The Environmental Health Branch works in collaboration with the Health Protection Network comprised of 12 Public Health Units across metropolitan and regional NSW, each with a dedicated environmental health section.
Environmental health addresses the physical, chemical, and biological factors external to a person and the related factors that can potentially affect health. It is targeted towards preventing disease and creating health-supportive environments. While environmental health is distinct from environmental protection there are overlaps in many areas. Environmental health is a discipline of public health practice, and interacts with other disciplines such as One Health and Planetary Health.
Environmental health issues include the provision of safe drinking water supplies, recreational use of water, sewage management, public swimming pools, toxicology, microbial control, skin penetration industries, funeral industries, mosquito vector management, air quality, heatwaves, waste management, and basic hygiene.
In NSW many of the functions associated with environmental health activities come within the administrative control of many state and local government agencies. The core administrative functions of the Environmental Health Branch are not limited by the Public Health Act and Regulation, but also include the development of guidelines, policy and advice related to many aspects of public health.
In NSW call 1300 066 055 to contact your local Public Health Unit
