Research
Current HIA Projects
The effectiveness of health impact assessments conducted in Australia and New Zealand
Project Team:
Ms Elizabeth Harris, Professor Fran Baum, Mr Ben Harris-Roxas, Dr Lynn Kemp, Professor Jeffrey Spickett, Professor Helen Keleher, Professor Mark Harris, Professor Richard Morgan, Dr Andrew Dannenberg, Dr Decharut Sukkumnoed, Mr Arthur Wendel
Funded by: Australian Research Council (ARC)
Synopsis:
Monash University is a partner in an ARC Discovery grant 2010-2011 which aims to describe and explain changes to decision-making and implementation associated with the use of health impact assessments (HIAs) completed in Australia and New Zealand between 2005 and 2009. The World Health Organization has recommended the use of Health Impact Assessment (HIA) as a key strategy to ensure that policies of other sectors are developed in ways that strengthen potentially positive impacts and mitigate potentially negative impacts on health and wellbeing. HIA has emerged over the past 15 years as a decision support tool that examines the health impacts of policies, programs and projects before implementation and recommends changes to implementation. HIA is now being widely used across Australia, New Zealand and globally, but despite this rapid growth and widespread use there are significant gaps in our knowledge about the effectiveness of HIA. The ARC grant is led by UNSW with chief investigators from Monash University, Flinders University, Curtin University, University of Otago, US Centers for Disease Control and Provention, and the Thai Healthy Public Policy Foundation.
Recently Completed HIA Projects
Provision of Health Impact Assessment technical support, advice and capacity building (2007-2008)
Project Team:
Professor Helen Keleher, Ms Jessica McCormick, Grace Blau and Dr Mary Mahoney
Funded by: Department of Human Services, Central Office
Synopsis:
This research project built upon the foundations established in Phase 1 and 2 (previously commissioned by the Department of Human Services) for the application of HIA in Victoria and entailed the provision of expert advice and technical support to guide the conduct of two HIAs undertaken by the City of Greater Geelong and Maribyrnong City Council. The City of Greater Geelong used an equity-focused HIA methodology to assess the strategic footpaths design proposal which allowed for a common framework for decision making around a contentious topic, between social planners, engineers and community, in an environment constrained by funding1. Maribyrnong City Council also completed a rapid equity-focused HIA of their 'Preventing Violence against Women Action Plan 2007/2008'. The learnings from these and other HIAs undertaken in Victoria culminated in the development of a suggested approach to using HIA in Victoria and a summary guide for collecting and translating evidence for use in practical HIAs.
Planning for social wellbeing: Using health and social impact assessment in local government (2006-2007)
Project Team:
Professor Helen Keleher, Ms Jessica McCormick, Mr Dimitri Batras and Dr Mary Mahoney
Funded by: Department of Human Services, Southern Metropolitan Region
Synopsis:
This project entailed a partnership between the Department of Human Services, Southern Metropolitan Region and Monash University. As a capacity building project, the 'Planning for social wellbeing' project supported the application of HIA by two local councils through two distinct demonstrations projects within the region. The City of Greater Dandenong undertook a retrospective HIA of developments and activities within a local park to guide future planning and Frankston City Council facilitated a prospective HIA to guide the planning of a locally based healthy eating program.
For case studies please visit the following website:
http://www.dhs.vic.gov.au/operations/regional/southern/regional-programs/public-health
Reference
1 Boyce, C (2007) Strategic Footpaths, HIA Hype, Issue 3, p. 2.
|
