Word Count: 2500 words (+/- 10%). Excluding tables and reference list. Include word count at end of assignment.

Word Count: 2500 words (+/- 10%). Excluding tables and reference list. Include word count at end of assignment.

Use the study described in the following paper from Sydney as a starting point:

Chaston, Broome, R. A., Cooper, N., Duck, G., Geromboux, C., Guo, Y., Ji, F., Perkins-Kirkpatrick, S., Zhang, Y., Dissanayake, G. S., Morgan, G. G., & Hanigan, I. C. (2022).

Mortality Burden of Heatwaves in Sydney, Australia Is Exacerbated by the Urban Heat Island and Climate Change: Can Tree Cover Help Mitigate the Health Impacts? Atmosphere, 13(5), 714. https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos13050714Use the information about the mortality impacts of heatwaves, future climate projections, the urban heat island and tree cover as a starting point.

(Preparation of HIA Report)

Develop a Rapid HIA Report for a community in Perth that assesses a policy, plan or project involving high density residential developments and the climate change health impacts.

You should focus on a policy, plan or project that could have a significant impact on the health and well-being of a population. Websites of local government or government departments as well as the media are good sources. Avoid proposals that are not located near significant populations as these are unlikely to have any significant health impacts and are unlikely to be subject to a HIA.

Complete the following key steps of rapid HIA:

1.Scoping = Provide a brief explanation of the key features of the proposal. Consider the determinants of health in the context of the proposal and develop a health impact pathway diagram that highlights the main causal pathways linking the proposal to human health outcomes. Provide a brief overview of the diagram.

(Identifies significant negative and positive health impacts on the defined population(s) from the specific activity via all relevant determinants of health.

Demonstrates a pathway diagram that shows the causal pathway)

2.Stakeholder Consultation = Outline how you would undertake effective stakeholder consultation and justify your selection of key stakeholders.

(Identifies and provides thorough explanation of most important stakeholders as well as the strategies and timeframes used to consult. level of detail, evidence, and relevant examples)

3.Profiling = Collect relevant data (from existing sources) for the profiling step. Ensure that you consider vulnerable groups. Outline any gaps in your data and indicate how these could be addressed in the case of a comprehensive HIA.

(Relevant data specific community or population)

4.Assessment = Select two impacts you identified in the scoping phase that you consider will have the most significant impact on human health. You must select one impact associated with an environmental determinant of health and the other with a social or economic determinant of health. An exhaustive assessment is beyond the scope of this assignment, however you should be able to provide a clear rationale for your selection in terms of the potential level of risk or benefit to human health of the affected community

(Comprehensive rationale for your selection of the level of risk or benefit for the health of the community)

5.Recommendations = Develop recommendations to maximise the health outcomes associated with the two impacts you have selected. State the key stakeholders responsible for implementing each recommendation.

(High quality references to support the efficacy of the recommendations)

6. Monitoring and Evaluation = Develop a table that outlines a monitoring and evaluation plan to implement the recommendations and to ascertain whether they are effective

(Uses a table, the information in the table outlines a monitoring and evaluation plan to implement the recommendations and to ascertain whether they are effective)

Standard of writing

(Please make sure Structure provides a clear, logical and comprehensive coverage. Presentation including grammar, spelling and layout is of a very high standard)

What is meant by health and determinants of health?

Good health and well-being is universally considered as one of the most important assets in society. It is a fundamental indicator of sustainable development and an undeniable human right. The protection and promotion of health is central to HIA and as such, a shared understanding of health and the determinants of health is a critical starting point. The World Health Organisation (WHO) definition of health is often used in HIA and is:

A state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity

Health is seen as a resource for everyday life and as a positive concept that emphasises social and personal resources as well as physical capabilities. Many cultures view health in this holistic way. For example from an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples viewpoint health as 'not just the physical well-being of the individual but the social, emotional and cultural well-being of the whole community' (National Aboriginal Health Strategy Working Party 1989). An ongoing and active relationship with 'country' (a place of ancestry, identify, language, livelihood and community connection) means that the health of community land plays an important role in determining the health of Indigenous people themselves.

The factors that keep us well often lie outside the direct influence of the health sector and are determined by a range of influences, often called determinants of health. These determinants are varied and include environmental factors such as housing conditions, urban design, soil, transport, ecosystems, biodiversity, historic heritage, ambient air and water quality.

Another way of expressing the concept of the determinants of health is to think about the context in which people live, for example their house, transport, work, education, cultural interests, natural environment, neighbourhood, worldview and their model of health. Figure 2 shows these relationships in diagrammatic form. It highlights that health and well-being is influenced by factors extending from the individual to factors at the local, societal and global level - many of which lie beyond the reach of health sector.

Figure 2 Determinants of Health

Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2011

Examining these connections to establish health impact pathways is a critical component of HIA that provides invaluable information regarding potential solutions to promote and protect health. Figure 3 demonstrates how an understanding of such pathways can inform decision-making for effective management strategies as well as considering where existing vulnerabilities may occur. Management options higher up the health impact pathway should be considered wherever possible as these are generally targeted at a population rather than a localised or individual level.

Scoping

This section should provide information on the issues to be considered and methodologies to be used during the appraisal of the proposed activity and include Information on the significant environmental, social or economic factors of the location and the proposal if implemented (baseline information), that could influence the health of the defined population(s)

The health factors identified to be assessed including those arising from consultation with stakeholders and the community

- Where appropriate include determinants of health considered but not included and the reasons for their exclusion

- Include the health related evidence, data and their sources and any limitations for each health factor

The potential health impacts (direct, indirect and cumulative where possible) including pathways, associated with each health factor and any differential health impacts on different groups within the population(s)

Agreed methodologies

Any preliminary risk assessments undertaken to prioritise health factors

Consultation methodologies to engage with general, vulnerable and disadvantaged groups

3.1.6 Profiling

The proponent should discuss with the health authority the level of detail required for profiling. The report should include:

Demonstration of an understanding of the population potentially affected by the proposal and the environmental, social, cultural and economic factors that could influence the health and well-being of the population by the proposals implementation.

Details about the local population developed during profiling that provide a reasonably clear picture of the population, particularly that living or involved in activities close to the site.

Sufficient accuracy on representative data on the demographic structure, socio- economic status and health status of a population as well as an indication of groups that may require special consideration.

Identification of special local areas where people may congregate

Provision of data (baseline information) and clarification of each of the following data groups about the potentially affected population(s)

Demographic data: Demographic data should correspond as closely as possible to the defined community

Health data: Data that is relevant for the health impacts identified during scoping

Vulnerable populations: The data collection may need to identify special populations or facilities that may be at greater risk of adverse health effects.

3.1.7 Assessment

The assessment section should outline the procedures and outcomes and include:

Evaluations of the significance of the potential impacts (direct, indirect and cumulative) against baseline conditions identified during profiling and scoping including:

Exposure levels and pathways and comparison against relevant standards (for risks) or conditions (for socio-economic factors)

Application of weightings of positive and negative effects of the health outcome or determinant as per Table 2.

Analytical methods used, their justification and results

Predicted health impacts and their significance

Identification of any significant gaps in evidence or data

Consideration of health services requirements

Comments on links to EIA process

The following table provides a guide to presentation of assessment outcomes for each health impact. The terms for magnitude and likelihood should follow those agreed to in the assessment phase of the HIA.

Health Determinants Health Impact Direction Magnitude Likelihood Distribution Quality of Evidence

Positive

Negative

Uncertain

No effect Low

Medium

High

(Relative to population size) Likely

Possible

Unlikely

Uncertain Effects on specific populations +

++

+++

Table 2 - Guide to presenting the assessment outcomesManagement

This section should provide information on management options for the assessed positive and negative health outcomes, which should include:

Mitigation measures for risks to health

Consideration of potential residual risks

Reassessment of risks after consideration of management options

Strategies for improving/optimising potential health outcomes

Strategies for working with communities as component of implementation of management options

Strategies for monitoring the health outcomes over all stages of the development

Strategies for responding to changes in proposal or environmental conditions and their potential impacts on the health of the population(s)

The final report should include a summary table of proposed management actions to address each of the assessed health impacts.

The final report should include a summary table of proposed management actions to address each of the assessed health impacts. Health Impact Management Actions

Summary of proposed management actions

Possible means of minimising the health impacts and enhancing positive health outcomes of a development

Effective community and stakeholder engagement

Alter processes or the design or choice of structures, equipment or other details to reduce the risk, or adverse health impact, experienced by the population. This could include changing the process/chemicals used, installation of pollution control equipment, safety equipment, altering speed limits, providing training, providing remote siting for a hazardous facility, etc.

Modify land use planning to ensure that the development is not placed near or becomes close to sensitive areas.

Consider and respond to the special needs of any at-risk groups in the affected populations.

Consider incorporating features to the project that increase healthy choices for the broader community such as health promotion programs, providing access to green space or promoting physical activity.

Establish public health surveillance systems to monitor health effects of the development during its construction, operation and potential decommissioning including measurement of benefits adopted.

Establish procedures, structures or other aspects of the development that can be altered in the future in response to monitoring results (includes any monitoring of health, biological or environmental indicators that reveal an increased or unexpected risk to health arising from the developments activities).

Establish plans to ensure that opportunities for use of local services and employment are optimised. Examples include commitment to local supply chains and quotas for local training and employment opportunities.

Ensure that emergency procedures and response plans are in place in the event of an acute exposure or major incident.

Ensure that services are available to deal with any potential adverse health events including training of health personnel where required.

Evaluation and decision-making

The health authority will review all documentation and processes, including the HIA report, and make recommendations to either the statutory authority responsible for the overall impact assessment or directly to the proponent for stand-alone HIAs. The document A Guide for the Evaluation of Health Impact Assessments carried out within the EIA process may assist with this review process.

During the review the health authority will consider:

If the assessment provides sufficient, valid and reliable information for decision- making

If there is conflict to be resolved

If there is the need for conditions to be applied to the proposal, how will these be enforced and by whom?

How and by whom will effects be monitored?

How will post-project management be resourced?

The recommendation will be one of:

Approving the HIA and that the proposal could proceed given the management options provided by the proponent

Approving the proposal but applying conditions to its implementation

Rejection of the proposal if negative impacts to health are substantial and are not capable of amelioration, even if considered against the health and other benefits identified for it.

Rejection or request for further information on the basis that the HIA has not provided sufficient, valid and reliable information for decision- making

3.2.2 Monitoring and evaluation

Once approval is granted, the proponent will be expected to monitor and evaluate the management procedures and conditions outlined in the HIA Report. Reporting on management to the statutory authority and/or the health authority (depending on the jurisdictional requirements) and should include:

Information on compliance with plans and conditions

Information on the health outcomes during all stages of the development

Outcomes of evaluation of monitoring and responses to changes if necessary

Whether the HIA process is achieving its aims of protecting and enhancing health