The interdisciplinary “Thrive Forum: Indoor Air Quality in Schools” was held at QUT on 17 July 2025, and aimed to reach a high level consensus with the presenters and panellists, which included:
Professor Lidia Morawska (QUT, THRIVE), Ms 𝗥𝗼𝗯𝘆𝗻 𝗠𝗲𝗹𝗱𝗼𝗻 (Department of Education Queensland), Professor Prof Geoff Hanmer (ARINA, UTS ,THRIVE), Mr 𝗗𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗱 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗻 (COO, Somerset College), Associate Professor Wendy Miller (THRIVE, QUT), Professor Priyadarsini Rajagopalan (RMIT University), Professor Jason Monty (University of Melbourne , THRIVE), 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗼𝗻 𝗧𝗲𝗱 𝗕𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘂 (Former Premier of Victoria), 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗼𝗻 𝗥𝗼𝗯𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝗰𝗼𝘁𝘁 (Former Member of Victorian Parliament), Mr Nicholas Burt (CEO, Facility Management Association of Australia).
The big questions discussed at the forum included:
- What do we know about the quality of air in Australian school buildings? What pollutants are of concern? How are they linked to health and cognitive outcomes?
- Can we achieve a balance in building performance with respect to indoor air quality, thermal comfort, and the energy needed to support this for specific school / classroom types and specific climate(s).?
- What additional risks will climate change pose with the increased frequency of episodic pollution events, rainfall intensity, and frequency and duration of heat waves? What is the impact of these changes on indoor air quality? What additional efforts will be required to protect students and staff?
- Can school building mechanical systems be optimised to address dynamic IEQ risk and carbon emissions?
- Should new school buildings be mechanically ventilated?
- Do we need more R&D? More regulation? More collaboration between all stakeholders, including occupants?
The forum was attended by over 130 people between in person and online participants, and concluded with some clarity on how we can implement solutions to improve IAQ in schools, with discussions on regulation and what is needed to ensure government is able to create the change our children desperately need. We are now compiling a document which will be circulated to everyone in due course.
