Vol 49, No 27 Newsletter of the Public Health Association of Australia Inc. July 2018 Inside this issue… PHAA welcomes its new CEO PHAA welcomes new CEO 1 Terry Slevin A wrap-up of the inaugural Prevention Conference 2 The PHAA has been delighted to welcome #Prevention2018 - a rollercoaster its new CEO, Terry Slevin to the role in May, of information 3 following the retirement of longtime CEO #Prevention2018 in pictures 4-6 Michael Moore AM. #Prevention 2018 - scholarship reports 7-8 Terry has been an important part of the PHAA Learnings for Indonesia from community for many years, being a Fellow of Australian preventive health the Association and having previously served programs 9 in the role of Vice President on the Board. PHAA says a final farewell to CEO Michael Moore 10-12 Many will already be familiar with Terry's What can physicians do for extensive work in public health through smoking cessation? 13 his previous long term role as Director of Should non-Indigenous Australians Education and Research at the Cancer Council have a connection to Country? 14-16 of Western Australia. Terry first started at the Council in 1994 - making his move to PHAA all An ecological take on population From being PHAA spokesperson in media 17-18 the more significant. interviews on all the big prevention issues Portable electronic devices: such as nutrition, alcohol and tobacco Are they affecting child social Just before commencing in the role, Terry control, to meeting with health ministers development? 19 attended PHAA's highly successfuly Public and bringing the important preventive My Health Record - the next step in Health Prevention Conference 2018 in May. health issues for the upcoming federal Australia's digital health evolution Here, the iconic moment occurred where election to the agenda, there has been no 20 Michael Moore AM gave his last opening slowing of the PHAA's progress in initiating ANZJPH June Issue 21 address as PHAA CEO and Terry was introduced change in this area. PHAA Event Sponsors 22 as its new leader. PHAA Office Bearers 23 The PHAA is lucky to have gained another In his first month as CEO Terry has energetically exceptional leader for the organisation. We taken on his new leadership role, and is look forward to working together to meet working to continue the PHAA's work as a the future challenges for public health in highly influential organisation advocating for Australia. And we do say 'together' because the health of the Australian population. we can't do any of it without your steadfast support as our members, so for that, we In particular, Terry has continued driving thank you! the momentum for better preventive public health policy, which the PHAA Public Health Prevention Conference demonstrated to be Australia's most pressing public health focus area. 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. www.phaa.net.au We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land and pay our respects to Elders past and present. A Wrap Up of the Inaugural Prevention Conference Dr Mel Stoneham & Melinda Edmunds, Public Health Advocacy Institute of Western Australia (PHAIWA) What a privilege it was to be at the PHAA’s first ever Twitter. People like Rob Moodie, Penny Hawe, Mike prevention conference in Sydney in early May. The event, Daube, Roger Magnusson, Megan Williams and Andrew for us, meant that every single keynote and concurrent Wilson – to name but a few. session directly affected or aligned with our work. There was great pawing over the program to try to decide which The concurrent sessions covered a diverse range sessions we should attend! Sydney was clearly the place of issues and topics ranging from rural and remote to be – the team said hi to Bill Shorten whilst he was out communities, nutrition, obesity, women’s health, for his jog, we saw President Macron and Prime Minister community engagement, knowledge transfer and Turnbull arrive at the Art Gallery via a Police convoy and frameworks and systems. Presentations varied from the Julia Gillard was at #prevention2018! traditional, through to interactive sessions (one even played rock, paper, scissors!), with others showing the The theme, which is so critical to setting the entire most amazing photos or Youtube clips. There really was context for the conference was apt: ‘We can do more something for everyone. and we must’. Way back in 2010, Vos and colleagues who undertook a comprehensive evaluation of health From our point of view it was impressive to see such a prevention measures to identify the most effective and focus on advocacy. It was everywhere – people were best value for money measures, stated in their report talking about it, recommending we need more of it, that “the cost to the Australian health care system [of demonstrating that it has worked…after such a tough non-communicable diseases] is large and growing. If we period where advocacy was seen but rarely spoken took prevention and health promotion far more seriously, of (nor funded), and where even PHAIWA briefly we could do a lot better.” This theme was really useful to considered changing its name, it was satisfying to see it draw attention to the fragmented nature of prevention being ubiquitously spoken of. in Australia and the imperatives to move forward to strengthen systems and actions for prevention. The fact PHAIWA had a strong presence at the conference with that the conference had to be extended to accommodate five papers and a Chairing role. We were keen to share the interest really is a sign that this conference hit the nail key findings through Twitter and were pleased to be an on the head! important part of the tweeting team! We were both finalists for the most prolific tweeter for the first day and There were so many highlights throughout the 2.5 day Mel Stoneham won that award for the Thursday, walking conference. The keynotes were thoughtful, considered, away with a copy of Sophie Scott’s book! challenging and inspiring. There were moments of us wanting to “touch the hem of the garment” especially as Overall, this conference was a cracker. Well done to we waited for Julia Gillard to arrive. Having Sophie Scott, the PHAA and to the lovely Helen Keleher, who was the award winning medical journalist from the ABC as the sorely missed at the event. In May 2019, the second conference facilitator added a spark, some laughter and prevention conference will be held in Melbourne and we a sense of connectedness. The line-up of public health recommend you all put that event in your diaries. experts was truly amazing – some we had met and others where we had read their books or connected with on 2 Prevention 2018 - a rollercoaster of information Dr Lea Merone, Co-Convenor, PHAA Ecology and Environment Special Interest Group Presentation of a rich variety of high-quality research demonstrated the need for a strong evidence base; for evidence drives advocacy, which in turn drives policy. However, broader community attitudes are also important and delegates were cautioned to bear this in mind when engaging in advocacy and allocating resources. Partnerships in advocacy are important; it is vital that we create healthy partnerships for health populations including: connecting with sectors The sell-out success and first-of-its-kind PHAA Public outside health, changing ways of engaging to Health Prevention Conference 2018 was held at the maximise partnerships, engaging those people Sydney Boulevard Hotel between 2-4 May, and for who experience barriers to health and ultimately a first-ever venture it will be a hard act to beat for disconnecting the unhealthy from the healthy. future years! Despite hostility, we must all remain fierce advocates As the PHAA bid farewell to much-respected CEO and remember the three Ps of public health: Michael Moore and prepared to welcome its new “persistence, persistence, persistence”, for, as CEO, Terry Slevin, the conference was both an apt Professor Mike Daube revealed, politics is about farewell and an iconic moment. the short-term, public health is about the long- term. Despite this, he informed us, funding for PH Passionate and respected speakers from across the is neglected; “prevention is the Cinderella at the globe took to the stage to voice commentaries on funding ball”. preventative healthcare, with the resonating message and theme: We can do more, and we must. Finally, Professor Roger Magnusson performed the honour of closing proceedings with the Douglas Facilitated by the energetic and passionate Sophie Gordon Oration, focusing on the need of prevention Scott of the ABC, #Prevention2018 had delegates for healthy public policies, not merely individual jumping out of their seats to greet each speaker with lifestyle advice alone. Prevention needs policies a standing ovation - an important reminder for us all that benefit the people not just the corporations; that sitting is the new smoking! prevention needs emotion from society; prevention needs advocates. People of the future will surely Topics were varied, but linked by three broad ask why we didn’t act upon what we know about themes; systems thinking, translation of research preventative health. into action and finally, possibly most importantly – advocacy. Delegates were taken on a rollercoaster As events came to a close on Star Wars Day, the of information, evidence and inspiration to become PHAA’s own answer to the great Obi Wan, Michael enthusiastic, resilient public health advocates.