Becoming and Environmental Health Practitioner
ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
Environmental health addresses all the physical, chemical, and biological factors external to a person, and all the related factors impacting behaviours. It encompasses the assessment and control of those environmental factors that can potentially affect health. It is targeted towards preventing disease and creating health-supportive environments.
If you are interested in a career as an Environmental Health Officer in Australia, it is highly recommended that you complete a qualification that is accredited by Environmental Heath Australia.
Environmental Health Officers/Practitioners are employed in State and Local Governments and in the Defence Force.
As industry takes a more proactive and holistic approach to safety and quality management, environmental health officers are increasingly being employed in the private sector.
HOW TO BECOME AN EHO IN EACH STATE
The EHA accredited courses prepares students for professional careers in the environmental health field, either as environmental health practitioners or officers (particularly for those wishing to pursue a career with local or state authorities) or in a range of other professional capacities, such as food and waste management consultants, communicable disease control, health promotion, health and environmental policy and sustainability positions.
These professional roles require mastery of a wide range of multidisciplinary studies and the ability to interpret, critically evaluate, prevent and solve a range of problems in order to protect and promote the health and well-being of the community.
QUEENSLAND
In QLD, there are five EHA accredited courses that will give you the necessary qualifications to work as an Environmental Health Officer throughout Australia:
Undergraduate
Griffith University offers a three year Bachelor of Health Science (Environmental Health).
University of the Sunshine Coast offers a three year Bachelor of Health Science (Applied Environmental Health).
Central Queensland University offers a three year Bachelor of Public Health (Environmental Health)
Postgraduate
Queensland University of Technology (QUT) offers a one year Graduate Diploma in Environmental Health and an additional year to receive a Masters in Health, Safety and the Environment.
NEW SOUTH WALES
In NSW, there is one EHA accredited course that will give you the necessary qualifications to work as an Environmental Health Officer throughout Australia:
Undergraduate
Western Sydney University offers a three year Bachelor of Science (Environmental Health).
VICTORIA
In VIC, there is one EHA accredited course that will give you the necessary qualifications to work as an Environmental Health Officer throughout Australia:
Postgraduate
Swinburne University of Technology offers a one year Graduate Diploma of Environmental Health Practice
TASMANIA
Tasmania does not currently have an EHA accredited course. One pathway to becoming an Environmental Health Officer is to complete a Bachelor of Science at the University of Tasmania and continue on to complete a one year EHA accredited Graduate Diploma in Environmental Health.
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
In SA, there are two EHA accredited courses that will give you the necessary qualifications to work as an Environmental Health Officer throughout Australia:
Postgraduate
Flinders University offers a one year Graduate Diploma in Environmental Health Practice and a two year Master of Environmental Health
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
In WA, there are two EHA accredited courses that will give you the necessary qualifications to work as an Environmental Health Officer throughout Australia:
Undergraduate
Edith Cowan University offers a Bachelor of Health Science (Occupational and Environmental Health and Safety Major)
Postgraduate
Curtin University offers a one year Graduate Diploma in Environmental Health
CAREERS VIDEO
The video commissioned by the Environmental Health Australia (EHA) and produced by Verity Productions follows several young Environmental Health Officers (EHO) as they go about their day to day work.
The video deals with various scenarios that EHOs deal with (but not limited to) on a daily basis in the interest of public health and safety.
Environmental Health Officers work to reduce and mitigate any health hazards caused by our surrounding environment. They assess health risks in the environment and develop, regulate, enforce and monitor laws governing public health in order to uphold and advance good environmental practices and human health. Water borne diseases, food borne diseases, air pollution, noise pollution, public safety and communicable diseases are some of the areas monitored and controlled by Environmental Health Officers.
An Environmental Health Officer's job is Diverse, Challenging and Dynamic