Environmental Health Directorate publications
The Environmental Health Directorate of the Public and Aboriginal Health Division aims to keep the WA community safe from hazards in the places where we live and play.
The air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat and the land on which we live are all part of our environment and can have a direct impact on our health. As people live and play in the environment they can be exposed to microbiological, chemical, and physical hazards. Different exposures may be linked to diseases, illness, injury, disability, physical and mental health conditions and premature death. The Environmental Health Directorate ensures systems such as legislation, guidelines, standards, monitoring and surveillance are in place to manage public health risks in the community.
Environmental Health Directorate Strategic Plan
The Environmental Health Directorate Strategic Plan 2024 – 2027 (PDF 3MB) outlines the strategic outcomes and priorities of the Environmental Health Directorate for the next four years, with the aim of preventing disease, illness, injury and death arising from environmental health hazards.
Our strategic outcomes
- Safe food and water
- Minimised hazards in the community
- Improved environmental health conditions in remote Aboriginal communities
- Managed emerging environmental health risks during emergencies and incidents
- Continuous improvement of environmental health service delivery
Our customer service charter
The Environmental Health Directorate Customer Service Charter (2MB PDF) sets out the commitment of our team to exceptional customer service and timeframes for responding to queries and regulatory applications.
Newsletter
Our team produces a monthly newsletter providing regular updates on environmental health related activities relevant to Western Australia, including policies, guidelines, legislation, training and other matters of interest. Subscribe here.
Training
Learn more about environmental health events, webinars and training that we offer.
Partnership with local government
Local governments across WA are considered our co-partners in environmental public health protection.
Local governments have a range functions under environmental health related legislation including the Public Health Act 2016 and Food Act 2008. These functions are often the delegated responsibility of Chief Executive Officer’s and executive staff.
Environmental health workforce
Environmental Health Officers are the authorised regulatory workforce that provide the necessary skills and qualifications to enforce public health legislation on behalf of a local government. This workforce ensures a high level of public and environmental health standards are in place. They provide critical local capability that supports consistent, on‑the‑ground delivery of environmental health services. The EHD has a long-standing relationship with the environmental health workforce and values opportunities to build and maintain relationships and provide leadership to this workforce.
Environmental health career promotion resources
There is currently a shortage of Environmental Health Officers (EHOs) in WA, with many local governments experiencing difficulties in recruiting EHOs.
As one of the largest employers of EHO's local governments play an important role in promoting the environmental health profession as a career opportunity to:
- high school students looking for a future career
- recent graduates exploring career and education pathways
- people already working (or in between jobs) who are looking for a career change.
To support local governments to promote career opportunities, the Department of Health developed the Environmental public health career promotion toolkit (PDF 250KB) which includes a range of resources that can be co-badged and promoted in local communities.
Pull up banners (2m x 850mm), a large 3m x 2m banner and table cloth can also be borrowed by local governments for use at community events or career expos. Please email eh.stakeholderengagement@health.wa.gov.au if you would like to borrow these resources.
The promotion of the profession aligns with the Environmental Health Workforce Strategy: Public Health Planning (PDF 150KB).
Check out more details on how to become an environmental health officer (external site).
Last reviewed: 16-07-2026
Produced by
Environmental Health Directorate