Develops, enforces and evaluates environmental health policies, programs and strategies to improve health outcomes, and oversees the implementation and monitoring of environmental health legislation.
Occupation description
Develops, enforces and evaluates environmental health policies, programs and strategies to improve health outcomes, and oversees the implementation and monitoring of environmental health legislation.
Environmental Health Officer is a VETASSESS Group A occupation
This occupation requires a qualification assessed as comparable to the educational level of an Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) Bachelor degree or higher, in a field highly relevant to the nominated occupation.
Applicants must also have at least one year of highly relevant, post-qualification employment, at an appropriate skill level completed in the last five years.
A positive assessment of both qualifications and employment is required for a positive Skills Assessment Outcome.
* Additional qualifications in a highly relevant field of study include those comparable to the following levels:
- AQF Diploma
- AQF Advanced Diploma
- AQF Associate Degree or
- AQF Graduate Diploma
** Highly relevant paid employment duration (20 hours or more per week):
One year of post-qualification paid employment (20 hours or more per week) highly relevant to the nominated occupation, at an appropriate skill level in the last five years before the date of application for a Skills Assessment
Qualification & Employment Criteria
Qualification
Environmental Health is the study of recognising, evaluating and controlling environmental factors affecting public health. The course should be accredited under the Course Accreditation Scheme run by Environmental Health Australia (see courses currently listed as accredited courses offered in Australia for EHP attached in the EHPA advice).
For this occupation, registration is required with the state they will work in, and each state has a list of acceptable degrees for this occupation, mainly in Environmental Health (not Envi. Science).
While Food Safety can be part of an Environmental Health degree, Food Science or Food Audit on its own would not be considered highly relevant.
Nutrition or Dietetics are not considered highly relevant for this occupation, they would be closer to Dietitian – 251111.
Medical degrees without environmental health-related studies would also not be considered highly relevant to this occupation. Please note that applicants who hold medical degrees and work as designated medical officers performing tasks such as infection control of health care workers, engaging in national communicable disease surveillance and overseeing routine precautions in a hospital setting, may be better suited to the role of an occupational physician (found in ANZSCO Code Specialist Physicians nec) who are specialists focusing on the prevention, identification, management and treatment of health conditions and rehabilitation.
Environmental Science degrees would not usually be considered positive for this occupation, unless they contained a major stream in human and population health.
Employment Criteria
Highly relevant tasks include, but are not limited to:
- Preparing and implementing plans and strategies for the safe, economic and suitable disposal of commercial, industrial, medical and household wastes
- Advising on and enforcing legislation, implementing prevention programs and strategies for communicable diseases, food safety, waste water treatment and disposal systems, recreation and domestic water quality, contaminated and hazardous substances, and minimising air, sea, water and noise pollution to improve health outcomes
- Developing, implementing and reviewing environmental health management plans
- Identifying hazards, and assessing and controlling risks in the workplace
- Developing, implementing and monitoring programs minimising workplace and environmental pollution involving chemical and physical hazards
Additional tasks may include:
- Develops, implements and reviews environmental health emergency management plans and occupational health and safety plans
- Oversees all health aspects of food hygiene, such as transport, storage, preparation, serving and disposal of food
- Develops and implements programs minimising air, sea, water and noise pollution
- Develops, implements and coordinates environmental health education and health promotion programs
- Oversees and advises on environmental health legislation and recommends corrective actions
- Investigates complaints about food safety and ensures shops, restaurants and food processors follow health regulations
- Monitors and controls water, air and noise pollution and collects water samples for analysis
- Initiates and conducts environmental health impact or risk assessments
- Designs and conducts health education programs or public information campaigns
- Prepares policy documents and guidelines relating to environmental health matters
- Manages programs to control disease-causing pests such as mosquitoes
- Investigates and manages public health incidents such as disease outbreaks
- Manages programs to control public health and environmental issues associated with major public events
- Responds to disasters and emergency situations where public health is at risk
- Assesses building development applications and inspects houses and public buildings to ensure they comply with environmental or health and safety standards
- Inspects and licenses premises that may present infectious disease risks to the community (such as tattoo parlours and acupuncturists, where skin penetration and body piercing occurs), and inspects hairdressing and beauty salons
- Maintain records, prepares statistics, writes reports and gives evidence in court cases where health or environmental regulations have been violated
Get Support
Help with a Skills Assessment
Skills Assessment Support (SAS) services are for migration agents, legal practitioners and prospective applicants who are yet to submit their Skills Assessment application to VETASSESS.
Help with an urgent application
For general and professional occupations, priority processing can be used to fast-track urgent applications
How to apply
If you're a professional choosing to migrate to Australia, chances are you're likely to be assessed by us. We assess 341 different professional occupations, assessing your skills, experience and qualifications.
Find
Find the VETASSESS occupation that most closely fits your skills and experience.
Match
Match your skills and experience to your chosen occupation.
Prepare
Get ready to apply by preparing all the information and documents you need.
Apply
Apply online when you’re ready. If you’re still unsure, skills assessment support is available when you need it.