Background: Climate change is associated with an increase in vector-borne diseases. The aim of this review is to summarise existing evidence on the impact of temperature, on the transmission of Ross River virus (RRV) and Barmah Forest virus (BFV) infections in different geographical regions in Australia and to identify knowledge gaps.

Methods: We conducted a systematic search across three databases PubMed, Embase and Scopus from inception until March 2025. Eligible studies included peer reviewed studies published in English, and those that quantitatively assessed the impact of temperature on RRV or BFV infections.

Results: From 406 studies identified, 30 studies were eligible for inclusion. Overall, studies reported a positive association between high temperatures and an increased risk of RRV and BFV notifications in Australia. Geographical variations were observed with maximum temperature associated with higher notifications of RRV infections in coastal Australia, while minimum temperature increased the risk of RRV infections in inland regions, and for BFV infections across both regions.

Conclusion: Studies reported a positive association between temperature and RRV/BFV notifications, with spatial variations observed in different regions of Australia.

Implications for public health: Given most studies were carried out in coastal regions, there is a need to undertake further exploration in inland regions in Australia, at a smaller spatial scale to implement tailored prevention strategies.