IHEA Represented at Safer Shared Air 2026 Conference in Canberra
Advancing the conversation on cleaner indoor air, preventative healthcare and the future of Australia's built environments.
The Institute of Healthcare Engineering Australia (IHEA) was pleased to be represented by Ben Gill at the Safer Shared Air 2026 Conference, held at Parliament House in Canberra on Wednesday, 28 October 2026.
Bringing together representatives from government, healthcare, engineering, research, industry and the wider community, the conference highlighted the growing importance of indoor air quality as a national public health priority.
Hosted by the Safer Air Project in conjunction with AIRAH, the Centre for Safe Air and the Public Health Action Network, the event explored the evidence supporting healthier indoor environments, practical approaches to improving building performance and the need for a coordinated National Healthy Air Strategy.
For IHEA and its members, the discussions were particularly relevant, reinforcing the critical role healthcare engineers, facility managers and infrastructure professionals play in designing, operating and maintaining safe, healthy healthcare environments.
Parliamentary Support for Healthier Indoor Environments
The conference opened with addresses from Dr Monique Ryan MP, Co-Chair of the Parliamentary Friends of Clean Air Quality, and the Hon Rebecca White MP, Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care, Indigenous Health and Women.
Their participation reinforced the importance of indoor air quality as an emerging national policy consideration, extending beyond building performance to encompass preventative healthcare, workplace safety, accessibility and community wellbeing.
Dr Ryan highlighted the economic and social benefits of investing in healthier indoor environments, particularly through preventative approaches to public health.
"Preventative healthcare more than pays for itself in every respect. And something like a National Healthy Air Strategy is just a brilliant investment in our future."Dr Monique Ryan MP
Assistant Minister Rebecca White acknowledged the collective efforts of researchers, advocates and industry representatives working to improve indoor air quality across Australia.
In her opening address, she emphasised the responsibility to ensure that the spaces Australians occupy every day are safe and healthy.
"Because the fact that so many Australians live, work, play indoors means that we have a serious responsibility to ensure they can do that safely."The Hon Rebecca White MP
The involvement of both parliamentarians demonstrated the growing recognition that indoor air quality requires collaboration between government, healthcare professionals, engineering experts and the broader built environment sector.
Indoor Air Quality as a Preventative Health Strategy
A central theme throughout the conference was the opportunity to recognise cleaner indoor air as an important preventative health measure.
Speakers explored the relationship between indoor air quality and respiratory illness, airborne disease transmission, chronic health conditions and broader community wellbeing.
Professor Brendan Crabb AC from the Burnet Institute outlined the importance of cleaner indoor air in protecting public health, both as an everyday preventative measure and as part of Australia's preparedness for future pandemics.
Ben Harris from Private Healthcare Australia discussed the investment case for prevention, including the challenge of funding initiatives where the benefits extend across multiple areas of society.
Mark Brooke from Lung Foundation Australia drew on lessons from tobacco control and engineered stone, highlighting the importance of coordinated government action and clearly defined responsibilities.
The conference also provided a platform for people with lived experience of chronic illness and disability to explain how indoor air quality influences their ability to participate safely in everyday activities.
These discussions reinforced that cleaner indoor air is not simply a technical building consideration. It is also an important issue of accessibility, equity and public health.
The Critical Role of Engineering and Building Performance
For healthcare engineering professionals, one of the most relevant conference discussions centred on the practical measures required to improve indoor air quality.
Ventilation, filtration, monitoring and ongoing building maintenance are fundamental to creating healthier indoor environments, particularly in healthcare facilities where vulnerable individuals may be at greater risk.
The conference considered emerging research and real-world applications of ventilation and filtration improvements, including findings from the Pathway to Clean Indoor Air project.
Associate Professor Suman Majumdar from the Burnet Institute presented interim findings from research examining interventions across 190 rooms in schools and local government settings.
The research highlighted practical considerations associated with implementation, including installation challenges, noise, existing building constraints and the specialist workforce required to support improvements at scale.
These challenges will be familiar to many IHEA members responsible for maintaining complex healthcare facilities while balancing safety, operational requirements, energy efficiency and infrastructure investment.
The discussion also addressed workplace safety standards and the role of ventilation and air cleaning in managing biological hazards.
Emma Oju from Safe Work Australia outlined the model code of practice for managing biological hazards at work, including measures intended to reduce exposure and protect workers at greater risk.
Together, these presentations reinforced the importance of ensuring that indoor air quality initiatives are supported by sound engineering principles, practical implementation pathways and appropriate monitoring.
From Evidence to Action: A National Healthy Air Strategy
A major focus of the conference was the proposed development of a National Healthy Air Strategy.
While Australia has established national arrangements to protect food and water safety, the conference highlighted opportunities to develop a more consistent and coordinated approach to the quality of indoor air.
Professor Fay Johnston from the Centre for Safe Air presented a framework for national action, emphasising the importance of leadership, coordination, public awareness and clear implementation responsibilities.
Dr Bronwyn King AO, co-founder of Air Club, highlighted international examples of indoor air quality initiatives and the opportunity for Australia to learn from approaches being adopted elsewhere.
As Dr King observed, a significant challenge is that indoor air quality affects numerous government portfolios without always having a clearly defined area of responsibility.
The conference explored proposals for a National Healthy Air Taskforce, alongside broader public education initiatives and improved monitoring and disclosure of indoor air quality.
Representatives from the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC), NABERS and the Heart Foundation also contributed perspectives on building performance, environmental health risks and the importance of collaboration.
A consistent message emerged: meaningful improvements in indoor air quality will require coordinated efforts across government, industry, healthcare, research and the community.
IHEA's Role in Supporting Safer Healthcare Environments
IHEA's representation at Safer Shared Air 2026 reflects the Institute's commitment to remaining engaged with national conversations that influence the future of healthcare engineering and infrastructure.
Healthcare facilities present unique challenges when it comes to indoor air quality.
Hospitals and other healthcare environments must accommodate vulnerable patients, complex clinical activities and continuous operations, often within infrastructure that has been developed or modified over many decades.
Effective ventilation, appropriate filtration, preventative maintenance, air quality monitoring and sound engineering management all contribute to safer environments for patients, staff and visitors.
As expectations around indoor air quality continue to evolve, healthcare engineers and facility managers have an important role in translating emerging research, policy directions and technical guidance into practical improvements.
Participation in industry forums also helps ensure that the operational realities of healthcare facilities remain part of broader discussions about standards, regulation and infrastructure investment.
IHEA thanks Ben Gill for representing the Institute at this important national conference, helping maintain our connection with the wider engineering, healthcare and policy communities.
Continuing the Conversation
Safer Shared Air 2026 reinforced the importance of collaboration in turning evidence into meaningful action.
The conference concluded with a call for organisations and individuals to support the development of a National Healthy Air Strategy and encourage greater awareness of indoor air quality.
The Safer Air Project's Making the Invisible Visible campaign was also highlighted as a practical initiative encouraging organisations to monitor indoor air quality and publicly display results.
For the healthcare engineering sector, this broader movement provides an opportunity to contribute expertise, share practical knowledge and support the continued improvement of Australia's healthcare environments.
IHEA looks forward to following developments arising from the conference and continuing to support conversations that advance safe, sustainable and resilient healthcare infrastructure.
IHEA acknowledges the Safer Air Project and its conference partners for bringing together government, industry, research and community representatives to advance this important national discussion.
Comments