CAPHIA News • Council of Academic Public Health Institutions Australasia

Is Australasian public health education keeping pace with the climate crisis? 2026-2027 Global Survey now open

28/10/2026

Climate change is transforming public health. Are we preparing our graduates to respond?

Climate change is one of the greatest threats to population health, yet global evidence suggests that public health education is not keeping pace.

The 2025 Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change found that while 66% of surveyed public health institutions offered climate and health education,

CAPHIA Board of Directors – 2026 Nominations open for 3 x vacancies

21/10/2026

CAPHIA Board Vacancies – Elected Directors
The Council of Academic Public Health Institutions Australasia (CAPHIA) is seeking nominations for three (3) Board Directors to be elected by Members. We are inviting Full Members to nominate candidates for these roles.

Nominations for Elected Director candidates must:

Include all required information requested into this Nominations form; and
Be lodged by midnight Wednesday 4th November 2026.

Please note that a Full Member Institution may only nominate one candidate for election.

What did we learn from integrating generative artificial intelligence into a postgraduate Epidemiology unit at the University of Canberra?

06/10/2026

What did we learn from integrating generative artificial intelligence into a postgraduate Epidemiology unit at the University of Canberra?

Dr Zelalem Mengesha

Dr Tapas Mazumder

Discipline of Public Health, University of Canberra

When generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) entered mainstream higher education, many educators found themselves asking similar questions: Should students be allowed to use it?

Enhancing medical student engagement in public health content using gamification: key findings and future considerations

24/08/2026

Enhancing medical student engagement in public health content using gamification: key findings and future considerations

Dr Sarah Birtwistle, University of Queensland

Dr Sarah Birtwistle
School of Public Health, University of Queensland

Public health education is a core and vital competency in medical curricula; however, evidence indicates student interest, enjoyment and engagement in public health content during medical school is low. New and emerging health challenges pose a real-life threat to the prosperity of all worldwide,

CAPHIA Public Health Graduate Competency Framework now available

21/07/2026

Now available
CAPHIA Public Health Graduate Competency Framework
For Aotearoa New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, and Papua New Guinea

The Council of Academic Public Health Institutions Australasia (CAPHIA) is proud to launch the CAPHIA Public Health Graduate Competency Framework for Aotearoa New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, and Papua New Guinea – a regional framework that articulates the capabilities graduates need to strengthen public health systems and improve population health across our diverse region.

Developed across multiple years through one of the most extensive collaborations undertaken in public health education across the Australasia,

CAPHIA welcomes A/Prof Ngaree Blow as Aboriginal Health Director

08/07/2026

Welcome to the CAPHIA Board: Associate Professor Ngaree Blow as Aboriginal Health Director

We are delighted to announce that Associate Professor Ngaree Blow has joined the CAPHIA Board of Directors as Aboriginal Health Director, bringing distinguished First Nations academic, medical and public health leadership to CAPHIA’s governance and strategic direction.

A proud Quandamooka, Noonuccal Nation and Goreng-Goreng woman, Associate Professor Blow is an academic, medical doctor and public health physician trainee whose work spans First Nations health education,

9 ideas to rapidly ease Australia’s fuel crisis

09/06/2026

9 ideas to rapidly ease Australia’s fuel crisis

The fuel crisis is not going away anytime soon and extending fuel tax cuts does nothing to reduce fuel use and costs a lot of money. CAPHIA has joined a coalition of transport and health organisations to respond to the fuel crisis.

We put forward nine practical ideas – to immediately relieve the dual pressures of the fuel crisis:

1. reduce fuel use

Revised Entry Requirements – RACP Public Health Medicine

12/05/2026

New entry requirements for the RACP Public Health Medicine Training Program come into effect January 1, 2027

The Royal Australasia College for Physicians, Faculty of Public Health Medicine has revised their entry requirements and curriculum. From 2027, first year trainees will be enrolled in the new curriculum.

Revised entry requirements

Trainees entering a Public Health Medicine training position from 1 January 2027 onwards must have:

at least 3 years full-time equivalent postgraduate clinical experience,

Join a CAPHIA Network today

16/03/2026

Have you joined a CAPHIA Network yet?

CAPHIA Networks are informal, academic-led groups to drive professional development and best practice in an area of interest. CAPHIA Networks to foster collaboration and expertise in specific areas of academic public health.

Network membership is FREE and open to academics of CAPHIA member institutions. As of May 2026 we have eight Networks. Details below and on our CAPHIA Network page.

Call for EOIs: CAPHIA Aboriginal Health Director

16/03/2026

Call for Expressions of Interest: CAPHIA Aboriginal Health Director

CAPHIA is currently seeking expressions of interest for the appointment of a CAPHIA Aboriginal Health Board Director. The term is for 2 years from date of appointment with the possibility of extension, in line with the Constitution rules.

CAPHIA recognises that strengthening public health education and workforce development in Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand, and the Pacific requires centring Indigenous knowledge, leadership, and ways of knowing.