Outputs

This perspective published in the Medical Journal of Australia identified financial and equity considerations regarding the reliance on air-conditioning for heat-health protection during warmer temperatures, advocating for the adoption of a fan-first approach to protect vulnerable Australians. The authors stressed the benefits of using electric fans as the first line of defence against indoor heat, providing recommendations for the safe, efficient and effective use of electric fans at various indoor temperatures.

Recognising the limitations of traditional soil sampling methods for indicating public health risks, this study introduced a novel composite sampling approach to better reflect human-pathogen interactions. The boot sock method, an approach where community fieldworkers involved in the RISE program wore fabric boot socks over their shoes, was found to provide more sensitive detection of E.coli with reduced sample variability, providing a more comprehensive picture of contamination levels at reduced time and cost.

This review examined Australia's national disease guidelines, water surveillance guidance, and health and water monitoring systems to evaluate the nation's integration of water monitoring and disease reporting systems. The authors found that disease reporting relied on inadequate waterborne pathogen data, outdated guidelines, and inconsistent systems across jurisdictions, hindering effective outbreak detection. These findings highlight the urgent need for enhanced cross-sectoral coordination to strengthen risk assessment and safeguard public health, with both national and international implications.

This perspective explores the compounding health risks at the intersection of climate change and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) within urban informal settlements. The paper highlights how extreme weather, such as flooding and heatwaves, intensifies the transmission of resistant pathogens in areas with limited sanitation and water infrastructure. It advocates for a unified planetary health approach, more inclusive AMR surveillance, and an urgency in broader public health management to address the systemic vulnerabilities of communities in these settings.

This study, based on the early years of the RISE program (2017-2020), explores leadership and management challenges in setting up international north-south transdisciplinary research. It highlights the need to address power asymmetries, build capacity in the global south, and foster reflexivity. A framework is outlined offering guidance for responsible trans-disciplinary implementation, emphasising the roles of ‘pracademics’ (practitioner-scholars) for societal impacts beyond scientific advancement.

This analysis of data from GeoSentinel sites (2015-2022) investigates antimicrobial resistance (AMR) among international travellers, with a focus on E. coli and K. pneumoniae infections. Findings underscore the growing challenge of empiric treatment for these infections and the need for enhanced AMR surveillance and data on post-travel infections risks.

This study analyses dengue trends in Australia (2012-2022), highlighting the success of Wolbachia mosquito interventions in eliminating locally acquired cases by 2021. Imported dengue, primarily from Southeast Asia (74%) reflects Australian travel patterns, emphasising the importance of sustained local control and monitoring of travel-related dengue risks.