EHO Knows
Welcome to EHO Knows:
The Podcast for
Environmental Health Officers
Hosted by Shane van de Vorstenbosch, EHO Knows takes you inside the daily life of Environmental Health Officers (EHOs). This podcast blends industry insights, practical tips, and humor to help you navigate the world of environmental health.
Whether you’re new to the field or a seasoned EHO, each episode offers valuable lessons, personal stories, and expert advice. We explore both the highs and lows of the job, showing how hindsight can lead to better practices.
Practical Advice
Humor & Insight
Expert Guests:
Where can you find EHO Knows?
Episode 1: The Salmonella Bomb
In the very first episode of EHO Knows, host Shane welcomes veteran Environmental Health Officer Lauriston Muirhead for a fascinating and eye-opening discussion. This episode delves into how a single contaminated egg in homemade aioli led to a mass food poisoning outbreak, hospitalising over 100 people. Lauriston, takes us through the step-by-step investigation—from the initial phone call to the process of tracing the outbreak’s source. He reveals how a combination of factors created the perfect storm for a devastating Salmonella outbreak.
For EHOs, this episode offers invaluable insights into crisis management, risk assessment, and the importance of effective communication during a foodborne illness outbreak. Lauriston shares practical advice for fellow environmental health professionals, including the importance of preparedness, maintaining calm under pressure, and conducting thorough food safety inspections.
Whether you’re a food safety professional or restaurant owner this episode is packed with useful insights. Listen now to the first episode of EHO Knows
Episode 2: Thrown in the Deep End
In episode two of EHO Knows, host Shane sits down with experienced Environmental Health Officer (EHO) Cameron Smith to discuss the unexpected challenge of the Lismore floods disaster.
Cameron shares his first-hand experience of waking up to find an entire city submerged, with thousands of people stranded and in desperate need of food, shelter, and medical care. As an EHO, Cameron was suddenly responsible for coordinating emergency evacuation centres, ensuring access to clean water, handling sanitation concerns, and preventing disease outbreaks.
This episode isn’t just about one flood—it’s a wake-up call for disaster preparedness in Australia. With extreme weather events becoming more frequent, councils and EHOs across the country will increasingly find themselves in similar situations. Cameron shares critical lessons learned, offering practical advice for professionals, government agencies, and communities on how to prepare for the worst.
Listen now to episode two of EHO Knows
Episode 3: Pied Piper
In episode three of EHO Knows, host Shane sits down with Environmental Health Officer Max Payne (not that one) to uncover a shocking case of a massive rat infestation hidden beneath a major shopping centre. What started as a single employee complaint about rodents quickly escalated into a full-scale health crisis, exposing multiple restaurants, food storage areas, and even centre management as part of a widespread failure in food safety and pest control.
Max takes us deep into the underground storage areas of the centre, where he and his team discovered rat urine trails on food tins, gnawed packaging, and a colony of hundreds of rats thriving in an open-earth mound beneath the complex.
This episode is a good reminder that food safety failures like this don’t just happen in small, back-alley eateries and without proactive inspections and strong enforcement, these risks go unnoticed—until it’s too late.
be ready to laugh, learn and cringe when you listen now to episode three of EHO Knows
Episode 4: How to Save the World
In episode four of EHO Knows, host Shane sits down with the enthusiastic and passionate Ariana Johnson to explore what makes being an Environmental Health Officer (EHO) such a unique and rewarding career—especially for younger professionals entering the field.
In a break from the usual case-based format, this episode takes a step back to discuss how the industry can better recruit, inspire, and retain the next generation of EHOs. Ariana’s energy and enthusiasm bring a fresh perspective to the profession, making it clear why so many people find it so rewarding.
With workforce shortages and an aging profession, now is the time to spark interest in environmental health. Whether you’re a current EHO, a student considering career paths, or an employer looking to attract young talent, this episode is packed with insights on keeping the industry thriving for years to come.
Listen now to episode four of EHO Knows.
Episode 5: A New EHOpe
In episode five of EHO Knows, host Shane sits down with Sarah Ainsworth, President of Environmental Health Australia (NSW), for the first of a two-part discussion on the future of environmental health. Too often, EHOs are told that “silence is a standing ovation”—but is that really the best way forward for the profession?
With councils increasingly under-resourced and environmental health professionals facing growing responsibilities without proper recognition, Sarah shares the advocacy work being done to elevate the profession and secure the resources EHOs need. This episode isn’t just about the struggles EHOs face—it’s about solutions. Sarah highlights how Environmental Health Australia is working to raise awareness, push for legislative reform, and ensure that
Whether you’re an EHO fighting for recognition, a council decision-maker, or simply someone who cares about public health, this conversation is a must-listen.
Episode 6: Law & Order
In episode six of EHO Knows, host Shane teams up with Jason Scarborough for a courtroom-themed deep dive into the high-stakes world of Environmental Health Officers (EHOs) in legal proceedings. This episode unpacks what happens when EHOs are called to testify—because when you’re on the stand, how you present your case can make or break an outcome.
Jason, a regulatory expert, shares his insights on how EHOs can prepare for court, handle aggressive cross-examinations, and deliver credible, confident testimony. With real-life case studies—including one where a slam-dunk confession still resulted in a dismissed charge—this episode is a must-listen for EHOs, council managers, and anyone navigating regulatory enforcement.
Testifying in court isn’t just about knowing the facts—it’s about presenting them persuasively under scrutiny. Jason and Shane explore the reality of courtroom battles, from dealing with corporate lawyers to navigating self-represented defendants who push the boundaries of professional conduct.
Episode 6: El Presidente Strikes Back
In episode seven of EHO Knows, host Shane reunites with Sarah Ainsworth, President of Environmental Health Australia (NSW), to continue their conversation. As technology reshapes the way we work and live, how can environmental health professionals harness innovation to improve outcomes or how might they hinder them?
They also discuss social expectations around health, housing, climate, and equity that are shifting too and Sarah reflects on how EHOs can stay ahead of the curve, adapt to emerging pressures, and continue playing a vital role in protecting public health—while also pushing for the recognition and support the profession deserves.
Whether you’re already in the field, curious about where environmental health is heading, or passionate about the role it plays in building safer communities, this is a forward-facing conversation you won’t want to miss.
This episode is available with or without open captions.
Guest Information
Have you been invited onto EHO Knows and would like to know more? Do you have a great idea for an episode in the future?
Click on the button below to find out more.
