Mission, Aims and Function
The Collaborating Centre will provide an opportunity for developers and decision makers in government agencies or private organisations to obtain valuable and relevant assistance to undertake Environmental Health Impact Assessments for new or changes to existing development, policies and/or plans. Among its range of activities, the Centre will provide opportunities for training and education in the various aspects of EHIA through Fellowship Programs and other initiatives to contribute to capacity building in EHIA in the Western Pacific Region and beyond.
This Centre will:
- Contribute to the development and implementation of EHIA to prospective, current and retrospective projects, policies and plans;
- Provide educational and training programs on aspects of EHIA; and
- Provide a focus for EHIA in the Western Pacific Region and beyond.
Undertaking a range of activities designed to increase the effectiveness and use of EHIA across the Asia Pacific Region.
The objectives of the World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health Impact Assessment (EHIA) at Curtin University of Technology are to:
- Increase recognition of the need for health impacts to be considered in development projects, policies, planning and other initiatives;
- Increase the implementation of HIA within EIA procedures;
- Develop and promote the use of a generalized framework and guidelines for EHIA; and
- Promote and facilitate environmental epidemiology and other related EHIA training programs.
Functions of the Centre
The functions carried out by the WHO Collaborating Centre for EHIA are:
- Collection, interpretation and distribution of information regarding EHIAs;
- Promotion of the integration of HIA within EIA procedures;
- Development of a Visiting Fellowship Program in EHIA, with particular focus on the Asia Pacific Region;
- Development of distance learning programs in EHIA;
- Development and transfer of technology and information on EHIA; and
- Development of research projects relevant to EHIA with other stakeholders in the Asia Pacific Region.
