CAPHIA News • Council of Academic Public Health Institutions Australasia

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,

Debunking the Myth: Operationalising One Health through CAPHIA Core Competencies

17/11/2025

Debunking the Myth: Operationalising One Health through CAPHIA Core Competencies

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Dr Md Saiful Islam
School of Population Health, University of NSW, and
Dr Heena Akbar
School of Public Health, University of Queensland

When I introduce myself as a One Health researcher, the first question I am often asked is – “What is One Health?” After a brief explanation, many respond- “Oh- you mean system thinking,

If You Lose Us: The Threatened Future for Public Health Education

07/10/2025

If You Lose Us: The Threatened Future for Public Health Education

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At our September Early Career Academic Catch-Up Café (eve of World Environmental Day), we gathered to discuss teaching climate change amidst worsening environmental conditions, global geopolitical tensions, and increasing instability in public health. Our concerns are further weighted by the recent news from the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), where the School of Public Health and Education is being dismantled.

ECA Blog | When the Classroom Gets Heavy: Finding Hope Amid Crisis

12/09/2025

When the Classroom Gets Heavy: Finding Hope Amid Crisis

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Dr Connie Gan
Griffith Institute for Human and Environmental Resilience (GIHER)
School of Medicine and Dentistry, Griffith University

Walking out after watching the documentary “Corals’ Last Stand” and conversations with frontline activists, I felt my heart sink with a mix of emotions. Ongoing proposals to continue destructive practices like seismic blasting, gas flaring,

ECA Blog | Educating in Real Time: How to Stay Up to Date in a Dynamic Policy Environment

04/08/2025

Educating in Real Time: How to Stay Up to Date in a Dynamic Policy Environment.

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Holly Wild

As educators in public health, we are all too familiar with how unwieldy the field can be to teach. There are no neat, linear career pathways, no black-and-white answers, and not even a universally agreed-upon definition. While this ambiguity can feel overwhelming at first, students often come to appreciate the vast grey areas of public health.

ECA Blog | One Year As An Indigenous Early Career Researcher

10/07/2025

One Year As An Indigenous Early Career Researcher.

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Sharna Motlap

NAIDOC Week 2025 marks a powerful 50-year milestone of honouring and elevating Indigenous voices, culture, and resilience, its theme, “The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy,” resonates deeply with my personal journey.

The journey into academia, particularly as an Indigenous researcher, is paved with unique challenges and rewards. As I reflect on my first year as an Early Career Research Fellow (ECMR),

EOI: Guest Contributor – Early Career Academics Blog & “Catch up cafe”

02/04/2025

Expression of Interest: Guest Contributor – Early Career Academics Blog & “Catch Up Cafe” 28th April

The 2025 CAPHIA (Council of Academic Public Health Institutions Australasia) Early Career Academics Committee is excited to announce the continuation of our monthly virtual “Catch Up Cafe.” Building on the success of our informal gatherings in 2024, we are evolving this initiative to provide more structured learning and networking opportunities for early career public health academics and professionals.
This year,

ECA Blog | Bridging Continents: Teaching Master of Public Health in Bangladesh and Australia

29/08/2024

Bridging Continents: Teaching Master of Public Health in Bangladesh and Australia
Dr Sheikh Mohammad Alif

Teaching the Master of Public Health (MPH) courses in two vastly different contexts, Bangladesh and Australia, has been a transformative work experience for me over the past decade. With five years of MPH teaching in Bangladesh, followed by over five years in Australia, I have encountered unique challenges and insights that have deeply informed my classroom approach to public health education.

ECA Blog | Don’t forget to stop and smell the roses

29/08/2024

Don’t forget to stop and smell the roses.
Dr Nathan Dawes

Starting out as an early career academic was both exciting and challenging, a journey that, looking back, I realise could have been much smoother with a few key insights. When I first transitioned from a decade-long career as a clinician to an academic, I approached it with an intense determination and a detailed roadmap. I had mapped out timeframes for every milestone: the completion of my PhD,