Category: Advocacy
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“Radical, or plain common sense?” Public health’s perennial question
Terry Slevin I was recently invited by ABC Radio Adelaide to talk about our policy asks ahead of the March 2026 state election. The invitation followed the release of our association’s South Australian Branch election platform on 13 February. The host of the Mornings programme, Rory McLaren, opened with a…
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Australian CDC: one giant leap for public health
Professor Paul M Kelly Last week saw a largely under reported but important milestone for public health in Australia and beyond. The draft legislation was introduced in Parliament to establish an Australian Centre for Disease Control (CDC) as a statutory agency under the Minister for Health. The Public Health Association…
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A year to celebrate historic public health wins
Adjunct Professor Terry Slevin, PHAA CEO As 2024 staggers to a close, Australia’s public health community has several reasons to feel a sense of achievement. It is time to reflect on what has probably been the best year for advancing public health causes in at least a decade. The good…
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How to communicate public health research
PHAA Communications have recently launched a member-only public health communications guide. Find it here. Communication is essential to public health. Recall some of the most effective public health campaigns in Australian history – Slip, Slop, Slap, or anti-smoking ads – these are excellent examples of how communication can help us…
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Toward a comprehensive approach to obesity
Adjunct Professor Terry Slevin, Clare Hughes, Anita Dessaix, Associate Professor Kate McBride, Jasmine Lykissas There is an urgent need for public health action on obesity, and a current window of policy opportunity for nationally coordinated advocacy. This urgent need for action reflects the persistently high levels of obesity among Australian…
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Adversity to advocacy: Ruqia’s path to public health
Ruqia Mohamed As a first-generation Australian Somali, my life has always been intertwined with the threads of family, culture, and faith. Growing up, our home was filled with laughter, shared meals, and endless conversations. These elements of our close-knit family life were the foundation of my upbringing, instilling in me…
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Developing public health nutrition advocates
Damian Maganja, Bronwyn Ashton, Rachelle Pretorius, Meron Lewis and Anastassia Demeshko Everyone needs to eat, and what we eat is vital to our health and wellbeing. But what we can, want, and do eat is heavily shaped by external influences. Our preferences and habits, available choices, access to foods, and…
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Getting started with advocacy
Dr Joanne Flavel Advocacy is key to improving public health through influence on health policy. The importance of advocacy is highlighted through the inclusion of advocacy as a key competency by the International Union for Health Promotion and Education and the World Health Organization. The Public Health Association of Australia…