Environmental health provides the basis of public health.
Improvements in sanitation, drinking water quality, food safety, disease control, and housing conditions have been central to the massive improvement in quality of life and longevity experienced this century. Environmental health also addresses emerging health risks arising from the pressures human development places on the physical environment. The Environmental Health Section provides advice on environmental health matters to the Minister for Health and Aged Care and a wide range of Commonwealth, State and Territory agencies, industry and the general community. In collaboration, it develops environmental health policy and facilitates the publication of advisory papers on a broad range of environmental health issues. The Environmental Health Section also provides secretariat services for the enHealth Council.