Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health

Images supplied by #endingtrachoma team - including clean faces strong eyes kit (towels, soaps, sanitiser, toilet paper, tissues, face wash, toothpaste etc). On the right an Aboriginal man fixes taps at a bathroom sink.

Trachoma is the world’s leading infectious cause of blindness & Aust. is the only developed country where it persists.

A new letter says elimination must go beyond surgery & antibiotics, with more focus on facial cleanliness and water & hygiene.

🔗 doi.org/10.1016/j.an...

#endingtrachoma

Image of gloved hands administering vaccine into arm of person wearing a blue shirt. Text "Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health"

Vaccination coverage in Aust. is falling. The National Immunisation Strategy aims to reverse this by strengthening the workforce.

In a ANZJPH Letter, Thomas Aaron Ricks argues the existing workforce can be better used & proposes a practitioner register.

doi.org/10.1016/j.an...

Image looking up at a big, old Eucalyptus tree against the sky.

New in ANZJPH: Aged care use among older Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people has increased overall, but declined in remote areas.

Findings highlight the need for reforms that reflect Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander preferences.

🔗 doi.org/10.1016/j.an...
@publichealthaus.bsky.social

Two decades of climate change and its impact on emergency department presentations in the Australian Capital Territory: Past trend and future projection The objectives of this study were to explore health impact of climate change over the last two decades in the Australian Capital Territory and to proj…

Researchers analysed historical weather and hospital emergency department data to determine how temperature has affected past ED visits, and used #ClimateChange scenarios to predict how future demand is likely to change.

shorturl.at/l1FOf

#PublicHealth

Hospital bed and equipment. Text says Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health.

One in 15 Emergency Department visits in the Australian Capital Territory is linked to extreme weather, and global heating will make that worse, a new study out today shows.

The study invovled researchers from ANU, ADL Uni, & Canberra Health Services.

shorturl.at/l1FOf

#PublicHealth

Last month, we marked World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day, a moment to celebrate Australia’s progress.

With HPV vaccination coverage >80% among adolescents and a strong National Cervical Screening Program, Australia is on track to eliminate cervical cancer.

- Shared by HPSIG member Huma Abdi

Eight ANZJPH articles that made headlines in 2025 : Intouch Public Health Here are eight standout journal articles that shaped public health conversations in 2025.

ANZJPH research reaches 1.1M+ readers each year.

In 2025, our papers didn’t just get cited - they influenced policy debates, supported advocacy and made headlines on issues from kids’ e-scooter injuries to diet, vapes and vaccination.

8 standout articles (including a special issue) 👇

‘We extend our deepest condolences to the victims – who were specifically targeted in this terror attack – and to their families and loved ones. Australians should be able to gather, celebrate and practise their faith without fear of gun violence.’

Excellent 10 point plan❗️

☀️ Heatwave Alert ⚠️

Heatwave conditions are predicted for large parts of Australia this week. Extreme heat is known as Australia's 'silent killer', so it’s important to take steps to protect your health.

Read our heat and health fact sheet to learn more: www.dea.org.au/heat_and_hea...

#OneHealthResearch 🚨
New scoping review on climate & arboviruses in Australia:

📊 30 studies analysed
🌏 Inland regions included
🌡️ Temperature–infection link varied by region
👉 Highlights need to enhance human & 🦟 vector surveillance
#RossRiverVirus #BarmahForestvirus

Close up image of mosquito biting human skin

New in ANZJPH 🦟 Scoping review out now on how temperature affects Ross River & Barmah Forest virus notifications in Australia. Timely reminder to protect yourself from mozzies this summer.
Paper 👉 doi.org/10.1016/j.an...
Media 👉 www.phaa.net.au/Web/Web/News...

@publichealthaus.bsky.social

'Incredibly concerning': One in eight teens report unwanted sexual experiences - study The survey found sexual violence rates were highest against Māori and Pacific teens, gender-diverse youth, and those in the poorest schools.

New in ANZJPH: Research from the University of Auckland found at 1 in 8 NZ teens reported unwanted sexual experiences.

Read the Radio New Zealand article below, or check out the research here: doi.org/10.1016/j.an...

#PublicHealth @publichealthaus.bsky.social

Victorian Government faces avalanche of opposition over its move against VicHealth

Victorian Government faces avalanche of opposition over its move against VicHealth www.croakey.org/victorian-go... #publichealth

PHAA launches Save VicHealth campaign. Vector of the Victoria state map.

Statement: Closing #VicHealth is backward & will make more people sick.

We implore the VIC Gov to not close the door on the world's 1st health promotion foundation.

Economic hard heads like Productivity Commission are urging investment in prevention, not cuts.

www.phaa.net.au/Web/News/Med...

Image of an elderly person's hands resting on a walking stick. Text "Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health"

The number of older Australians with a mental-health condition using home care has sharply increased.

Experts say this is straining an already stretched aged-care system and are calling for improved staff training and integrated care.

Read the letter: doi.org/10.1016/j.an...

#PublicHealth

computer generated image of lungs showing small mass indicative of TB. text "Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health"

While the risk in Australia is low, TB is a major global killer.

A new letter published in ANZJPH calls for high-risk groups, including refugees, asylum seekers, and other migrants, to have access to a Medicare funded QuantiFERON-TB (QFT) test.

🔗 doi.org/10.1016/j.an...

#PublicHealth

image of a young baby crawling through a tunnel with another child following

Early childhood shapes lifelong movement habits.

NZ’s Movement-Active-Physical-Play pilot showed the program is feasible and well received, but didn’t clearly increase activity - highlighting the need for more research and stronger evidence.

📄 doi.org/10.1016/j.an... #PublicHealth

Doing your own research isn’t a bad thing, I tell my patients. But just how will they spot the fraudulent papers? | Ranjana Srivastava While every self-aware doctor knows no one is an expert on everything, the average person turning to the internet cannot distinguish evidence from gloss

Australian oncologist Ranjana Srivastava reflects on the rise of fraudulent journal papers and paper mills, and their role in spreading misinformation. As AI takes off - this opinion piece is a timely reminder of the importance of credible, peer-reviewed science and journals.

Supporting families to raise healthy kids: The INFANT program : Intouch Public Health Anyone who has endured a high chair standoff over food, or battled nap time with an exhausted child, will know that raising a baby is not for the faint hearted.

The first 1,000 days shape lifelong health.

INFANT’s free app + group sessions give parents evidence-based support.

A new ANZJPH paper published today captures the program's reach in Victoria.

An example of how effective interventions can be scaled up.

Study: doi.org/10.1016/j.an...

Image of plate with knife and fork - half contains a salad, the other half is chips, burger and tomato sauce. Text reads "Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health"

Who is influencing Australia’s food sector?

A new study maps major investors and the companies where they hold sizeable stakes. Most didn’t disclose nutrition policies, and many voted against related #PublicHealth proposals.

📄 doi.org/10.1016/j.an.... @publichealthaus.bsky.social

Image of a blurred photo of the definition of epidemiology "branch of medical science... occurrence and control of disea...." "Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health"

💡Australia's CDC is coming in Jan - this Letter to the Editor argues that now is the time to map Australia's applied #epidemiology workforce, to improve our health security.

doi.org/10.1016/j.an... #PublicHealth @publichealthaus.bsky.social

Microscopic view of Helicobacter Pylori Bacterium, with text "Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health"

Over 4 billion people live with H. pylori, yet screening is often missing from refugee & migrant health assessments.

This letter to the editor argues that a simple one-time test could reduce disease, costs & late diagnoses.

🔗https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anzjph.2025.100271

Image of three young girls lying on their stomachs in a bed reading on their phones. Text "Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health"

From December, new laws will restrict social media use for under-16s.

In a recent correspondence in ANZJPH, Sandersan Onie & Lyndsay Brown of the Black Dog Institute argued for a platform-agnostic, feature-based regulatory framework.

doi.org/10.1016/j.an...

Read more here: doi.org/10.1016/j.an...

The 'incredibly toxic' hidden ingredient experts want banned from our supermarkets Researchers analysed 28,000 products stocked in Australian supermarkets. Here's what they found.

SBS reports on new research led by Dr Damian Maganja @georgeinstitute.bsky.social, published today in ANZJPH.

The study highlights that some supermarket products may still contain trans fats, despite international efforts to eliminate them from the food supply.

@publichealthaus.bsky.social

A beer bottle on the left. Words: Controlling alcohol sales is not bad for tourism, researchers say. "They may even bring mutual benefit, support long-term tourism growth." More at intouchpublichealth.net.au

#Alcohol cut backs don't dry out #tourism, researchers say. Prof Tanya Chikritzhs from the National Drug Research Institute says her research shows that reducing alcohol availability, didn’t damage tourism. "Controlling sales could improve a destination’s image," she says. More: shorturl.at/xxkUQ

Image of a pregnant women in a pink shirt sitting down receiving a vaccination from a female doctor/clinician.

In Australia, pregnant women are offered three vaccines - for whooping cough (pertussis), influenza & RSV.

All are free and safe, yet uptake still varies.

This ANZJPH commentary looks at what’s next for improving maternal vaccination: doi.org/10.1016/j.an...

#Vaccination #PublicHealth

Strong surveillance for acute flaccid paralysis is vital to detect any polio cases.

ACT data show gaps in case reporting.

Researchers say clinician awareness and stronger reporting systems are key to maintaining Australia’s polio-free status.

Read in ANZJPH: doi.org/10.1016/j.an... #PublicHealth

Thank you, Minister Mark Butler, for delivering the Aus CDC “This legislation puts in place an enduring public health institution for Australia,” Minister Butler said. “Its advice will be grounded in evidence, published openly, and focused on keeping Australians safe and well. “It’s an investment in our national health security and in building the trust Australians place in our public health system.” Photo of Minister Butler at a lectern.

The two bills to establish the Australian Centre for Disease Control #AusCDC passed Parliament this morning.

Thank you @markbutlermp.bsky.social, Minister for Health and Ageining, for delivering on the ALP's election promise.

Minister's statement: shorturl.at/ELJj3

#PublicHealth

Prevention pays: Investing in Australia's health and economic future

Link www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...