Hackathons and design thinking are new to public health education. To find out more about our Hackathon see the below FAQs.
What is a Hackathon and what will I learn?
Hackathons are time-sensitive, multi-day events where teams are formed to create, develop, and present solutions to specific problems.
A standard Hackathon will involve participants, often students, from specific fields or disciplines, who create working drafts that address a specific challenge related to an overall theme. Teams present their idea to a panel of judges and/or audience to win prizes. Hackathons inspire creativity, collaboration, and foster problem-solving by applying Design Thinking to our world’s wicked problems.
Agenda at a Glance:
Day 1: Explore the challenge: Welcome, students form teams dive into the problem space
Day 2: Solution Development: Learn from industry leaders & innovators at the forefront of public health.
Day 3: Pitch for Prizes: Teams share their solution with hackathon participants, the CAPHIA leaders & experts. Finalists will pitch to CAPHIA Teaching and Learning delegates for a chance to win prizes.
For a detailed overview check out the 2024 Program
What is Design Thinking?
Design Thinking provides additional tools to break down wicked problems into solvable components. Design Thinking enables teams to examine a problem in new ways through creative, iterative processes. Students will learn the importance of breaking down a large, complicated problem into smaller aspects which can addressed, recognising there is no one elixir for any problem.
As with all public health initiatives, solutions work in concert with one another. This Hackathon will teach students to apply their public health knowledge and skills to a practical issue with the guidance from both public health and tobacco experts, as well as Design Thinking mentors.
Where will the Public Health Hackathon take place and what will it look like?
The 2025 Public Health Hackathon will take place in person on Gadigal Land, Sydney at the University of Technology Sydney between Tuesday 4th November to Thursday 6th November , 2025. Building details will be released when confirmed.
Over the Hackathon’s three days, participants will engage in learning sessions to introduce the problem and become trained in Design Thinking to develop capabilities with a ‘social innovation toolset’. Teams will also have the chance to design and develop their ideas from these learning sessions. The Hackathon will conclude with every team pitching their idea to the CAPHIA Board of Directors, and shortlisted teams pitching at the CAPHIA Teaching and Learning Forum. The Forum is attended by 200+ public health delegates across Australasia and last year we also had Government officials, community sectors leaders and industry partners as guests.
Teams will have the opportunity to win a prize for their innovative solutions.
Meals and snacks will be provided throughout the three days.
Why is Reducing vaping harms in young people the theme?
Over the past decade, vaping among youth has surged by 1500%, leading to significant health concerns such as lung damage, nicotine addiction, and exposure to toxic substances. This rise in vaping also results in higher healthcare expenses and additional pressure on medical services.
Results from the 2022–2023 National Drug Strategy Household Survey show that daily e-cigarette use in Australia has risen from 0.5% in 2016 to 3.5% in 2022–2023. Use is particularly high among young adults, with 9.3% of people aged 18–24 and 6.5% of those aged 25–29 vaping daily.
To address this issue, we are bringing together public health, allied health and business students for a 3-day hackathon focused on developing practical solutions to reduce vaping-related harms.
Who can participate?
Participants must meet a strict eligibility criteria to secure a place in the CAPHIA Public Health Hackathon. You must be:
- Part of a team of 4-5 students (undergraduate and postgraduate welcome!) from one of CAPHIA’s member institutions. See the list of our members here.
- Students may be studying public health, allied health (e.g. medicine, nursing, OT, physiotherapy etc.) or business.
- Prepared to bring your creative spirit to inspire change!
Due to limited numbers, CAPHIA reserves the right to cancel registrations for ineligible applicants.
How much is registration to the Public Health Hackathon?
Registration will be open later in 2025. Subscribe to our newsletter and follow CAPHIA Linkedin for details.
How can our organisation get involved?
CAPHIA are a small registered charity and do not receive government funding. To make this Hackathon possible we are calling on value-aligned organisations to support this innovative event. Contact to find out more.
How will this benefit me beyond my studies?
The world of public health is a big place! If you’re passionate about learning how to take your public health knowledge and translate it into real-life practice, the CAPHIA Public Health Hackathon is the event for you!
Here is what the 2024 Public Health Hackathon participants said:
- “The experience was invaluable for applying knowledge, collaborating, and innovating solutions to real-world problems.”
- “One of the most valuable lessons I learned was the power of diverse perspectives; working alongside individuals from various disciplines allowed us to approach challenges creatively and develop more holistic solutions.”
- “The hackathon provided a unique opportunity to explore new perspectives and innovative solutions on an issue closely related to my research.”
- “I made a lot of new friends from different backgrounds.”
- “The highlight of the hackathon was the chance to meet and collaborate with experts from diverse fields. Each person brought a unique perspective to the table.”
The Hackathon is an excellent way to apply your health knowledge, learn expand your problem solving toolbox, meet new people and have fun!