Education level
Job area
Your role as an environmental health officer
As an environmental health officer, you’ll make sure the places where people work, live and play are safe and healthy.
This includes:
- making sure that public places and services meet health and safety standards
- investigating public health risks
- preventing and responding to public health problems.
Environmental health officers usually have an interest in science and health. They like talking to people and listening, and have good problem solving and investigation skills.
We have full time, part time and casual roles.
How an environmental health officer is different from an environmental health technician
Environmental health officers are like environmental health technicians, but they have more training and responsibility. Our technicians support them by helping with sampling, monitoring and inspections.
What your day might look like
Many environmental health officers do a mix of field and office work. You might start your day checking in with your team, monitoring data and writing policies and reports.
You’ll do inspections and collect samples of air, water, food, soil and waste from places like:
- food shops
- tobacconists
- drinking water and wastewater systems
- swimming pools and beaches.
A big part of your job is keeping people safe from illness and disease from unsafe food, contaminated water, pests, pollution and poor housing conditions.
You’ll educate businesses and communities about how to stay healthy and safe, and help people follow laws about medicines, poisons, tobacco, vapes, food and radiation. If someone breaks the law, you might issue warnings or fines.
Read more about working as an environmental health officer on the Your Career.
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in public health or health science with a major in environmental health
Professional membership
We encourage environmental health officers to be a member of Environmental Health Australia.
Pay and benefits
Your pay rate and benefits will depend on your role and your pay point. In your first year you’ll start at health practitioner grade 3, pay point 0. You’ll get a different rate if you’re a student.
We also offer:
- regular wage increases
- a superannuation rate of 12.75%
- a supportive workplace with flexible working arrangements
- several types of leave
- salary packaging
- help with ongoing professional development costs.
If you're moving to start a new job with us, you may be able to get help with moving and travel costs.
Professional growth
You’ll develop your professional skills through:
- orientation programs for new staff
- workplace learning and coaching
- self-directed learning
- professional development and upskilling opportunities.
Career paths
Getting experience as an environmental health officer or doing more study can lead to other roles.
- Environmental health scientist
- Environmental health team leader
- Principal policy officer
If you plan to do more study, ask your training provider if your past studies can count towards a higher qualification.