Melbourne heat wave health warnings: Experts flag heart, pregnancy, and mental health risks as ERs underprepared

As El Nino summer approaches, researchers call for urgent action on housing and urban cooling

By LineZotpaper

Published21 October 2026

Read Time2 min

Health experts are warning that Melbourne's coming summer, amplified by an El Nino pattern, poses severe health risks including heart attacks, premature births, and mental health deterioration, with emergency departments underprepared for a surge in heat-related cases.

Researchers from the University of Sydney and RMIT University are raising the alarm as another hot summer approaches. Mounting evidence shows that extreme heat increases rates of stillbirth and premature birth, triggers heart attacks, worsens mental health, and exacerbates chronic illnesses. Emergency departments in Victoria are reported to be severely underprepared for the forecast record-shattering death tolls.

Professor Ollie Jay, academic director of the Heat and Health Research Centre at the University of Sydney, said extreme heat costs the Australian economy over $6 billion in lost productivity each year. He pointed to a growing hazard of extreme heat combined with an ageing population and increased prevalence of chronic diseases. A landmark study published in The Lancet Planetary Health in August warned that health impacts on people aged 60 and over have been underestimated.

Dr Sarah Robertson, a research fellow at RMIT University's Centre for Urban Research, noted that much of Victoria's existing housing was built before energy efficiency standards. She said the introduction of minimum standards for rental properties from next year requiring ceiling insulation, draft proofing, and fixed cooling in living rooms will be a catalyst for change. Her colleague Dr Rebecca Olive focused on outdoor public spaces, warning that staying indoors during heat creates social isolation and inequities linked to fatalities. She called for government funding to upgrade and shade local pools and for making the Yarra River safe for swimming by 2050.

New research commissioned by Bupa and undertaken by the RedBridge Group found that nearly three-quarters of Australians experienced negative health effects from extreme heat over the past year, with emotional and psychological stress ranked as the single largest threat. Nearly four in five respondents said hot temperatures were affecting their sleep quality, and despite 98 per cent of households having home cooling, about three-quarters limited its use due to rising electricity costs.

Analysis

Why This Matters

Heat-related health risks are intensifying with climate change, putting vulnerable populations such as the elderly and those with chronic conditions at greater danger.
Emergency departments are underprepared, raising the prospect of preventable deaths during heatwaves.
Economic and social costs include productivity losses and energy poverty as families limit cooling.

Background

Melbourne faces hotter summers driven by climate change and the urban heat island effect, which can make temperatures vary by up to 6 degrees across the city. Much of the existing housing stock was built before modern thermal performance standards, leaving many homes poorly equipped to cope. The Victorian government has announced a plan to plant 100,000 trees in heat-exposed suburbs, and minimum rental standards are set to take effect from next year.

Key Perspectives

[Health experts (Prof. Ollie Jay)]: Extreme heat is a growing hazard that requires building-level interventions such as reflective roofs, external shutters, street trees, and shade structures. Official temperature readings are taken in the shade, so direct sun exposure can make environments feel at least 15 degrees hotter. [Housing researchers (Dr Sarah Robertson, Dr Rebecca Olive)]: Retrofitting existing housing and improving public cooling commons are critical. Olive warns that staying indoors to avoid heat isolates people and worsens outcomes; she advocates for swimmable urban waterways and shaded community spaces. [Residents and the community]: A Bupa/RedBridge survey shows that while most households have cooling, many cannot afford to run it, creating inequities. Health impacts, especially emotional stress and poor sleep, are widespread.

What to Watch

The rollout and enforcement of Victoria's minimum rental housing standards, due to take effect from next year.
Progress on the government's commitment to plant 100,000 trees in suburbs most exposed to heat.
Whether state and local governments fund upgrades to outdoor pools and public shade infrastructure.
Emergency department capacity and planning for a predicted surge in heat-related admissions.

Sources

Heart attacks to premature births: Experts are sounding the alarm on Melbourne’s next hot summer · The Age - Latest News

Checked

12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 6 supported.

Show each claim

SupportedMelbourne’s coming hot summer poses heart, pregnancy-related and mental-health risks, while Victorian emergency departments are underprepared.The Age - Latest News: “Mounting research showing soaring temperatures can increase rates of stillbirth and premature birth, trigger heart attacks, worsen mental health and exacerbate chronic illnesses comes amid warnings that Victorian emergency departments remain severely underprepared”
Not in the sourcesThe coming summer’s health risks are amplified by an El Niño pattern.The Age - Latest News: “As another El Nino summer approaches, health experts are raising the alarm over the potentially fatal consequences of higher temperatures and an increased number of hot days expected around the state.”
Partly supportedEmergency departments are underprepared for a surge in heat-related cases.The Age - Latest News: “Victorian emergency departments remain severely underprepared for a surge in heatwaves that are forecast to lead to record-shattering death tolls.”
SupportedExtreme heat costs the Australian economy more than $6 billion in lost productivity each year.The Age - Latest News: “Professor Ollie Jay, academic director of the Heat and Health Research Centre at the University of Sydney, said extreme heat cost the Australian economy more than $6 billion in lost productivity every year.”
Partly supportedThe August Lancet Planetary Health study warned that health impacts on people aged 60 and over have been underestimated.The Age - Latest News: “a landmark study published in The Lancet Planetary Health in August warning the impacts of heatwaves on people aged 60 and over have been underestimated.”
SupportedMinimum rental-property standards starting next year will require ceiling insulation, draft proofing and fixed cooling in living rooms.The Age - Latest News: “the introduction of minimum standards for rental properties, which will come into effect from next year”
Partly supportedStaying indoors during heat creates social isolation and inequities linked to fatalities.The Age - Latest News: “Often we’re told in extreme heat to stay indoors, pull down the blinds, and stay cool ... but this creates great inequities and social isolation, which can link directly to heat-related fatalities”
Partly supportedDr Rebecca Olive called for making the Yarra River safe for swimming by 2050.The Age - Latest News: “Olive has also joined four Melbourne councils in a united push to make the Yarra River safe and clean enough for public swimming by 2050.”
SupportedNearly three-quarters of Australians experienced negative health effects from extreme heat over the past year, with emotional and psychological stress ranked the largest health threat.The Age - Latest News: “New research commissioned by Bupa and undertaken by the RedBridge Group found nearly three-quarters of Australians experienced the negative health effects of extreme heat over the past year, emotional and psychological stress being ranked as the single largest health threat.”
SupportedNearly four in five respondents said hot temperatures were affecting their sleep quality.The Age - Latest News: “Nearly four in five respondents said hot temperatures were affecting their sleep quality.”
Partly supported98 per cent of households have home cooling.The Age - Latest News: “Despite 98 per cent of households among the 3000 people surveyed saying they had home cooling”
SupportedAbout three-quarters of surveyed households limited home cooling because of rising electricity costs.The Age - Latest News: “about three-quarters said they were forced to limit its use due to rising electricity costs.”