intouch april edition by PHAA2016

Newsletter of the Public Health Association of Australia Inc.

15th World Congress on Public Health 2017 - Special Edition

Vol 42, No 20 April 2017

Inside this issue… World Congress on Public Health Special Edition 1 WCPH 2017 - David Templeman 2

Why this Congress and why now? 3 World Congress on Public Health 2017 - Perspectives 4

Public health: where everything is political 5-6 Young people leading the way in preventing non-communicable diseases 7

This issue of InTouch is a special edition about the 15th World Congress on Public Health 2017 in Melbourne on April 3-7, which the Public Health Association of Australia (PHAA) is proudly cohosting with the World Federation of Public Health Associations of which PHAA CEO Michael Moore is current President. The World Congress on Public Health (WCPH) is held every 2-4 years and attracts between 2000-4000 delegates with an interest in public health from all over the globe. The World Congress on Public Health 2017 will be an exciting, diverse platform from which public health researchers, practitioners, academics, administrators, policy makers, industry representatives, students and stakeholders can engage with leading health issues while sharing knowledge and expertise about the latest developments in the field, as well as their related challenges and opportunites. The Congress will ideally result in the collaboration of delegates to form new and innovative approaches and solutions to public health issues, while also creating new aspirations for healthier populations at the national and global levels.

The World Congress on Public Health 2017 will incorporate World Health Day, the theme of which this year is depression. The number of people living with depression worldwide has steadily increased over the last decade, and is the largest cause of disability worldwide. Poorer countries are the most adversely affected, indicating more than ever the importance of equity in health. It is our hope that the future of public health strongly recognises these social determinants, and leads to a more equal and healthier world population. The Congress will include a wide variety Sessions, Workshops and Keynote Speakers, on a huge range of public health topics such as noncommunicable diseases, the Social Determinants of Health, global health governance, mental health, women’s and children’s health, obesity, chronic disease prevention, tobacco control and the implications of global migration for health, to name just a few. We invite you to have a read through this special issue and enjoy the diverse perspectives and opinions of some of the Congress delegates in relation to these topics, along with what they personally hope to achieve out of attending the Congress.

The Public Health Association of Australia is the major organisation advocating for the public’s health in Australia with more than 40 health related disciplines represented in its membership. The Association makes a major contribution to health policy in Australia and has branches in every state and territory. Any person who supports the objectives of the Association is invited to join.

Towards a level playing field Reflection of an abstract reviewer 8 WCPH 2017 - Maternal and newborn health #WCPH2017 Texting sad dads

9 10

Closing the gap needs urgent action to overcome food insecurity 12 Immunisation - Addressing the gaps 13 GAPC 2017: alcohol policy and the evidence for action 14 Coroners role in injury prevention Invitation to attend 15 Office Bearers

www.phaa.net.au

World Congress on Public Health 2017 David Templeman, Board President, Public Health Association, Australia

would not be the exciting, important event it is set to be. It is happening at a time when Australians are increasingly concerned about their long-term health and future support and infrastructure requirements for their and community wellbeing. More and more Australians are experiencing the impacts of rises in chronic disease conditions and these relationships to the many social, ecological and environmental determinants of health. And, on top of this is our need to ensure the health needs of our First People Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians are front and centre of health reform and priority.

It is a privilege that I write this note on behalf of PHAA members and our Board on the eve of the 2017 World Congress on Public Health, being convened in Melbourne by the World Federation of Public Health Associations (WFPHA) during 3/7 April 2017.

The Australian Government has raised its concern about Australia’s increasing obesity crisis where we have seen a 35 percent increase in obesity levels in the last 25 years, and if trend continues, this will be around 91 percent by 2040. Concern is not enough - real action and commitment is essential.

Like many attending the Congress, I’m delighted this event with more than 2000 delegates registered is happening in our backyard. Australia is uniquely placed to showcase some of our significant achievements in preventive and public health but moreover to identify with some of the countries attending, the many serious gaps that we all still need to address in health prevention, promotion and protection. When Australia spends less than 2 percent of our total health budget on prevention, we have a long way to go to catch up to other nations like Canada who see the benefit of this investment rather than clogging up our health capacity infrastructure. Australians see a system of response which is not coping and seriously question what is needed to keep people out of hospitals.

On behalf of the PHAA we welcome the World Congress and the many debates and sharing in our collective goals for quality health care and accessibility for all. We wish the WFPHA every success for what should be a defining moment for health priorities more broadly but also in raising the experiences of others which should greatly assist our leadership and decision makers to recognise the critical priorities for health investment for the good of the nation. Warm regards

I want to congratulate Michael Moore AM our CEO and who is also the President of WFPHA for his determination and leadership in facilitating this year’s Congress to be in Australia, and Past PHAA President Helen Keleher in chairing the Congress National Organising Committee, without whom this Congress

David Templeman

Why this Congress, and why now? Dr Helen Keleher, Convenor of 15th World Congress on Public Health 2017

countries, unlike the MDGs which developed countries too often saw as the agenda for developing nations rather than for all countries. The SDGs are for all countries, recognizing that they have differing national circumstances on which together and independently, we need to act. My excitement about this World Congress on Public Health is that we in the public health community are given an opportunity during these five days, to become immersed in finding ways to address our common responsibilities in delivering the global vision set out by the SDGs. I hope that you meet people who inspire you, that you develop new networks of people to talk to and perhaps meet with in the future, and that you feel more united by our common humanity than ever before.

None of us need to be reminded that Australia is a relatively rich country albeit with growing levels of inequality that our governments are struggling to address effectively. All countries experience inequality at levels which many Australians find shocking but most donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know what to do or say about it. We all struggle with health, social and economic sustainability as well as the critical issues of climate change. Those issues are fundamental to our shared humanity. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) underpin much of the content of this Congress showing that every country has a moral and common responsibility to tackle the transformational challenges presented by the Goals. They are ambitious but they apply to all

World Congress on Public Health 2017 - Perspectives Ready for the #WCPH arena – paving the way for next 50 years of health!

Why I’m volunteering at the World Congress on Public Health

I am so excited to attend the 15th World Congress on Public Health to hear voices that have really influenced public health, starting from personal every-day experiences such as the tobacco free portfolios initiative by Bronwyn King; or that have set up a movement to face NDCs and community, food, culture and future, by Alessandro Demaio.

Volunteering at the World Congress is not only a way to support this fabulous ‘Festival of Public Health’ but will also give me a variety of experiences throughout the week (the free ticket also comes in handy being a PhD candidate). My top three hopes are to: 1. Be inspired I’m looking forward to hearing the speakers and being inspired by the range of perspectives and work happening across the globe, particularly focusing on marginalised young people. I’m looking forward to hearing about other’s struggles and wins in public health advocacy. What was the key to success?

I want to listen to new stories, learn new approaches and share my experience; I want to contribute to the vision of public health for the next 50 years and beyond (hopefully). I want to experience life in Australia and be inspired by what this country has put in place to prevent disease, protect people and promote public health.

2. See great people in action I’m looking forward to my volunteer shifts in the media room and can’t wait so see leaders in action, interacting with journalists as they craft persuasive arguments for change.

I am excited to meet such a big community of public health professionals in the broad sense; people sharing my values and struggling to give a healthier world in inheritance to our children.

3. Find my next job! With our NSW Health grant for the Access 3 study ending, my next step is to fund the writing up of the research for my PhD (on How marginalised young people navigate the Australian healthcare system). I’m on the lookout for part time positions. Who knows, through networking I might just find my next employer at the conference!

And, last but not least I am looking forward to celebrating, in this exciting context, the 50th anniversary of the World Federation of Public Health Associations and World Health Day!

Dr Marta Lomazzi, Executive Manager, World Federation of Public Health Associations

Fiona Robards, Senior Research Officer, PhD candidate General Practice, Sydney Medical School Westmead, University of Sydney

Public health: where everything is political Eloise Howse, Senior Project Officer, Healthy Sydney University PhD Candidate, School of Public Health and Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney

by environments and food systems that promote highly processed discretionary products, such as sugary drinks. Inaction on these environments and systems is likely due to an entrenched view that poor health is just an unfortunate result of ‘personal responsibility’ or ‘free choice’. This is absolutely a political argument with a clear basis in neoliberal ideology. Similarly, we know that access to products associated with specific forms of harm rapidly increases the likelihood of harm – just ask our experts in alcohol research, gun violence prevention, tobacco control and gambling, who will all be at the Congress. Reduce access and you reduce harm. But who will reduce access in the face of well-funded lobby campaigns from industry?

The 2017 World Congress on Public Health program epitomises everything I believe about public health: namely, that public health is a deeply political endeavour. If we want to be effective practitioners, policymakers, researchers and advocates for promoting better health, we can’t shy away from our core purpose of challenging systems of power that affect people’s health.

And we know that when we act on social inequalities in housing, welfare, disability, education and employment, that people’s health can be drastically improved. But these are all hugely political issues with various actors within intersecting systems of power. The inaction on these policy fronts as well as recent changes in the world’s political landscape suggest that public health is under siege – and our advocates, researchers and practitioners around the world are feeling it. The Affordable Health Care Act will likely be repealed in the US. The rise of racist, anti-immigration sentiment in Europe has already seen real and devastating consequences for the health of people of colour. And in our own backyard, the political debate on climate change and energy is seen through a lens of financial benefit and economic growth – not through the eyes of current and future generations of people, species and planet.

Several weeks ago I was lucky enough to be part of Labor’s National Health Policy Summit in Canberra. The take home message of the sessions on prevention (led by CEO of the PHAA, Michael Moore) and health inequities (led by Professor Sharon Friel from ANU) was that governments should do more to address the inequities that drive the poor health outcomes of populations. Our colleagues in the medical sciences like to believe that with the right evidence-based intervention or treatment we can eradicate health disparities. But in public health we have promoted a different approach to addressing inequalities – to use a ‘health in all policies’ lens and look at the ways in which health is determined by complex systems. These approaches aim to challenge the powerful and the status quo for the benefit of population and planetary health.

So what I am looking forward to at the Congress? I want to hear individuals, experts and groups address how we can ‘speak truth to power’ and empower our fellow citizens for the hope of a better future.

For me, the 2017 Congress Program is all about challenging the powerful and being honest about where things have gone wrong – plus sharing our practice and research to show how we can make things right. For example, we know that obesity and noncommunicable diseases are primarily driven

Public health: where everything is political (continued)

Integrating ecological determinants into Public Heath Practice – 1.30pm – 3.30pm

Here are a few of my picks of the plenary sessions that will be unashamedly political:

Wednesday 5 April Corporate Political Activity and dangerous consumptions: How do the vested interests of alcohol, tobacco and gambling steer our governments away from evidence-based public health policy? – Professor Peter Miller, 8.30am – 9am

Monday 3 April Enemies of the people? Public health in the era of populist politics – Professor Martin McKee, 10.30am – 11am

Tobacco Free Portfolios – Identifying and leveraging a new angle on comprehensive tobacco control – Dr Bronwyn King, 9.30am – 10am

A time for hope. Pursuing a vision of a fair, sustainable and healthy world – Professor Sharon Friel, 11am – 11.30am

Gun Violence Prevention as a Public Health Issue: Learning from Australia’s example – Wed 5 April 1.30pm – 3.30pm

Health is a political choice – Dr Illona Kickbusch, 12pm – 12.30pm

Ending the rise in obesity in a generation: the case for primordial prevention – Wed 5 April 4-6pm.

Politics, policies and processes: Advancing complex policy agendas – 1.30pm – 3.30pm

Thursday 6 April

Trade and investment treaties and public health policy space – 4-6pm

Achievements, challenges and threats to the Brazilian universal health system – Luis Eugenion de Souza, 9am – 9.30am Violence against women: an urgent health priority – Claudia Garcia Morena, 9.30am -10am

Tuesday 4 April Are we at a turning point in Public Health? – Dr Maria Neira, 10am – 10.30am

New roles for public health in a globalised world – Dr Rudiger Krech, 10am – 10.30am.

Young people leading the way in preventing non-communicable diseases Bridget Foley, Research and Evaluation Officer, University of Sydney Medical School, Primary Health Care Education and Research Unit, Westmead

storm for systemic change to prevent NCDs is brewing. We can learn from the Australian tobacco reform and realise that the perfect storm consists of three things, and we need all three at once. 1) Political opportunity. There is constant political debate over the sugar tax and childhood obesity. 2) Social capital. Collectively people from all walks of life are interested in strategies to reduce NCDs. 3) Evidence. It is clear that consumption of an unbalanced diet and low participation in physical activity are linked with increased risk of NCDs.

When I was an adolescent, in Year 10 at school, I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. It was a huge shock, there was no way for me to prevent it. At that time, I set a goal to help others avoid developing non-communicable diseases which can largely be prevented.

The World Congress on Public health is a timely opportunity for those of us gathering evidence all over the world, to come together and learn from each other, workshop ideas and share our successes and failures with the global community. The speakers sound brilliant and with everything and everyone together in one place, the WCPH will hopefully inspire some large scale changes to prevent the preventable. Personally, I will endeavour to attend a few sessions which are totally left-field and see what I can learn from the un-like-minded. I also hope to have some good discussions and learn from others doing different things in health education and promotion with adolescents.

I am a passionate, budding researcher at the Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney. I strongly believe that adolescents and young people will be absolutely key in achieving systems change to prevent NCDs in Australia. I have observed that young people are aware of the failing system which is leading to increasing rates of obesity, heart disease and diabetes. Young people know that the populationsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; health and life expectancies are declining. We are also a generation of innovators and entrepreneurs, because we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have time to mess around anymore. We want to be part of the solution.

See you there and on twitter!

I was awarded the PHAA Health Promotion SIG Travel Scholarship to attend the #WCPH2017. I am also thankful to have the opportunity to do an oral presentation on the Students As LifeStyle Activists program from Sydney, under the adolescent health theme on Thursday at 2:30pm - do come and listen. I am very enthusiastic about attending the Congress because I feel that the perfect

#WCPH2017

Towards a level playing field - Reflection of an abstract reviewer Dr Brahm Marjadi, MPH, PhD, Co-Convenor of the PHAA International Health Special Interest Group, Senior Lecturer at the Western Sydney University School of Medicine

Some television talent shows have “wild card” provisions where underdogs are given the chance to proceed even when they do not really meet the pass criteria. Imagine having a system where rejected abstracts from less developed countries are given a chance to attend the congress anyway, preferably with a scholarship, not only to tell the world about their work but more importantly to have an opportunity to learn from stronger researchers. A workshop on research methods, project management and abstract writing tips for these researchers would be an icing on the cake; as would an opportunity to have a one-on-one chat with seasoned abstract reviewers to improve future submissions.

I was glad to have been invited to contribute in the WCPH 2017 as an abstract reviewer. As I went through the abstracts though I came across the too familiar gap of quality between abstracts submitted from more developed and less developed countries.

For years now the Australian tertiary education has been shifting toward a more flexible, blended learning approach to accommodate students who cannot attend traditional face-to-face in-class sessions. Imagine having alternative methods of presenting works and stories from less developed countries where writing a proper abstract, designing a conference poster, let alone presenting an oral paper, are mammoth undertakings. Since many conferences are prepared well in advance, imagine having a small team of reporters capturing projects from various less developed countries and presenting them at the congress with due acknowledgment to both the reporters and researchers, project staff and the community. It will be logistically and financially challenging, but wouldn’t it make WORLD congresses a more level playing field?

The quality gap goes beyond the obvious language barrier. I was able to look beyond the expression issues and comprehend what the authors meant – even if I had to guess the correct synonyms of incorrectly chosen words in order to understand a sentence. Unfortunately there is no replacement for incomplete stories and poorly designed research projects. An abstract with long, winding background and no apparent substance in the results section is difficult to judge; and it is difficult to justify results obtained from questionable methods. I believe the WCPH 2017 scientific committee has the unenviable task to ensure the balance between country representativeness (after all it is a WORLD congress) and the quality of presented papers (because it is a WORLD congress). This balance is in itself somewhat spurious because good reports from less developed countries are likely to come from larger, stronger projects involving foreign collaborators and/or from larger institutions. In contrast, smaller, fledgling projects may not even have researchers capable enough to design the project well and/or write a clear abstract. However this limitation does not eliminate the fact that stories from these low resource scenes are equally worthy of exposure in the world stage such as WCPH 2017.

WCPH 2017 - Maternal and Newborn Health Dr Roslyn Donnellan-Fernandez, Senior Lecturer in Midwifery, Griffith Universty, Community Midwife

Evidence on Public Health; Sexual and Reproductive Health; Indigenous & First Nations Health; Violence Against Women & Children; Maternal Health; Vaccination, Immunisation & Vulnerable Populations; Maternal & Perinatal Mental Health; Social Determinants of Health; Health Systems; Strengthening Public Health Institutions & Workforce; How to Engage Vulnerable Young People in Sexual Health & Reproductive Rights; Health Promotion; Refugee Health; Communicable Diseases; Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Health; Healthy Public Policy; Public Health Interventions; Health Equity; Health Literacy & Communication; Contraception & Family Planning; Gender Equity. Capacity building for implementation of maternal, infant and family services, including expanded access to caseload midwifery, that focus on primary prevention and health promotion are proven strategies to tackle intransigent health and social problems borne out of social inequity, social disintegration and structural inequality. That is why this Congress is important to me. I am looking forward to extending my knowledge and networks in this area and to engaging with the opportunities and synergies for future collaboration that this Congress will offer.

I am very much looking forward to attending the 2017 World Congress on Public Health in Melbourne in April. This will be the first public health congress with an international focus that I have attended. As a health care professional and a citizen committed to working with diverse groups and teams whose research focus builds capacity and community development strategies that aim to address health inequity across the life course, this is an exciting opportunity. Midwifery is a primary public health strategy to address health inequity and to improve maternal and newborn outcomes in all areas around the globe, most particularly for vulnerable and disadvantaged groups. This Congress offers a breadth of speakers and themes that resonate strongly with this agenda. Some of these sessions include:

World Congress on Public Health 2017 #WCPH2017 Kristy Schirmer, Health Promotion and Social Media Consultant

With thanks to the Health Promotion Association of Australia (SA Branch) I am looking forward to attending the World Congress on Public Health as a scholarship winner and rubbing shoulders with thousands of other public health professionals from around the world. Currently I’m experiencing a few pre-congress ‘big feelings’ in particular: - I’m excited by the prospect that we are actually talking about eliminating HIV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Malaria and Tuberculosis. - I’m proud that Australia is being upheld as a public health exemplar in relation to our response to gun violence. - I’m frustrated by the ongoing challenges around social and health inequities. I am looking forward to the social aspects of the congress - not the face to face social aspects (though these can be fun) but the social media aspects. In particular, connecting on Twitter. Using Twitter during big events like the Congress means that delegates can experience a sharing of ideas, reflections, debates in real time through the #WCPH2017 hashtag. Hearing the voices of fellow delegates can add to the depth of learning, and I encourage my fellow delegates to get Tweeting. Using social media also provides an opportunity to connect with people who otherwise you may not have a chance to interact with, including keynotes and presenters. Finally, I am also looking forward to the first face-to-face meeting of the Australian Public Health Consultants Network will be held during the World Congress. The meeting is open to both existing network members and any others with an interest in consulting. You don’t need to be a delegate of the Congress to attend. Date: Monday 3 April 2017 Time: 6.00pm-7.00pm Venue: Meeting room 218, Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre To RSVP for the meet and greet of the Australian Public Health Consultants Network please email Kristy@zockmelon.com.au Looking forward to connecting with you in person or via Twitter (@zockmelon). Visit our website www.zockmelon.com.au

Follow PHAA on social media during #WCPH2017

Make sure you don’t miss a moment of the World Congress on Public Health 2017 and follow the Public Health Assocation Australian on our social media channels! We’ll be posting regular updates throughout the #WCPH2017 on the Plenary Sessions, World Leadership Dialogues, Keynote Speakers, Workshops and important infomation relating to topics at the Congress and about public health generally. Click on the links below or search for Public Health Association Australia to find us. Don’t forget to also download the official World Congress on Public Health 2017 app, available from the Apple and Google App Stores. You’ll be able to see what’s on at the Congress each day, read through the Congress Abstracts, access useful maps and accommodation details, view the weather in Melbourne, keep up to date with the WCPH social media feeds and plan field trips around the area!

Texting sad dads Dr Richard Fletcher, Associate Professor, University of Newcastle

Is there a problem? If we start from the point of view of a new baby,

receive a ‘How’s it going?” interactive text. Dads can reply with

yes there is. Depressed and anxious fathers do not do so well at their

Awesome or Cool or OK or Shaky or Bad. “Bad’ responses are

parenting. About one in ten new fathers experience depression and

escalated to receive a telephone call from PANDA, the national

anxiety. Sad dads are less likely to play with and read to their babies

perinatal mental health help line.

and more likely to be irritated. Infants whose fathers showed signs of postnatal depression after the birth are three times more likely to

Evaluations on the feasibility study (520 fathers) were

exhibit behaviour problems as pre-schoolers.

overwhelmingly positive with 92% indicating that SMS4dads had helped them in the transition to becoming fathers

Not surprisingly, fathers’ hostility and negative comments can harm

and 83% responded that the program had helped their

the marital relationship and lack of partner support has been linked

relationship with the mother. A randomised control trial is

to maternal postnatal depression.

underway. Fathers can enrol from anywhere in Australia at www.sms4dads.com.

But the ‘problem’ is not just the occurrence of mental illness in fathers. Paternal mental health seems to be invisible both to service

The low cost, and the ability to reach rural or isolated

providers and to the dads themselves. Our National Perinatal

fathers makes SMS4dads attractive to low-resource areas.

Depression Initiative, for example, targets only mothers. Research

International projects have begun adapting SMS4dads for

by beyondblue found that many fathers believe that they have to

fathers in Ghana, Canada and Ethiopia.

‘the rock’ for the family around the birth and the majority of fathers surveyed said that postnatal depression was only for mothers.

If you’re interested in finding out more about men’s health and fatherhood, there will be concurrent Sessions at the

One new idea is to reach fathers through their mobile phones.

Congress covering topics such as depression and anxiety

SMS4dads, funded by beyondblue, texts fathers with tips,

in men, improving male health in remote central Australia,

information and links to services to help fathers connect with their

breastfeeding apps for fathers, masculinity perception and

baby, support their partner, and stay well. The texts are keyed

health outcomes, and many more. View the Program for more

to the developmental stage of the baby (from week 12 of the

details.

pregnancy until 48 weeks post birth). Many texts use the ‘voice’ of the baby, ‘Talk to me about anything dad. Your words will help my brain development’ others suggest actions ‘Find ways to tell your partner she is doing an amazing job.’ Every three weeks fathers

Closing the gap needs urgent action to overcome food insecurity Indigenous Allied Health Australia, Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation Inc., Dietitians Association of Australia, Australian Red Cross, The Heart Foundation, The Public Health Association of Australia

The health gap between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and other Australians is set to widen unless urgent action is taken to address availability and affordability of nutritious food among Indigenous communities. A coalition of organisations released their blueprint for improving food security at Parliament House in Canberra late last year. The coalition is comprised of Australian Red Cross, Dietitians Association of Australia, Indigenous Allied Health Australia, National Heart Foundation of Australia, Public Health Association of Australia and the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation. These organisations have been working on the issue of food security through workforce training and development, remote food supply, research, delivering food and nutrition programs across Australia, and advocating for change. But they’re calling for further collaboration to bring greater national attention to the issue and want a coordinated response to enable effective action. Their blueprint calls for sustained action and leadership from all levels of government and nongovernment organisations towards food and nutrition security, based on approaches that work and have been developed with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Latest figures show around one in four (23%) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people live in a household that, over a 12-month period, had run out of food and could not afford to buy more – a figure six times higher than non-Indigenous Australians (1).

In addition, the policy statement calls for: • Australia to sign up to the policy recommendations outlined in the World Health Organisation’s Commission on Social Determinants of Health (2008) to address the underlying barriers to food security such as housing and income. • Training and job opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to work with their local communities on improving food security • Ongoing monitoring of the availability, affordability, accessibility and acceptability of healthy food, with this tracked and evaluated against food security policy actions. The coalition of organisations stress that improved food security among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is critical to Australia ‘closing the gap’ in chronic diseases and life expectancy with non-Indigenous Australians. Call to action The current My Life, My Lead Implementation Plan Advisory Group Consultation process (open until April 30th) opens a critical window for getting for getting concrete nutrition and food security actions into the next plan. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and leaders, government and the non-government and private sector are encouraged to help shape the plan.

1 Australian Bureau of Statistics. Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey: Nutrition Results - Food and Nutrients, 2012-13; 2015. 2 Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. The health and welfare of Australia's

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander households have, on average, a weekly gross income which is $250 less than that of non-Indigenous households (2) with as much as 80 per cent of the family income used up in buying the foods needed for a healthy diet (3,4) .

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples 2015. Canberra: AIHW; 2015. Report No.: Cat. no.: IHW 147. 3 Northern Territory Department of Health. Northern Territory Market Basket Survey 2014. Casuarina: Department of Health; 2014. 4 Lee A, Rainow S, Tregenza J, Tregenza L, Balmer L, Bryce S, et al. Nutrition in remote Aboriginal communities: lessons from Mai Wiru and the Anangu

The organisations want food and nutrition security for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to be front and centre in the country’s National Nutrition Policy, and in rolling out the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan. The current consultation process on this plan opens a critical window for getting concrete nutrition and food security actions into the next phase of the implementation plan.

Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands. Aust N Z J Public Health. 2015;40(S1):7.

Immunisation - Addressing the gaps Angela Newbound, Immunisation Hub Coordinator, Adelaide PHN, Co-Convenor PHAA Immunisation SIG

We also must acknowledge immunisation providers across Australia have faced a great challenge with the introduction of the No Jab No Pay policy. Increased consults, increased nursing hours, difficult conversations with vaccine resistant or hesitant parents, calculating complex catch-ups and assisting parents to find historical immunisation records so they can be uploaded onto the AIR have impacted providers significantly. We congratulate these providers on what they have achieved. They have undertaken this additional workload with great professionalism. A robust immunisation program remains an important primary

Childhood immunisation has historically taken priority –

health strategy to decrease vaccine preventable disease rates in

incentive payments for providers to administer vaccines and for

Australia. The “No Jab No Pay” policy commenced on 1st January

providers to report childhood vaccines to the Register, incentive

2016 with the aim of increasing childhood immunisation rates

payments for parents accessing Child Care payments, the

to 95% and during an interview with Luke Grant on 18 February

introduction of No Jab No Pay (and No Play) policies to increase

2017, The Hon. Greg Hunt MP reported the policy has “led to

immunisation rates and quarterly coverage rate measurements

almost 200,000 new kids being vaccinated”.

(which are reflected in Health Department KPI’s). Adult vaccination has not had the same level of focus or commitment

Whether children have received overdue vaccines, had missing

despite the evidence that adult immunisation rates are deemed

data uploaded to the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR)

to be less than desirable. However, until January 2016 there

so their vaccine history is now complete, had incorrect AIR

has not been the ability to capture adult vaccination on a

data corrected or have been revaccinated due to missing

national register. Let us not forget the importance of adult

immunisation history, 142,793 parents have ‘not fully vaccinated’

vaccination and the importance of recording these encounters

their children and have had their childcare payments ceased.

on the AIR. Chronic disease rates are higher in adults putting

Could this indicate losing benefits is not enough to motivate

them at increased risk of complications and higher rates of

parents to vaccinate or does this mean there are parents with

hospitalisation and death from vaccine preventable diseases

significant issues that obstruct them from fully vaccinating

such as influenza. Adults have the highest rates of pertussis

their children? It has been identified many times over; there are

infection and have been demonstrated to be the likely source

several reasons why children remain under-immunised. Social

of disease transmission to infants and they have the highest

issues, physical and mental health issues, cultural influences,

rates of Herpes Zoster (Shingles) infection causing significant

language barriers, poor health literacy, financial disadvantage,

morbidity leading to hospitalisation, long term pain, loss of

service accessibility issues, vaccine hesitancy and children with

independent living and increased rates of depression.

behavioural difficulties all contribute to children not receiving all scheduled vaccines.

Adult immunisation must be kept in mind. Remember everyone has an immunisation HALO. Check your patients Health, Age,

Addressing these issues will take time and resources so State

Lifestyle and Occupation and think about what vaccines they

and Territory Health Departments, Public Health Units, Primary

may need.

Health Networks (PHNs) and immunisation providers, must continue to work together and address parent concerns and

If you’d like to discuss immunisation and more at the World

minimise barriers to immunisation.

Congress on Public Health 2017, check out the Program for details on relevant sessions.

We must agree the No Jab No Pay policy will not influence all vaccine refusing parents to vaccinate their children and many

Public Health Association Immunisation SIG

children will remain under immunised until their barriers to immunisation are addressed.

GAPC 2017: alcohol policy and the evidence for action Michael Thorn (Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education) and Professor Sally Casswell (Massey University, NZ)

The world’s leading alcohol policy makers, researchers and practitioners will meet in Melbourne this October for the Global Alcohol Policy Alliance’s biennial Global Alcohol Policy Conference (GAPC) to tackle the global challenge of eradicating alcohol harm.

GAPC 2017 will forge links between evidence and action, using rigorous policy research to inform effective responses at local, state, national and international levels to reduce harm caused by alcohol. The three day conference will explore a range of themes, including advocacy and leadership, emerging and innovative research, and vested interests, and will build on previous years’ achievements in translating evidence into action, further igniting the increasing global momentum to stop alcohol harm.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that alcohol consumption was responsible for 3.3 million deaths, or six per cent of all deaths globally in 2012. Alcohol consumption is associated with a multitude of short and long-term health, social and economic harms including increased cancer risk, alcoholism, poisoning, suicides, stillbirths, heart disease and stroke, injury, gendered violence, and lost productivity, leaving many communities across the globe desperate for effective measures stop alcohol harm.

Keynote speakers include Dr Bronwyn King, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Tobacco Free Portfolios, and Professor Jane Kelsey, Professor of Law, Faculty of Law, The University of Auckland, and will be joined by a diverse range of policy, advocacy and research experts who will shed light on research and personal experience, and how to further develop efforts to reduce alcohol-related harm worldwide.

Hosted by the Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education (FARE), Public Health Association of Australia (PHAA) National Alliance for Action on Alcohol (NAAA) and Global Alcohol Policy Alliance (GAPA), the GAPC 2017 theme is Mobilising for Change – Alcohol policy and the evidence for action.

Coroners role in injury prevention - Invitation to attend Richard Franklin and Lyndal Bugeja, Injury Prevention Special Interest Group Representatives

Invitation

experts, family, friends, colleagues of the deceased and can seek further information and input from police or other involved in the investigation. As part of this process the Coroner will often explore how this event / future similar event could have been prevented. The coroner will sometimes make recommendations as part of the process directing where future prevention activities should be aimed. The coroner also can use the inquest process to raise awareness of a particular issue, where they explore a number of similar cases and proved recommendations such as quad bikes, drowning in swimming pools and self-harm deaths related to jumping from bridges.

On Monday the 3rd April @6.30pm the Public Health Injury Prevention SIG will be hosting a seminar at the Plueckhahn Lecture Theatre, 65 Kavanagh Street Southbank exploring the role of the Coroner in injury prevention, and invites those attending the World Congress to attend. Coroners in Australia have an important and unique role in injury prevention. All unnatural and unexpected deaths must be investigated by a coroner with a small number (approximately 6%) of these investigations undertaken via an inquest, either due to statutory rules or due to the discretionary decision of an individual coroner.

The recommendations made by coroners also need a community to help shape, enact and follow-up to ensure their effectiveness. This forum will hear about a recent coronial inquest and explore the role of the coroner for injury prevention. There is a $10 entry fee payable at the door.

The coronerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s access to information about the event is unparalleled as it can include any source of information, which helps to inform their decision-making, at the basic level it would normally include a police report and medical report including information on toxicology. However, other sources of information can include government department reports, investigations, people such as work health and safety authorities,

Please RSVP to lyndal.bugeja@monash.edu

2018–19 HARKNESS FELLOWSHIPS in HEALTH CARE POLICY and PRACTICE

Call for Applications

THE COMMONWEALTH FUND invites promising mid-career professionals— government policymakers, academic researchers, clinical leaders, hospital and insurance managers, and journalists—from Australia and New Zealand to apply for a unique opportunity to spend up to 12 months in the United States as a Harkness Fellow in Health Care Policy and Practice. Established by The Commonwealth Fund in 1925, the Harkness Fellowships were modeled after the Rhodes Scholarships and aim to produce the next generation of health policy leaders in participating countries. Fellows are placed with mentors who are leading U.S. experts at organizations such as Harvard University, Stanford University, Kaiser Permanente, and the Institute for Healthcare Improvement to study issues relevant to The Commonwealth Fund’s mission to support a high performing health care system—insurance coverage, access, and affordability; health care delivery system reforms (e.g., bundled payments, accountable care organizations, innovative approaches to care for high-need/high-cost patients); cost containment; and other critical issues on the health policy agenda in both the U.S. and their home countries. A peer-reviewed journal article or policy report for Health Ministers and other high-level policy audiences is the anticipated product of the fellowship. Harkness Fellows have published their findings in top-tier journals, including: BMJ, Health Affairs, and New England Journal of Medicine. The Commonwealth Fund brings together the full class of Fellows—from Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, and the United Kingdom—throughout the year to participate in a series of high-level policy briefings and leadership seminars with U.S. health care leaders. Building on their fellowship experiences, Harkness Fellows have moved into senior positions within academia, government, and health care delivery organizations, making valuable contributions to health policy and practice at home and in the United States. EACH FELLOWSHIP PROVIDES UP TO U.S. $130,000 IN SUPPORT, which covers roundtrip airfare to the U.S., living allowance, project-related travel, travel to fellowship seminars, health insurance, and U.S. federal and state taxes. A family supplement (i.e., approximately $60,000 for a partner and two children up to age 18) is also provided to cover airfare, living allowance, and health insurance.

AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND APPLICATION DEADLINE September 5, 2017 VISIT

www.commonwealthfund.org/fellowships for more details and to apply

The Commonwealth Fund is a private foundation, established in 1918 and based in New York, which aims to promote a high performing health care system that achieves better access, improved quality, and greater efficiency, particularly for society’s most vulnerable.

Office Bearers The Board

SIG Convenors

President David Templeman: davidtempleman1@live.com Vice President - (Policy) Christina Pollard: C.Pollard@curtin.edu.au Vice President - (Development) Heather Yeatman: hyeatman@uow.edu.au Vice President - (Finance) Richard Franklin: richard.franklin@jcu.edu.au Vice President - (Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Health) Acting - Summer May Finlay: summermayfinlay@gmail.com SIG Convenors’ representatives Yvonne Luxford: yvonne.luxford@gmail.com Peter Tait: aspetert@bigpond.com Branch Presidents’ representatives Gillian Mangan: gillian.mangan@heartfoundation.org.au Paul Gardiner: p.gardiner@sph.ug.edu.au

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Health Co-convenors Summer Finlay: summermayfinlay@gmail.com Yvonne Luxford: yvonne.luxford@gmail.com Alcohol Mike Daube: M.Daube@curtin.edu.au Julia Stafford: J.Stafford@curtin.edu.au Child Health Co-convenors Colin Macdougall: colin.macdougall@flinders.edu.au Ecology and Environment Peter Tait: aspetert@bigpond.com Evidence, Research & Policy in Complementary Medicine Jon Adams: jon.adams@uts.edu.au Food & Nutrition Co-convenors Amanda Lee: amanda.lee@qut.edu.au Helen Vidgen: h.vidgen@qut.edu.au Health Promotion Carmel Williams: Carmel.Williams@health.sa.gov.au Immunisation Co-convenors Angela Newbound: Angela.Newbound@yahoo.com Michelle Wills: michjwills@gmail.com Injury Prevention Co-convenors Richard Franklin: richard.franklin@jcu.edu.au Lyndal Bugeja: lyndal.c.bugeja@coronerscourt.vic.gov.au International Health Jaya Earnest: j.earnest@curtin.edu.au Brahm Marjadi: B.Marjadi@uws.edu.au Justice Health Co-convenors Tony Butler: tbutler@nchecr.unsw.edu.au Stuart Kinner: s.kinner@unimelb.edu.au Mental Health Co-convenors Michael Smith: mikejohnsmith@hotmail.com Samantha Battams: sam.battams@flinders.edu.au One Health (Zoonoses) Simon Reid: simon.reid@uq.edu.au Van Joe Ibay: vanjoeibay@gmail.com Oral Health Bruce Simmons: simmonsbruce@hotmail.com Political Economy of Health David Legge: D.Legge@latrobe.edu.au Deborah Gleeson: d.gleeson@latrobe.edu.au Primary Health Care Co-convenors Jacqui Allen: jacqui.allen@deakin.edu.au Gwyn Jolley: gwyn.jolley@flinders.edu.au Women’s Health Co-convenors Angela Dawson: angela.dawson@uts.edu.au Tinashe Dune: T.Dune@uws.edu.au

ANZJPH Editors Editor in Chief John Lowe: jlowe@usc.edu.au Editors Priscilla Robinson: priscilla.robinson@latrobe.edu.au Anna Ziersch: anna.ziersch@flinders.edu.au Melissa Stoneham: M.Stoneham@curtin.edu.au Bridget Kool: b.kool@auckland.ac.nz Roxanne Bainbridge: roxanne.bainbridge@jcu.edu.au Luke Wolfenden: Luke.Wolfenden@hnehealth.nsw.gov.au Branch Presidents ACT Devin Bowles: naaa@phaa.net.au NSW Simon Willcox: simon.willcox@me.com NT Rosalie Schultz: rosalie.schultz@flinders.edu.au QLD Paul Gardiner: p.gardiner@sph.uq.edu.au SA : Kate Kameniar kate.kameniar@southernxc.com.au TAS Gillian Mangan: gillian.mangan@heartfoundation.org.au VIC Bec Lee: phaa.vic@gmail.com WA (Acting) Jillian Abraham: Jillian.Abraham@health.wa.gov.au Chief Executive Officer Michael Moore: ph (02) 6285 2373 mmoore@phaa.net.au

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