IHEA Joins National Conversation on Healthier Air and Safer Indoor Environments
IHEA to be represented at Parliament House, Canberra, as healthcare engineering and public health leaders unite to advocate for a National Healthy Air Strategy.
Improving air quality is an urgent public health priority. With Australians spending approximately 90% of their time indoors, the quality of the air we breathe in our workplaces, hospitals, schools, homes and public buildings has a profound influence on our health and wellbeing.
Poor air quality contributes to preventable illness, exacerbates existing health conditions and increases the risk of airborne disease transmission. Exposure to fine particles, pollutants and airborne pathogens can contribute to respiratory and cardiovascular disease, trigger asthma and allergies, and create additional risks for people with compromised immune systems.
For the healthcare engineering sector, this presents both a significant challenge and an opportunity to make a meaningful difference.
The Institute of Healthcare Engineering Australia (IHEA) is pleased to support the national conversation on healthier indoor environments, with Ben Gill attending Parliament House in Canberra as an IHEA representative for a series of important discussions on air quality, public health and the built environment.
A National Call for Healthier Air
The Centre for Safe Air and the Safer Air Project are bringing together an unprecedented coalition of patient organisations, researchers, clinicians, unions, professional associations and industry representatives to advocate for a coordinated National Healthy Air Strategy.
The initiative calls for greater recognition of air quality as a public health priority, alongside a nationally coordinated approach to improving the safety of the air Australians breathe.
Central to this advocacy is a Consensus Statement and pre-Budget submission to the Australian Government, highlighting the need for stronger leadership, investment and practical action to improve indoor and outdoor air quality.
For healthcare facilities, the importance of this work cannot be overstated.
Hospitals and healthcare environments accommodate some of the most vulnerable members of our communities, making effective ventilation, air filtration, infection prevention and environmental controls essential components of safe healthcare delivery.
The design, operation and ongoing maintenance of these systems directly influence patient safety, staff wellbeing and the overall performance of healthcare facilities.
IHEA Representation at Parliament House
IHEA will be represented by Ben Gill, who brings professional experience and a strong interest in HVAC systems, indoor air quality and the engineering measures that support safer healthcare environments.
Ben has been invited to attend an evening engagement with federal politicians at Parliament House, Canberra, on Tuesday 27 October 2026, commencing at 6:00 pm.
He will also participate in the Safer Shared Air: Indoor Air, Health and Productivity Conference on Wednesday 28 October, hosted by the Safer Air Project at Parliament House.
The conference will bring together leaders from public health, research, government, workplace safety, engineering, industry and community advocacy to explore the impacts of poor air quality and the policy and practical measures needed to address them.
Discussions will focus on the health and economic consequences of poor indoor air, emerging research and standards, and opportunities for a coordinated national approach to cleaner and safer environments.
Ben's participation provides an important opportunity to bring the perspective of healthcare engineering professionals into these discussions and highlight the critical role that building services, facilities management and infrastructure design play in protecting public health.
Why Healthcare Engineering Has an Important Role to Play
While air quality is often discussed as a public health or environmental issue, the engineering profession plays a fundamental role in delivering the solutions.
Healthcare engineers, infrastructure specialists and facility managers are responsible for systems and environments that directly influence the quality of indoor air.
This includes:
Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC): Designing and operating ventilation systems that deliver appropriate airflow, thermal comfort and indoor air quality.
Air filtration and purification: Managing airborne particles and contaminants through effective filtration and air-cleaning technologies.
Infection prevention and control: Supporting healthcare environments that reduce the risk of airborne infection transmission.
Monitoring and building performance: Using environmental monitoring, controls and building management systems to assess and improve indoor conditions.
Infrastructure resilience and sustainability: Balancing air quality requirements with energy efficiency, climate resilience and the long-term performance of healthcare buildings.
These responsibilities extend beyond hospitals into aged care, community health facilities, workplaces and other public environments.
As Australia considers a more coordinated national approach to air quality, the practical experience of healthcare engineers will be essential in translating public health objectives into realistic, effective and sustainable building solutions.
IHEA welcomes opportunities to contribute this expertise to national discussions and strengthen the connection between healthcare engineering, infrastructure policy and public health outcomes.
Have Your Say – Share Your Experience of Poor Air Quality
Alongside the national advocacy effort, the Safer Air Project is inviting Australians to share their personal experiences of how poor indoor or outdoor air quality has affected their health or the health of someone they care for.
These experiences provide valuable real-world perspectives that can help decision-makers understand the consequences of inadequate air quality and the importance of taking action.
Stories might include experiences of:
Asthma, respiratory symptoms or allergies triggered by poor indoor air quality.
Health impacts from bushfire smoke, dust, mould or environmental pollutants.
Concerns about ventilation and airborne infection risks in workplaces, healthcare facilities or shared environments.
Challenges faced by people with chronic health conditions or compromised immune systems when accessing public spaces.
You can share as much or as little information as you feel comfortable with.
Your experience can help strengthen the case for healthier air across Australia.
Support the Call for a National Healthy Air Strategy
IHEA encourages members and the broader healthcare engineering community to learn more about the National Healthy Air Strategy and consider supporting the call for a coordinated national response.
The initiative represents an opportunity to bring together expertise from across public health, science, engineering, the built environment and government to drive meaningful improvements in the spaces where Australians live, work and receive care.
Individuals and organisations can read the Consensus Statement, learn more about the pre-Budget submission and add their support to the campaign.
Connecting Engineering Expertise with National Advocacy
IHEA's involvement in these discussions reflects the organisation's broader commitment to professional collaboration, knowledge sharing and advocacy for the healthcare engineering sector.
By engaging with government representatives, public health organisations, researchers and industry leaders, IHEA can help ensure the perspectives and practical experience of healthcare engineering professionals are represented in conversations about healthier and safer built environments.
We thank Ben Gill for representing IHEA at this important national event and look forward to sharing insights and outcomes from the discussions with our members.
Clean air is not simply an environmental consideration – it is an essential component of safe, resilient and effective healthcare infrastructure.
As Australia's healthcare engineering community, we have an important role to play in turning the ambition of healthier air into practical, measurable improvements in the buildings and facilities we design, operate and maintain.
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