Tackling the energy-health nexus
It’s well established that living in conditions that are too hot or too cold can significantly affect our health and wellbeing.
Despite this, there is a siloed approach to energy policy, with energy hardship typically framed in straightforward economic terms rather than as a public health challenge.
Community-based healthcare and frontline workers are a trusted profession and offer huge potential to:
- Identify community members experiencing energy hardship, and
- Connect them to energy assistance schemes.
The Energy/Health Hardship Nexus:
A case for systematic change
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About the project
VCOSS has received funding from Energy Consumers Australia to run a two-year project with a goal to create systematic change to tackle energy hardship from a new perspective.
We will create new pathways between the health and energy systems, helping identifying vulnerable community members at an earlier stage and ultimately put an end to the damaging health energy nexus.
Project objectives
The two-year project will build on VCOSS’ research about why Victorians are missing out on energy concessions – The Missing 14% – and take the next steps towards better health/energy outcomes for Victorians.
Focusing on awareness, advocacy and policy integration, the project will:
- Promote clear recognition of the nexus between energy hardship and health across the energy, health and housing sectors, including in their policies and programs.
- Establish new connections between energy market and health system actors, to better identify and support people experiencing the energy-and-health hardship.
- Develop capability and education approaches to leverage health system relationships, reach and impact.
Critical Friends Reference Group
This project is supported by a dedicated group of health and energy system experts. The ‘critical friends’ group will provide advice around project activity, foster cross-sectoral collaboration and facilitate advocacy. Members include:
- Anne-Maree Kaser Alliance of Rural and Regional Community Health
- Damien Sullivan Brotherhood of St Laurence
- Steven Jiang cohealth
- Karl Barratt and Zoe Pilven Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action
- Caroline Valente Energy Consumers Australia
- Nathan Zhivov Essential Services Commission
- Nicholas Hunter and Virginia Lewis La Trobe University
- Carolyn Neilson Loddon Prevention & Population Health Bendigo Health
- Harry Patsamanis Lung Foundation Australia
- Tricia Quibell Northern District Community Health Primary Care Connect
- Nicola Willand RMIT University
- Toby Cumming Sustainability Victoria
- Toli Papadopoulos Victorian Healthcare Association
Outputs
The project’s overarching goal is to establish new connections between energy market and health system actors, to better identify and support people experiencing the energy-and-health hardship.
This will be achieved through a series of planned project activities as outlined below.
Project activity:
- A literature review on the hardship nexus (La Trobe University) to synthesise existing research
- Development of a provocation paper to spark thought and debate with key market actors
- Health and energy systems mapping to identify intersectionality and gaps between the sectors
- A stakeholder forum to formally launch the provocation paper to key health and energy market actors
- Qualitative research with community health services and energy market actors
- Development of capability-building resources
- Public advocacy, sector engagement and insight dissemination
- Cross-sector coalition-building
The recommendations and outcomes stemming from this project will be presented to the Victorian Health and Human Services Partnership Implementation Committee and the Victorian Department of Energy and Environment and Climate Action Consumer Insights Forum.
VCOSS is the peak body for Victoria’s social and community sector, and the state’s premier social advocacy body.
We work towards a Victoria free from poverty and disadvantage, where every person and community experiences genuine wellbeing.
Tackling the energy-health nexus
Project status
Ongoing
Duration
September 2023 – August 2025
Key contact
Deborah Fewster
Partners
Energy Consumers Australia
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VCOSS acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country, and we pay respect to Elders and Ancestors. Our business is conducted on sovereign, unceded Aboriginal land. The VCOSS offices are located on Wurundjeri Woiwurrung land in central Naarm.