Chelsea Dyer, Kesiye Leghemo, Zahra Ali Padhani and Tharika Rodrigo
The South Australian Population Health Conference on 25 October was so successful it sold out the venue. Hosted by the state Branches of PHAA and the Australian Health Promotion Association, the conference is the state’s premier developmental opportunity for emerging public health researchers and practitioners to present their work to a local audience.
Four SA PHAA student representatives share their experiences.
Chelsea Dyer, Honours Student, University of Adelaide
It was a fantastic event which showcased the breadth of public health expertise and knowledge across the state.
The conference provided a supportive environment for emerging public health researchers and professionals to present, learn, and engage with experts in the field. There were concurrent sessions throughout the day, so I watched sessions whose presenters’ research aligned with my own.
As a public health honours student, I gave the preliminary results of my research in a three-minute presentation to a supportive and encouraging audience.
The afternoon finished with a networking event. This was great opportunity to meet colleagues and collaborators and make new friends.
I would encourage everyone to attend future a SA Population Health Conference. I left feeling impressed, driven and encouraged by the passion and dedication of our colleagues working in public health in South Australia.
Kesiye Leghemo, MPH student, Flinders University
Participating in the conference has been my favourite experience as a PHAA student representative. I was among researchers, academics, industry practitioners, other students, and my teachers.
Keynote speaker Marina Bowhall, the Chief Executive of Preventive Health SA, spoke eloquently about the new Preventive Health SA agency and the work they do. She called for continuous collaboration with stakeholders in public health to help achieve the agency’s goals.
The breakout sessions, with presentations by various researchers, institutions and students were academically uplifting. Watching MPH and PhD students deliver excellent presentations made me realise that I can also make such presentations in future – perhaps at next year’s conference.
While I enjoyed every aspect of the conference, my highlight was the professional development session on social media for public health, as it offered me a new perspective on my public health practice.
Many thanks to the conference co-chairs, the organising committee, volunteers, presenters and participants.
Zahra Ali Padhani, PhD student, University of Adelaide
As the PHAA SA student representative, I had an incredible experience at the conference. I presented my research and chaired my first session, which was a new adventure for me.
While I am growing to be comfortable with presenting research, stepping into the chair’s role offered an entirely different experience. Exploring this responsibility was challenging and exciting, and the supportive environment made it an ideal setting.
I really enjoyed the diversity of presentations which covered topics including data informatics, Aboriginal health, health promotion, and social inequities.
I found particularly enlightening the professional development session on using social media for public health impact, especially for students like us who are navigating the evolving landscape of public health communication.
This experience has reinforced that stepping out of our comfort zones can lead to valuable learning opportunities in public health.
Tharika Rodrigo, PhD candidate in stroke rehabilitation, physiotherapy, University of South Australia
The networking session after the conference was one of the highlights for me. It was such a great opportunity to connect with people who share my passion for public health innovation and research.
I loved having the chance to chat with fellow students, researchers, clinicians, and professionals. It felt like the perfect extension of the exciting discussions that were had during the research presentations.
The networking sessions allowed us to unpack the rapid-fire presentations to gain further insights, sparking my curiosity and enthusiasm about recent developments in the field.
I often find networking sessions quite serious and daunting, so I appreciated how informal and welcoming the atmosphere was. It made it easy to dive deeper into specific topics, ask questions, and even brainstorm potential collaborations with people I wouldn’t have otherwise had the chance to meet.
It was especially comforting how kind and approachable everyone was. As someone early in my career, I felt completely at ease engaging with more experienced professionals, which made the whole networking process feel natural and rewarding.
Another highlight was finally meeting face-to-face with some of the people I’ve been working with this year on both the AHPA and PHAA committees. It was such a refreshing change from Zoom calls!
The networking session didn’t just reinforce existing connections, it also set the stage for future collaborations. The whole experience was truly enriching and affirmed my decision to become a committee member of both associations.
The SA Population Health Conference will return in 2025.
Image (L to R): Zahra Ali Padhani and Patience Castleton / Supplied
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