Advocacy In Action

Advocacy is one of the four pillars in the CAPHIA 2025-2027 Strategic Plan. CAPHIA work with our staff and students from our member institutions, along with our strategic partners and networks to advocate for academic public health.

Our vision is for a robust, evidence-informed and well-resourced Australasian public health system with a sustainable workforce that meets existing and future public health needs. We also aim to build an increased understanding of, and investment in, academic public health. 

Our advocacy work is led by the Advocacy and Engagement Committee:

  • Professor Lisa Hall, University of Queensland (co-chair)
  • Association Professor Christina Severinsen, Massey University (co-chair)
  • Associate Professor Hannah Wechkunanukul, Torrens University
  • Dr John Oldroyd, Australian Catholic University
  • Dr Nazmul Karim, Monash University
  • Dr Silvana Bettiol, University of Tasmania
  • Dr Mai Train, Griffith University
  • Cadance Angela, The University of Sydney
  • Alexandra Bhatti, Macquarie University 
  • Gul Sanga Nizam, University of New South Wales (student representative)

Publications

  • The submission in response to the enquiry into the Commonwealth’s response to COVID-19 Response.  CAPHIA urge the Government to urgently invest in the infrastructure of key enablers to reduce risk and better prepare and respond to the next event. These enablers include IT, data, education and training, preventive health, communications and the workforce. 
  • The Voice – support of the Uluru Statement from the Heart and the establishment of a Voice to Parliament, open letter of support and acknowledgement of referendum result.
  • National Consumer Strategy for Health and Wellbeing Submission
  • Response to the draft inaugural Australian Health and Climate Strategy. This focuses on investment, recognising that that workforce is a crucial enabler in a healthier planet. 
  • The Position Statement: Educating the Public Health Workforce was developed to formally reflect CAPHIA member views on:
    • The scope of public health and the diversity of public health practitioners
    • CAPHIA’s role in public health education across Australasia
    • Considerations when developing public health education
    • The connection between education and the public health workforce
    • The reasoning for high quality, structured education for the public health workforce
  • The Response to the Australian Government discussion paper, Role and Functions of an Australian Centre for Disease Control. The submission focused on our core expertise of academic public health with recommendations centering on the development of a world class workforce, facilitating rapid response to health threats and supporting leadership on preventive health. 
  • Public Health for a sustainable future – the Call to Action outlines the 1) key responsibilities of public health educators, 2) curriculum priorities and 3) teaching and learning strategies to develop and deliver curricular which enables a sustainable and equitable future. The article was published in the April 2023 edition Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health.  
    • Read the open access journal article here. 
    • Access the Call to Action Brochure here.  
  • The 2022 – 2024 Advocacy in Action Plan was drafted by the Advocacy in Action Consultation Group and informed by discussions with members, including through the 2022 Heads of Schools Summit. The Plan outlines our vision, success measures and deliverables as well as providing a short background and the “why”.
  • CAPHIA and the Public Health Association of Australia (PHAA) published an open letter calling for investment in public health in the Australian and New Zealand Journal for Public Health through four key initiatives: 
    1. Increase the number of Commonwealth Supported Places for public health undergraduates and postgraduates 
    2. Develop and fund a national public health officer training program 
    3. Introduce Government-funded micro-credentials to ensure continued high standards of service delivery  
    4. Include CAPHIA and educators and researchers of its member institutions in a review of the public health workforce and in policy and program planning.