News

The mine fire event and the health study continues to receive considerable interest in the media. This page provides an archive of the key media since the establishment of the study, including stories arising from the local community.

Media
Respiratory20 August 2024Residents’ lungs aged ‘more rapidly’ after exposure to smoke from Hazelwood coalmine fire, research shows (The Guardian)
Adult Survey / Respiratory20 March 2024

Media Release: Some mine fire-related respiratory symptoms appear to be persisting, but other lung measures may be improving

Community Wellbeing

13 March 2024

Our Hopes for the Future of Morwell exhibition finds a new home at the Latrobe Health Assembly (Latrobe Valley Express)

General28 February 2024From mine fire to new future (coverage of the 10th Anniversary event) (Latrobe Valley Express)
Latrobe ELF Study15 October 2023

Hazelwood researcher Fay Johnston talks about the health risks of smoke exposure and the need to work together to reduce these risks (Ockham’s Razor, ABC Radio National)

Latrobe ELF Study5 July 2023ELF - Early life smoke exposure and allergies (General Media Release)
General28 June 2023Community flyer released highlighting key findings from the early years of the Study (Flyer distributed with the Latrobe Valley Express)
Latrobe ELF Study16 November 2022Increase in child visits to hospital emergency departments after Hazelwood mine fire. (ABC News, Gippsland)
Latrobe ELF Study16 November 2022 Mine fire increases the number of infants presenting to emergency departments. (Latrobe Valley Express)
Psychological Impacts
2 March 2022When children live through a tragic event - interview with Dr Emily Berger, from 24.23 minutes (The Conversation Hour - ABC Radio) 
Respiratory22 February 2022Coal fire fine exposure increases COPD risk in nonsmokers (Healio News)
Psychological Impacts
February 2022Dr Emily Berger wins award for her “Significant Contribution to Rural and Remote Communities" (Australian Psychological Society)
Respiratory
16 November 2021People urged to book follow-up appointments for health study (Gippsland Times)
Psychological Impacts
15 November 2021Fire sparked rise in anxiety (Latrobe Valley Express)
Respiratory8 November 2021Hazelwood health Study (Latrobe Valley Express)
Respiratory11 July 2021Vaping side effects unclear (Herald Sun)
Respiratory8 July 2021Study uncovers poorer lung health (Latrobe Valley Express)
Respiratory29 June 2021Hazelwood coalmine fire has had lasting health effects on Latrobe valley residents, study finds (The Guardian)
Latrobe ELF Study10 June 2021Families encouraged to take part (Latrobe Valley Express)
Psychological Impacts
03 May 2021Mind the gap (Latrobe Valley Express)
Psychological Impacts
29 April 2021
Psychological Impacts
10 December 2020A study of mental welfare, news broadcast features Dr Matthew Carroll (ABC Gippsland)
General5 November 2020Participate in community briefing (Latrobe Valley Express)
Hazelinks29 October 2020Smoke-impacted at risk of death by injury, study finds (Latrobe Valley Express)
Hazelinks29 October 2020Hazelwood mine fire health risk, news broadcast features Prof. Malcolm Sim (TRFM & Gippsland's Gold)
Hazelinks29 October 2020Health effects of Hazelwood fire studied (7 News)
Psychological Impacts
23 September 2020Hazelwood lessons are worth hearing as Australian children prepare for another summer (The Sector)
Psychological Impacts
15 September 2020
How did the Hazelwood fire impact children (ABC Gippsland)
Psychological Impacts
11 September 2020
Hazelwood fire ignited kids' fears (Herald Sun)
 24 August 2020Hazelwood coal mine fire affected foetuses exposed to smoke in utero, study finds (ABC Gippsland)
Latrobe ELF Study
24 August 2020Unborn children at higher risk of respiratory infections after Morwell fire, study finds (The Guardian)
Air quality modelling
27 May 2020
A model disaster: Studying the 2014 Hazelwood coal mine fire 
(Lab Down Under)
General
28 January 2020
'No safe level': Study links PM2.5 pollution to increased risk of cardiac arrest" (The Age)
 10 December 2019Breathtaking: Study reveals negative impact of mine fire on children's health (Latrobe Valley Express)
 
24 November 2019
Hazelwood Health Study findings 'validated' in wake of Supreme Court's mine fire guilty verdict (Latrobe Valley Express)
 23 January 2019Mine fire health issues continue: study (Latrobe Valley Express)
Psychological Impacts30 September 2018Mine fire helped students’ learning (Herald Sun)
Psychological Impacts11 September 2018Interview with Dr Emily Berger and Nicole Chvastek on Specialist School findings (ABC Statewide Drive)
Psychological Impacts11 September 2018Study completes investigation of the impacts on a specialist school which relocated during the smoke event (Nine News Gippsland)
Psychological Impacts11 September 2018Study releases Specialist School findings (ABC Gippsland)
Psychological Impacts9 September 2018Students’ mine fire suffering (Latrobe Valley Express)
General20 August 2018Community Engagement Session: 22 August 2018 in Morwell (TRFM)
Community Wellbeing17 May 2018Hopes in Parliament (Latrobe Valley Express)
Hazelinks12 April 2018Mine fire GP visits, medication link (Latrobe Valley Express)
Hazelinks10 April 2018Mine fire long-term health impacts (Nine News Gippsland)
Hazelinks10 April 2018Hazelwood mine fire linked to spike in doctor visits and prescription medication use (ABC Melbourne)
Hazelinks10 April 2018Study releases MBS and PBS analyses findings (ABC Gippsland)
General26 March 2018Shaun is here and happy to help (Latrobe Valley Express)
Respiratory27 February 2018Study moves to lungs (Gippsland Times)
Respiratory5 February 2018Bookings urged for study (Latrobe Valley Express)
Cardiovascular2 February 2018Cardiovascular health – more participants needed (Nine News Gippsland)
Latrobe ELF Study2 February 2018Researchers study pregnant women and their children (ABC Statewide Drive)
Latrobe ELF Study 1 February 2018Babies cleared of mine fire risk (Latrobe Valley Express)
Latrobe ELF Study2 February 2018Smoke from mine fire did not harm pregnant mothers and baby health (ABC Melbourne)
Latrobe ELF Study 1 February 2018Health of babies investigated (Nine News Gippsland)
Latrobe ELF Study 1 February 2018Study finds no impacts of smoke from mine fire on pregnancy or the birth of babies (TRFM Radio)
Respiratory30 January 2018Lung study will also guide future Sale health needs (Gippsland Times)
Respiratory29 January 2018Examining the health impact of Hazelwood coal mine fire (Monash LENS)
 21 January 2018Adults still affected by mine fire (Latrobe Valley Express)
General15 January 2018Hazelwood Health Study making progress (Latrobe Valley Express)
General18 December 2017Study amazed by support (Latrobe Valley Express)
Community Wellbeing14 December 2017Community finds social media voice (Latrobe Valley Express)
Community Wellbeing13 December 2017The role of social media during the Hazelwood mine fire (TRFM Radio)
Community Wellbeing12 December 2017Latrobe Valley residents used social media to fill information gaps during mine fire (ABC Gippsland)
Community Wellbeing13 November 2017Exhibition of Morwell hopes opens (Latrobe Valley Express)
Community Wellbeing13 November 2017Hazelwood Health Study community exhibition (Nine News Gippsland and WIN News Gippsland)
Respiratory2 November 2017‘Thanks for your support’: health study (Latrobe Valley Express)
 31 October 2017More health study tests (Gippsland Times)
Cardiovascular30 October 2017Sale tests start, with Morwell to follow in 2018 (Latrobe Valley Express)
Psychological Impacts23 October 2017Study homes in on schools (Latrobe Valley Express)
 12 October 2017Health study shines a light on its work (Latrobe Valley Express)
Hazelinks9 October 2017Spike in number of people reporting to hospitals with respiratory problems (ABC Country Hour)
General9 October 2017Hazelwood Health Study forum tonight (Latrobe Valley Express)
Respiratory25 September 2017Lung function tests continue (media release)
Cancer19 September 2017Study targets cancer rates (Latrobe Valley Express)
Cancer19 September 2017Hazelwood Health Study cancer rates (WIN News Gippsland and Nine News Gippsland)
Adult Survey4 September 2017Morwell residents seven times more likely to have a heart attack since Hazelwood mine fire (ABC Gippsland)
Adult Survey4 September 2017Results released from Hazelwood Health Study (WIN News Gippsland and Nine News Gippsland)
General4 September 2017Study shaping a healthier future for the Latrobe Valley (Premier of Victoria announcement)
Adult Survey4 September 2017Mine fire asthma increase (Latrobe Valley Express)
Community Wellbeing21 August 2017Handy push for positive images (Latrobe Valley Express)
Community Wellbeing18 August 2017Residents art exhibition (Nine News Gippsland and WIN News Gippsland)
Respiratory17 August 2017Mine fire lung tests (Latrobe Valley Express)
Respiratory10 August 2017Lung function testing (Nine News Gippsland)
Psychological Impacts3 July 2017Fire hit school kids hard (Latrobe Valley Express)
Psychological Impacts29 June 2017Key findings on the psychological impacts of the Hazelwood mine fire on school children have been released  (TRFM)
Psychological Impacts29 June 2017Mine fire caused child distress (Latrobe Valley Express)
Latrobe ELF Study19 June 2017Study participation as simple as monthly survey (Latrobe Valley Express)
Latrobe ELF Study12 June 2017Check-ups to gauge mine fire’s impact on kids (Latrobe Valley Express)
Latrobe ELF Study9 June 2017More children needed to take part in Latrobe ELF Study (Bulletin 1) (Bulletin 2) (TRFM)
Older people27 February 2017Improved processes needed for older people (media release)
General16 February 2017Study seeking local residents to join Community Advisory Committee (media release)
Adult Survey27 January 2017Plea for more health study participants (Gippsland Times)
 19 January 2017Eyes on the Valley’s future generation (Latrobe Valley Express)
 19 January 2017Study deadline looms (Latrobe Valley Express)
 14 November 2016Hazelwood survey deadline looms (Gippsland Times)
 10 NovemberHealth study survey deadline approaching (Latrobe Valley Express)
 1 November 2016Dr Jill Blackman, senior project manager, Hazelwood Health Study (Gippsland Times)
 25 October 2016Health study targets final Morwell patch for survey (Latrobe Valley Express)
 29 August 2016Privacy assurances for long term Hazelwood Health Study (Gippsland Times)
 29 August 2016Researchers say Hazelwood Health Study is independent and private (Latrobe Valley Express)
Adult Survey1 August 2016Mine fire health study needs Sale participants (Gippsland Times)
Adult Survey1 August 2016More participants needed for the health study (Latrobe Valley Express)
Adult Survey5 July 2016Second area for health study (Gippsland Times)
Adult Survey4 July 2016Survey participants needed (Latrobe Valley Express)
Adult Survey9 June 2016Hazelwood Health Study uses Sale as control comparison (Gippsland Times)
Adult Survey6 June 2016Hazelwood survey moves to phase two (Latrobe Valley Express)
Adult Survey2 May 2016Sale residents contribute to the Hazelwood fire health study (Gippsland Times)
Adult Survey28 April 2016Morwell residents wanted for Hazelwood Health Study (Latrobe Valley Express)
Psychological Impacts2 September 2015Parents asked for help with Schools Study  (WIN News Gippsland)
Adult Survey11 August 2015Hazelwood mine fire: Sale, Morwell residents to be quizzed as part of health study (ABC)
General24 May 2015Labor funds recommendations in full to keep Valley safe (Premier of Victoria announcement)
General25 March 2015Monash teams with community struck by Hazelwood fires (Monash University)
General9 February 2015Death rates increased in Traralgon: VOTV (Latrobe Valley Express)
 5 February 2015Anniversary dinner marks one year since fire (Latrobe Valley Express)
 29 January 2015Health study gets started (Latrobe Valley Express)
General27 January 201510 year health study launched in Latrobe Valley (ABC)
 22 January 2015Health study to open its doors (Latrobe Valley Express)
 7 December 2014Input sought for study (Latrobe Valley Express)
General24 November 2014Monash calls for participation in Community Advisory Committee (PDF 191kb)
General5 November 2014Mine fire health study to have strong local presence (Latrobe Valley Express)
General4 November 2014Contract signed for long-term health study (Premier of Victoria announcement)

Media enquiries

The study team is pleased to talk to media agencies regarding the progress of the study, upcoming activities, etc. In the first instance, media personnel should phone Shantelle Allgood, by phone on 5122 7102 or email contact@hazelwoodhealthstudy.org.au

Our Partners

Acknowledgement to Country

We acknowledge and pay our respects to the Elders and Traditional Owners of the land where our Study teams are based, particularly the Gunaikurnai peoples of Gippsland.