Assessment Task – Environmental Health Risk Assessment and Intervention Simulation
This assessment involves students assuming the role of an Environmental Health Officer working for the City of Melbourne. Students will conduct an environmental health risk assessment involving the quantification of hazards associated with overcrowding and poorly constructed inner-city apartments. Students will provide the findings of the assessment, their recommendations for intervention, and an appropriate communication plan to alert stakeholders about their findings.
Instructions
This assessment involves students assuming the role of an Environmental Health Officer working for the City of Melbourne. Students will conduct an environmental health risk assessment involving the quantification of hazards associated with overcrowding and poorly constructed inner-city apartments. Students will provide the findings of the assessment, their recommendations for intervention, and an appropriate communication plan to alert stakeholders about their findings.
Specifically, students' written report should cover the following:
1. Issue identification: Identify at least 2 likely health hazards associated with overcrowding and poor living conditions in Melbourne's inner-city apartments (e.g. infection risk, exposure to noise, air pollution, extreme temperatures, fire risk etc.). Describe how the hazards arise, by citing academic literature and/or reputable newspaper/media articles.
2. Hazard and exposure assessment: Assess the likely health impacts of the identified hazards, citing academic literature and/or official statistical resources (ABS, WHO etc) as appropriate. Discuss the mechanisms through which those hazards impact health, and whether particular sub-populations are particularly exposed to the hazards (e.g. low socio-economic groups, youth, older adults, migrants etc.).
3. Risk characterisation: Make an overall assessment of the level of health risk from environmental hazards, considering the likelihood and severity of health impacts at the population level. (For ideas, see p. 28 and pp. 33-35 of the 'Environmental Health Standing Committee 2012' reference listed below and available on LEO).
4. Risk management plan: Outline recommendations for intervention by the City of Melbourne and/or other stakeholders (e.g. state government, building inspectors, property developers, apartment residents, landlords etc.), and how your findings and recommendations will be communicated to the public and/or stakeholders.
Students should give their report a title that reflects its content, and include an introduction which briefly describes the issue of poor living conditions in inner-city apartments, and outlines the main findings. Finish with a conclusion or summary. Students are encouraged to include images, figures and tables, where these will support the explanation and analysis.
In your report, you are welcome to cite literature from other countries/cities about high density housing, but remember to relate this information to Melbourne, as this is the focus on this assessment task.
Formatting requirements:
o Word document
o Arial, Calibri or Times New Roman font
o Size 12 font (headings can be larger if required)
o 1.5 line spacing
o Margins of at least 2cm left and right
Follow the APA6th style for reference written.
Article – Increasing density in Australia: maximising the health benefits and minimising harm by Billie Giles-Cort, Kate Ryan and Dr Sarah Foster.
Article: Risky business: a resource to help local governments manage environmental health risks
