V, 2024. Panel session: Making Australia more resilient to the climate crisis by prioritising cultural knowledge and understanding. Aboriginal Health & Medical Research Council of New South Wales (AH&MRC) Indigenous Health Summit, Sydney, 4-6 March, 2024.
Vardoulakis S. 2023. Participatory Co-Design of the HEAL Network on Human Health and Environmental Change. 3rd Ecosystem Change and Population Health Symposium, QUT, Brisbane, 20-21 June 2023.
Vardoulakis S., 2023. Climate change, biomass smoke and air pollution: Implications for Global Public Health. 8th International Indian Conference on Air Quality Management, Bengaluru, India, 6-8 December 2023.
Vardoulakis S., Feng X., Bentley R., Matthews V., Hart M., Paolini R., Goodman N., Mathew S., Tong M., Gunn L. Willand N., Ford L., Rajagopalan P., Nelson J., Bai X., Santamouris M., 2023. HEAL Network: Strengthening health resilience to climate change in urban areas. 11th International Conference on Urban Climate, Sydney 28 Aug - 1 Sept 2023.
Vardoulakis S., Johnston F., Goodman N., Morgan G. 2024. Reducing exposure to residential wood smoke in Australia: health equity, environmental justice, and implementation challenges and opportunities. 36th Annual Conference of the International Society for Environmental Epidemiology (ISEE 2024), Santiago, Chile, 25-28 August 2024.
Vardoulakis S., Matthews V., Ford L.P., Farrant B., Johnston F., Cass A., Williams C., Bentley R., Chu C., and the HEAL Investigators. 2023. Research priority setting for public health and environmental change – HEAL Network. Australian Public Health Conference, Hobart 26-28 Sept 2023.
Vardoulakis S., Matthews V., Ford L.P., Farrant B., Johnston F., Cass A., Williams C., Bentley R., Chu C., 2023. HEAL Investigators. Research Priority Setting for Public Health and Environmental Change – HEAL Network. Australian Public Health Conference, Hobart 26-28 September 2023.
Vardoulakis S., Nagendra S., Ford L.P., Matthews V., Mathew S., Joyce C., Vasudevan K., Zander K., Joshy A., Mitra S., Indu G., Shekar S., Sharma P., Mukherjee B., Borah P., Chawla P., Vine K., 2023. Clean Energy for Healthy Environments and Lives (CE4HEAL): rural and remote community leadership in clean energy solutions for Central Australia and South India. 35th International Society for Environmental Epidemiology Annual Conference, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, 17-21 September 2023.
Vardoulakis S., Okokon E., Kazda L., Tefera Y., Deen C., McFarlane R., Williams C., Matthews V. 2025. Building capacity and capability for climate and health research: The HEAL approach. Australian Public Health Conference, Wollongong, Australia, 16-18 September 2025. Vardoulakis S. Okokon E., Feng X., Bentley R., Lwasa S., Corvalan C., Kinney P., Thomson M., Siri J. 2025. Strengthening urban health resilience to climate change. 21st International Conference on Urban Health (ICUH), Wellington, New Zealand, 17-21 November 2025.
Wheeler A., Campbell S., Wormworth J., Goodman N., Green D., Johnston F.H., Vardoulakis S. 2024. Method development to evaluate public buildings as safe air shelters during smoke episodes. 36th Annual Conference of the International Society for Environmental Epidemiology (ISEE 2024), Santiago, Chile, 25-28 August 2024.
Okokon E.O., Tong M., Vardoulakis S., 2025. Hotter and Damper: Dealing with the Environmental Health Impacts of Changing Weather and Climate. In Climate Change and Risk Mitigation: Reducing Vulnerabilities and Enhancing Resilience. GB: CABI, pp. 77-98.
Vardoulakis S., Bambrick H., 2023. An Integrated Approach to Health and Wellbeing in Response to Climate Change. In: Toward an Integrated Science of Wellbeing. Edited by E. Rieger, R. Costanza, I. Kubiszewski, and P. Dugdale. Oxford University Press.
Vardoulakis S., Walker I., Aitken S., 2023. The fires this time: Health impacts. In P. Christoff (Ed.), The fires this time. Melbourne: Melbourne University Press.
The HEAL Network responded to the following national consultations:
Healthy Environments and Lives (HEAL): Australia’s first nationally funded research network at the nexus of climate and health. Case Study 5.
We can't lose sight of what's at stake in this wood-fire debate. The Canberra Times, 11.09.2025 https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/9062736/opinion-canberras-wood-heater-phase-out-will-give-us-cleaner-air/
Wilya Janta Collaborative. Homes celebrating culture and Country: decolonizing remote community housing for healthy homes and families in a changing climate. Health Advocate. Issue 74 February 2024. Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association. https://ahha.asn.au/system/files/docs/publications/the_health_advocate_-_february_2024.pdf
Danger of poor housing in remote communities. 360info. https://360info.org/danger-of-poor-housing-in-remote-communities/
Hanigan I, Yuen C, Gopi K, Borchers-Arriagada N, van Buskirk J, Morgan G, 2023. Bushfire specific PM2.5 output from v1.3 based on satellite and other land use and other predictors for Australia 2000-2021 produced for the CAR Bushfire Smoke Exposures project. CAR. (Dataset). https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/WQK4T
Healthy Environments and Lives (HEAL) Network: https://vimeo.com/1222607307?fl=pl&fe=vl
The HEAL Network: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUn6f6HXBn4
Climate song: https://vimeo.com/1054343549?fl=pl&fe=vl
Clean Energy For Healthy Environments and Lives: World Environment Day 2023: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojhPRH2YrGU&t=8s
Trees Climate and Health: Trees https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5Na-catgLM
Phasing out wood heaters to pave the way to cleaner air: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTrWL9GrBvA