Tag: public health workforce
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Building the public health leaders Tasmania needs
Amy Coates and Louise Clark Tasmania is at a turning point. Our communities face significant and enduring health challenges – high rates of chronic disease and persistent inequities that demand bold, collective action. With the state’s landmark 20-year prevention strategy soon to launch, there has never been a more important time to grow…
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In the settler colonial state, how do we incorporate decolonisation into curriculum meaningfully and successfully?
Shayal Prasad and Penelope Smith with Gem Allinson, Holly Donaldson, Dr Kath Francis, Isabelle Haklar, Angela Semanda, and Kesang Thrinlek In the following piece, we use the terms First Nation Australians, Indigenous People and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander as per the PHAA Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Guide to…
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Time to arc things up for the Australian Centre for Disease Control
Terry Slevin Since the 2 May federal election outcome it is crystal clear that the long awaited and hard fought for Australian Centre for Disease Control (CDC) will now become a reality. The Albanese-led Labor party first expressed commitment to the CDC while in opposition in 2020. It became a…
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Why did I choose to leave medicine and pursue a career in public health?
Natalia Sterling My friends, family, colleagues and lecturers often ask this question. The story begins in my final year of medical school in Poznan, Poland, the city where my mum grew up. I truly enjoyed studying medicine, learning how to help people by understanding how disease disrupts the normal human…
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Finding my place in public health through purpose
Louis Commins “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” Lao Tzu It is this ancient Chinese proverb that resonates most with me as my internship with the Public Health Association of Australia (PHAA) comes to an end and I look to my future career in public…
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Women from diverse backgrounds must lead and shape research
Negin Mirzaei Damabi, Zahra Ali Padhani, Patience Castleton, and Zohra Lassi Women continue to be underrepresented in STEM occupations. In Australia, women made up just 15% of STEM-qualified roles in 2023. While their presence in these fields has grown by 76% over the past decade, the gender gap remains stark.…
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Who takes care of our most vulnerable?
Penelope Smith People who migrate to work in health – whether in frontline delivery, program design, or research – are a vital part of the health workforce in Australia and globally. International health workers bring with them a wealth of knowledge and experience that, if thoughtfully leveraged, could be powerful.…
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Strong public health workforce needed to manage next global crisis
Adj Assoc Prof Priscilla Robinson and Hon Assoc Prof Leanne Coombe Following the release of the COVID-19 Response Inquiry Report last week, there has been plenty written about Australia’s response to the pandemic. Commentaries have explored the ongoing impacts on mental health through to the erosion of public trust in…
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WHO Roadmap for public health workforce gathers speed
Adj Assoc Prof Priscilla Robinson and Hon Assoc Prof Leanne Coombe The fourth meeting of the World Health Organization Steering Committee (SC), which is overseeing the National Workforce Capacity to Deliver the Essential Public Health Functions Roadmap (the Roadmap), was held on 22-23 October 2024. The SC meeting was hosted…
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The value of connection for public health scholars
Erin Fitzpatrick, Penelope Smith, Toya Ricci, Xavier Mills, and Khwanruethai Ngampromwongse Pursuing a PhD requires intense focus, often resulting in isolation from social pursuits, employment, and many aspects of regular life. Academic systems can exacerbate feelings of isolation and loneliness, through ruthless competition and emphasis on individual success. While pursuing…
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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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Introducing Editor-in-Chief Prof Luke Wolfenden
Professor Luke Wolfenden (pictured above, centre right) began his appointment as Editor-in-Chief of the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health (ANZJPH) on 1 July. We sat down with him to find out more about his career to date and vision for the Journal. Tell us a bit about…
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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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There’s more to PHAA membership than tax deductions
Penelope Smith The value of a Public Health Association of Australia (PHAA) membership, particularly if you are a student like me, is significant; but for a very long time, my engagement with the Association was little to none. Despite being a member since 2017, it’s only within the last year…
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Twelve tips for inclusive practice in healthcare
Dr Joanne Flavel, Assoc Prof Brahm Marjadi, Dr Paul Gardiner and Dr Kristen Glenister It is well recognised that inclusivity improves health and wellbeing outcomes. However, practical tips for frontline clinicians and students can be difficult to find. Where guidelines for inclusive practice do exist, there is often a focus…
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Why attend a PHAA conference?
A big part of our work at PHAA is delivering conferences which cover different public health topics, like prevention, disease control, and mental health. Our conferences are hosted around Australia and provide a platform for public health professionals to network, collaborate, and learn from one another. We’re looking forward to…
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We need new tools in public health, says Dr Joe Smyser
PHAA Health communication plays a vital role in reducing misinformation and influencing health behaviours, like vaccine uptake. The Communicable Diseases and Immunisation Conference, to be held in Brisbane/Meanjin on 11 – 13 June, is an opportunity for delegates to learn new ways of managing misinformation in disease control efforts. Dr…
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“One of the best things I’ve done”: student reps describe volunteering with PHAA
Priyanka Mascarenhas, Negin Mirzaei Damabi, Jay Kongsawat, Faith John, Zahra Ali Padhani, Chijindu Etalong These six student representatives from the PHAA South Australia Branch share their experience volunteering with the Association, and how they developed confidence, networks, and skills they will use throughout their public health careers. We’re excited to…
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Trust: missing in action in health policy
Dr Jennifer Dunne & Dr Matthew Govorko Trust in public health is vitally important. On 29 February 2024, the PHAA WA branch, in conjunction with Healthway and the Australian Health Promotion Association, hosted an event exploring trust in health policy – or rather, the lack thereof – and the implications…
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Global field experience to benefit future health professionals
Dr Muhammad Aziz Rahman, Professor of Public Health Health and wellbeing are determined by many sociocultural factors aside from the structure of the health system and available resources. In developed countries like Australia, it can be less obvious how factors such as religion, gender, and socioeconomic status impact health, as…
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Meet John Lowe, outgoing Editor-in-Chief of ANZJPH
Emeritus Professor John Lowe (left) receiving the 2023 President’s award from PHAA President, Tarun Weeramanthri AM (right). Emeritus Professor John Lowe, Editor-in-Chief of the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, won the President’s Award at our 2023 Public Health Conference. Professor Lowe recently shared with us highlights from his…
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Turning a corner for public health workers: Updates on a global workforce roadmap
Adj. Assoc Prof Priscilla Robinson and Hon. Assoc Prof Leanne Coombe, PHAA Policy and Advocacy Manager Public health has achieved a great deal of visibility because of the pandemic, but it is important that this momentum is not now lost as we ‘return to normal’. This is the first of…
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Stepping into the Spotlight: Anupriya Sharma shares on first media interview
Anupriya Sharma, PHAA WA Branch Vice President Ever wondered what it would be like to do a media interview? Well, allow me to take you on a journey as I share my experience delivering my first media interview. It all started three weeks ago when Ms. Mya Kordic, an ABC…
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Scholarship recipients reflect on CDIC Perth 2023
Editor’s note: PHAA was pleased to award Indigenous Workforce Scholarships for the Communicable Diseases and Immunisation Conference, held in Perth from 19 to 21 June 2023. In the pieces below, two recipients reflect on their experiences. Georgina Kelly I Environmental Health Promotion Officer, Kimberley Region WA Country Health Service This…
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Injury is Everyone’s Business
Apu Karajagi Editor’s note: In the third of a series of Western Australia-based blogs, Apu Karajagi from Injury Matters summarises insights from the 2023 Injury Prevention Summit. The Injury Prevention Summit 2023, hosted by Injury Matters through the Know Injury program, was held on Thursday 11 May at the Perth…
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New Alcohol. Think Again campaign: What’s your poison?
Danica Keric, Cancer Council WA and Tahnee McCausland, Mental Health Commission Editor’s note: In the second of a series of Western Australia-based blogs, Danica Keric from Cancer Council WA and Tahnee McCausland from the Mental Health Commission outline a new state-wide campaign aimed at reducing alcohol harms. In June 2023,…
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‘Sounds Like’ it’s time to quit smoking
Neeka Zamani, Cancer Council WA Editor’s note: In the first of a series of Western Australia-based blogs published on Intouch, Neeka Zamani from Cancer Council WA outlines the renewal of a campaign focused on ‘warning signs’ and smoking. Tobacco use is still the largest cause of preventable death and…
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Joshua Karras on becoming a young leader in Public Health
Joshua Karras, PHAA NSW Branch I’m grateful to the PHAA team for inviting me to share some thoughts on my journey as an early career Public Health Scientist and how my co-curricular activities have shaped the emerging professional I am today. I do note my discomfort at completing such a…
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Remembering Dr Mike Nunn, a pioneering One Health advocate and mentor
Dr Andrea Britton, PHAA One Health Special Interest Group co-convenor It is with much loss and gratitude that we reflect on the One Health Special Interest Group founding member, Dr Mike Nunn. Sadly, he passed away in late May 2023. Co-founder of the SIG, Professor Martyn Jeggo, has shared his…
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‘Excellent response’: Members’ input welcomed for 2023 PHAA policy review cycle
Lily Pratt, PHAA Policy Officer Each year, PHAA reviews many of its policy position statements, on matters ranging from Nuclear Weapons to Women’s Health. Our fantastic Special Interest Groups, in partnership with PHAA National Office, coordinate the policy review process, sharing their expertise to develop evidence-based, quality policy position statements.…