On 15 January 2020 the Australian Government announced that it is investing $5 million from the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) in research on the health effects of the recent bushfires.
The MRFF's Emerging Priorities and Consumer-Driven Research initiative is funding 2 research streams:
- Physiological impacts of prolonged bushfire smoke exposure
- Mental health impacts of bushfires on affected communities
The 2019-20 bushfire events highlighted the impacts of exposure to toxic ash and pollutants on human health, including mental health. We saw the stress that bushfires place on:
- first responders
- their families
- those who had to evacuate their communities
- those who lost loved ones, homes or businesses
This research will link researchers, institutions, policy makers and professional associations together to form a comprehensive snapshot of the health effects of the 2019-20 bushfires on Australians.
The data collected through this research will be used to:
- inform future preparedness, response and recovery efforts
- provide accurate and practical public health advice
- provide mental health services during bushfire and medium-term smoke events
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