Healthy communities

Healthy communities rely on services such as rubbish and other waste disposal, dust control, lawn mowing and weed control, the provision of power and water supplies, and the maintenance of road systems [43189] [20152]. The challenges of living remotely, such as limited transport and fewer economic and other resources, can make delivering these services difficult for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities [46483] [43493], which can have a negative impact on health and wellbeing [37188].

Waste collection and disposal is important to human health [42945]. Waste includes rubbish or solid waste, dangerous goods such as asbestos, insecticides, cleaning products and old car batteries, and liquid waste such as sewage or greywater from kitchen sinks, showers and washing machines. If waste is not managed well, the health problems for communities can be significant, with the spread of pests and diseases, and contamination causing illness and injury. For example:

• Rubbish lying around the home and on the street can cause physical injury to people and attract vermin and mosquitoes.
• Food waste can attract pests which can spread diseases including skin infections, tetanus, hepatitis A, Ross River virus and hook and threadworms.
• If sewage disposal is not properly controlled, and healthy living practices aren’t followed, diseases including, diarrhoea, gastroenteritis and giardiasis can start and spread quickly to other people within a community.
• Without proper disposal, pesticides, motor oil and other chemicals can end up contaminating the community’s water supply [43493] [20152].

Community councils together with their staff, including Indigenous Environmental Health Practitioners, are responsible for managing the collection of rubbish and other waste removal, as well as educating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people on ways to keep their communities well maintained [42945] [20152]. The provision of sustainable services and fit-for-place-and-purpose technologies, along with community involvement, and culturally appropriate support and training, will allow Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to continue living on Country and to maintain good personal health and wellbeing within healthy communities [43493].