How floods impact health systems: a scoping review of Australian research
Original research on how floods impact Australia's health system, its services and workforce has been limited, particularly in relation to general practice, allied health and the differential impacts on socially vulnerable populations. Further research is needed to inform targeted disaster preparedness and response strategies and to understand the complex and intersecting impacts. The analytical framework developed in this review provides a way to conceptualise how floods disrupt different components of the health system and offers a foundation for future research and policy development to strengthen system resilience in the face of increasing flood risk.
Authors
- Ross Bailie (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5966-3368)
- Kanchana Ekanayake (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4324-311X)
- Veronica Matthews (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1319-257X)
- Jodie Bailie (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4393-5773)
- Rebecca McNaught (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9393-6398)
- Geoffrey Morgan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4046-2405)
- Karen M. Scott (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0721-6675)
- Christine Ahern
- Nicole Dorfer
Institutions
- The University of Sydney (AU)
- Lismore Base Hospital (AU)
- Atlas of Living Australia (AU)
Publication Details
- Journal
- BMJ Open
- Published
- 2025-12-01
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2025-108856
- Citations
- 1
- Primary Topic
- Disaster Response and Management
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 2.52
Funders
- Australian Government
- University of Sydney
- Medical Research Council
- National Health and Medical Research Council
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney