Hazardous drinking in Australia: 10-year study reveals positive trend but still a long way to go

Australia’s drinking culture is well documented. As we prepare for a warm weekend with summer fast approaching, millions of Australians … More

Study finds patterns of psychological distress, alcohol use and social disconnect among Australian mineworkers

Mental disorders, including mood, anxiety and substance use, are extensive throughout the world with one in three affected by such … More

Facing Unprecedented Challenges: lessons from the 2020 Australian Public Health Conference

Jeremy Hunt At this point, unprecedented doesn’t quite do 2020 justice. Throughout the year governments and organisations have had to … More

Exponential growth in COVID cases would overwhelm any state’s contact tracing. Australia needs an automated system

C Raina MacIntyre, UNSW The people at highest risk of getting infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, are … More

Food security during COVID a critical challenge for remote Indigenous communities

NAIDOC Week 2020 – ‘Always was, always will be’ To celebrate NAIDOC Week 2020, the Public Health Association of Australia … More

Ensuring COVID-19 information is culturally appropriate

NAIDOC Week 2020 ‘Always was, always will be’ To celebrate NAIDOC Week 2020, the Public Health Association of Australia is … More

WellMob portal provides a one-stop-shop for COVID-safe information

NAIDOC Week 2020 ‘Always was, always will be’ To celebrate NAIDOC Week 2020, the Public Health Association of Australia is … More

Congratulations to the ACT for committing to Raise the Age of Criminal Responsibility

Ingrid Johnston and Michael Doyle Recently the PHAA was pleased to join with the Raise the Age Coalition in … More

COVID-19 results in new ways of working with Indigenous young people in remote communities

NAIDOC Week 2020 – ‘Always was, always will be’ To celebrate NAIDOC Week 2020, the Public Health Association of Australia … More

national reconciliation week. Image of Summer Finlay

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander allies start with the basics; correct terminology.

Dr Summer May Finlay If you can’t get the simple things right, how can we trust you to get … More

More Deadly News: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander tobacco use continues to go down

NAIDOC Week 2020 Raglan Maddox, Katherine A. Thurber, Tom Calma, Glen Benton, Emily Banks, Raymond Lovett Smoking is a leading … More

COVID-19 healthcare response in NSW: a success story

Australian Public Health Conference 2020 Introduction: It’s being dubbed Australia’s coronavirus success story – open borders, open businesses, slow infection … More

Nuclear weapons – always inhumane and unacceptable, now illegal

Tilman Ruff On Saturday 24 October, the number of nations ratifying the United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear … More

The public health success of preventing iodine deficiency

Kim Jose At the recent AGM of the PHAA Judy Seal was awarded a President’s Award by David Templeman for … More

Public Health in Queensland – a state election wrap

Paige Preston and Letitia Del Fabbro #QldVotesHealth #5percentforprevention #Qldvotes With only a few days left before the October 31st Queensland … More

Health communication for policy change and better patient care

Australian Public Health Conference 2020 Plenary Session 5 – Health Communication Keynote speakers: Danielle Wood, Chief Health Officer, Grattan Institute … More

Does anyone really believe we are going to avert a climate catastrophe?

Peter Sainsbury It might be easy, even for someone who follows the scientific evidence about climate change, to think … More

How do we improve public health messaging during periods of bushfire smoke and poor air quality?

Australian Public Health Conference 2020 Workshop Friday 23 October Topic: How do we improve public health messaging during periods of … More

Studies reveal the other health impacts of COVID-19

Australian Public Health Conference 2020 Since the first COVID-19 cases in Australia were announced in January this year much … More

The pressure cooker environment – preventing the next pandemic

Andrea Britton Australian Public Health Conference 2020 One Health SIG webinar: The pressure cooker environment – preventing the next … More

Bushfire catastrophe provides evidence climate change is real and impacting our lives

Australian Public Health Conference 2020 Plenary 2: Planetary and Climate Health Panelists Ms Amanda McKenzie, CEO, Climate Council Professor Peter … More

Self-determination for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders is working during COVID-19 crisis

Australian Public Health Conference 2020 Plenary 1 – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Facilitator – Summer May Finlay, Vice … More

100 days of lockdown. Is Melbourne facing its final COVID countdown?

Terry Slevin I don’t know if Victorian Premier Dan Andrews is a gambler. I assume he might have a … More

Upcoming elections are in the gun lobby sights

Stephen Bendle The Public Health Association Australia (PHAA) is a founding member of the Australian Gun Safety Alliance (AGSA) … More

A disappointing week, but signs we are at least facing in the right direction

Terry Slevin, CEO of the PHAA The Australian Government Budget for 2020-21 was finally released last week, after a … More

A start on a new approach to disease control?

Terry Slevin It’s welcome news that Labor, in opposition, is thinking about how to maximise Australia’s structural arrangements for … More

Magnificent response supports Victoria’s COVID-19 front-line public health worker mentoring program

Jeremy Lasek The catch-cry ‘we’re all in this together’ during the COVID-19 public health emergency has brought to the … More

Former Australian of the Year calls for urgent reform of national mental health strategy

Jeremy Lasek Australia’s mental health system was ‘overwhelmed and on its knees even before the pandemic’, according to leading … More

Fact or Fiction? Debunking the myths around e-cigarettes

Michelle Jongenelis, Christina Watts and Maurice Swanson E-cigarettes have clearly made their way into Australian society. So, what’s the … More

International Safe Abortion Day 28th September – why do we keep celebrating it?

Suzanne Belton In the late European summer of 2018, I visited beautiful Portugal to meet with a lot of … More

We need to become healthier, faster

Terry Slevin The Australian Government is currently consulting on its National Preventive Health Strategy. The most important message they … More

Where are all the public health policies this ACT election?

Terry Slevin This year has been indelibly marked by the public health crisis of COVID, and the public has had … More

Asylum seekers and refugees are extra vulnerable during COVID-19

Jaya Dantas The Public Health Association of Australia (PHAA) supports the No Child Left Behind campaign by the Refugee … More

Tobacco control was the best buy in health then, and it’s still the best buy now: an interview with Dr Michael Wooldridge

Michael Wooldridge and Paul Grogan Image: German brother drivers Michael Schumacher on left and Ralf Schumacher walk along the … More

New bushfire season prompts renewed call for action on climate

David Templeman, President of the Public Health Association Australia, former Director General of Emergency Management Australia With the start … More

Victoria may not set the gold standard but its COVID numbers far from fail on a global scale

Terry Slevin Listening to much of the commentary as Victoria has battled to get on top of its second … More

Timely COVID warning for millions of hay fever sufferers

With the arrival of spring, millions of Australians will experience the familiar sneezing, runny eyes and itchy throat associated with hay fever. As was experienced when COVID-19 took hold earlier this year in the Northern Hemisphere, with warming weather and higher pollen counts there’s a growing concern that the symptoms of coronavirus may be confused with hay fever.