News
HEAL Professional Development Grants 2026 now closed!
Developed by the HEAL EMCR Committee, the HEAL HDR/EMCR Professional Development Grant provides up to $2,000 to support HDR students and early–mid career researchers within the HEAL National Research Network to enhance their research skills through activities such as training, conferences, fieldwork, and secondments aligned with HEAL Research Themes.
HEAL HDR/EMCR Professional Development Grants are now closed. Applicants will be notified of the outcomes in early September 2026
Upcoming Events
HEAL 2026 International Conference
The 6th International HEAL 2026 Conference, themed “Time to Listen, Learn and Act for Lasting Impact on Healthy Environments and Lives,” is a four-day hybrid event taking place from 2-5 November 2026.
As the flagship conference of the NHMRC-funded Healthy Environments And Lives (HEAL) National Research Network, it will bring together researchers, policymakers, practitioners, community leaders, and advocates from Australia and around the world to address pressing health, climate, and environmental challenges.
Registrations are free of charge!
HEAL Network Investigators Webinar: Community-based climate adaptation interventions
Bringing together HEAL Bushfires, Air Pollution & Extreme Weather Events (BAPEE) researchers to examine how communities across regional and urban Australia experience and respond to climate-related hazards. The session highlights research on grassroots support for wellbeing in flood-affected communities and emerging work on Community Resilience Centres to reduce exposure to extreme heat and bushfire smoke.
Presenter: Dr Rebecca McNaught, University of Sydney
Date: 19 August 2026
Time: 12pm-1pm (AEST)
Format: Online
Key Thinkers Forum on First Nations Action for Healthy Country and Community
Building on the 2023 Forum, this event will again prioritise Indigenous voices by offering an opportunity to discuss important research and issues on air quality and health affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
The Forum will welcome community members, service providers and researchers working across a broad range of topics, including: climate injustice; healthy housing; risk reduction and communication methods; and indoor and outdoor air quality, for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Date: 13 October 2026
Venue: Online, or in person, in Kensington, Sydney.
Please register your interest by 21 August 2026
‘Bushfires and Your Health’ short course
Bushfires and Your Health’ is a free and award-winning online short course for anyone interested in how bushfires and bushfire smoke affect your health – and what you can do about it.
Enrolments are now open for courses starting 7 September 2026 and 2 November 2026.
AFHC 2026
The 11th Global Conference of the Alliance for Healthy Cities (AFHC), themed ‘Healthy Cities for All: Equity, Innovation and Action‘ is taking place 1–3 September 2026 in Sydney, Australia at the University of New South Wales, Kensington Campus (UNSW), in conjunction with the UNSW Cities Institute and Healthy Cities Australia.
AFHC 2026 will bring together more than 30 Asia-Pacific mayors, the World Health Organization (WHO) Western Pacific Regional Office, alongside regional policymakers, practitioners, academics, and urban health leaders from across the region.
Past Events
Climate, Fire and Health Community of Practice
The inaugural Community of Practice (CoP) session brought together the CANBREATHE and HEAL‑HAZE projects to explore urgent issues at the intersection of climate change, wildfire smoke, air quality, and health. This interactive online session will connected researchers, policymakers, NGOs, and community partners from Australia and Southeast Asia to share knowledge, build capacity, and strengthen collaboration to protect vulnerable populations.
Date: Thursday 23rd April 2026
Time: 1pm-3pm (AEST)
Urban Heat Forum
Date: Friday 27th March 2026
Time: 1pm-5:30pm AEDT
Urban heat is already shaping how we live, move and connect in Merri‑bek — and the impacts are growing. The Urban Heat Forum brings together community members, Council, researchers, government, industry and local organisations to share experiences, build a common understanding, and explore practical solutions to reduce heat and protect people and places.
HEAL Network Investigators Webinar: Healthy Air, Healthier Lives: reducing our exposure to air pollution
Date: Monday 30th March 2026
Time: 12noon-1pm AEDT
In this online session, Dr Nigel Goodman and Dr Sharon Campbell will provide an overview of the research activities conducted over the two-year Healthy Air project, and present key findings from the research papers
HEAL Victoria Community of Practice Event – Guest presentation by Ken Fong, Director for Human Centred Design at E-Lab Consulting
This online session explored how healthy building principles are applied to residential assets, including an overview of the WELL for Residential certification. Launched in 2024, WELL for Residential has been one of the most successful ESD certification launches globally. The event highlighted how design, operations, policies, and verification work together to support healthier living environments for residents.
Date: Wednesday 29th April 2026
Time: 11am-12pm
HEAL Health System Resilience & Sustainability (HSRAS) Theme – Seminar 1 2026
Join us for an upcoming online event featuring two expert presentations on reducing the environmental footprint of healthcare. Dr Scott McAlister (University of Melbourne) will introduce The Lancet MedZero Healthcare Carbon Tool, addressing critical gaps in data on the carbon impacts of medical devices and interventions and their implications for low‑carbon health systems. Dr Julia Pilowsky (University of Sydney / Intensive Care NSW) will present on reducing low‑value pathology testing in intensive care, sharing insights from a successful NSW pilot study and related ongoing projects.
The session will be hosted by Professor Katy Bell and Dr Luise Kazda (University of Sydney).
Date: Tuesday 5th May 2026
Time: 1.00–2.00 pm (AEST)
HEAL Investigators Webinar: Wildfires and Human Health in Europe: emerging challenges and responses
Join the May HEAL Network Investigators Webinar featuring international guest Professor Fantina Tedim (University of Porto). This timely session, Wildfires and Human Health in Europe, will examine emerging wildfire risks, growing public health impacts, and the need for integrated prevention, preparedness, and governance responses.
Date: Thursday 7th May
Time: 12noon – 1pm (AEST)
Implementing Australia’s National Health and Climate Strategy
Join us for a discussion on Australia’s first National Health and Climate Strategy with Alice McGushin and Kenya Pearson from the Australian Centre for Disease Control. They will highlight key achievements since its 2023 launch at COP28 and outline priorities for 2026. Chaired by Professor Katy Bell (University of Sydney).
Date: 23 June 2026, 10am-11am (AEST)
Venue: Online via zoom
Future-Proofing One Health Action for Wellbeing and Global Health Security
The 2026 International Symposium on “Future-Proofing One Health Action for Regional and Global Health Security” brings together leading experts, policymakers, and practitioners from across the Indo-Pacific to advance collaborative solutions for emerging zoonotic disease threats in a changing climate.
Building on the momentum of the 2025 Pengcheng Declaration, this event moves from commitment to action—fostering cross-sector partnerships, showcasing innovative research, and co-designing practical, regionally coordinated strategies. Through high-level dialogue, technical exchange, and collaborative workshops, the symposium will strengthen One Health networks and deliver tangible outcomes to enhance health security for communities across the region.
Date: 29 June – 1 July 2026
Venue: Building S07 Room 1.23, Griffith University, Brisbane
HEAL Network Investigators Webinar: A big El Nino is predicted this year.. How can we strengthen heat resilience across Australia?
This webinar will outline findings from a HEAL Innovation Fund project focused on strengthening Australia’s research, policy, and practice response to extreme heat. The presentation will highlight key findings, followed by a panel discussion with members of the project team.
Date: 1 July 2026
Time: 12pm-1pm AEST
Venue: Online via MS Teams