PHAA Health Promotion SIG

PHAA calls for smarter, sustained investment & bold policy to protect health, not industry profits.

This includes stronger food industry regulation that contributes to diabetes!

🔗 www.phaa.net.au/Web/Web/News...

#WorldDiabetesDay #DiabetesLife #PHAA

Registrations now open for the region’s largest diabetes congress! | Diabetes Australia The countdown is on, with registrations and abstract submissions now open for one of the most significant international diabetes events ever hosted in

Today is #Worlddiabetesday!
Did you know that 215 million adults are living with diabetes in our Western Pacific region? That's more than any other region.

Join the regional group of experts tackling this issue next Aug 2026
🔗 www.diabetesaustralia.com.au/news/registr...

Movember Movember, the month formerly known as November, is a moustache growing charity event held during November each year that raises funds and awareness for men's health.

This Movember, let's change men's health

Stats:
2.4M prostate cancer cases expected by 2040
Testicular cancer diagnoses doubled since 1990
Men are 2x more likely to die by suicide

This November:
Grow a moustache
Move 60km for the 60 men lost to suicide every hour
Join events:au.movember.com/events

Join us in welcoming Dr Myat Myat Thein to the Health Promotion Special Interest Group (HP SIG) Committee of the Public Health Association of Australia (PHAA).

Learn more about PHAA’s HPSIG: phaa.net.au/Web/Web/Abou...

#PublicHealth #HealthPromotion #PHAA #PublicHealthAustralia

Protect your skin:
🧴 Apply broad-spectrum sunscreen at least 20 minutes before going outside
👒 Wear a hat or use an umbrella
👕 Choose long-sleeved clothing
🕶️ Wear sunglasses
🌳 Stay in the shade

🔗 www.cancercouncil.com.au/wp-content/u...
🔗 www.canceraustralia.gov.au/cancer-types...

☀️Summer is Coming

Exposure to UV radiation causes over 95% of skin cancers. In Australia, 2 in 3 people will be diagnosed with some form of skin cancer before age 70.

In 2024, there were 18,964 new melanoma cases diagnosed and 1,340 deaths in Australia.

Shared by Myat Myat Thein

Conference Achievements

-Launch of the Primordial Prevention Universal Wellbeing Charter
-Release of the new mini book Universal Wellbeing In a Nutshell.
-Public access to selected presentations and resources
🔗 freedom-ihe.ac.nz/2025-univers...

- shared by Susan Stevenson

The Prevention Imperative: New Zealand Universal Wellbeing Conference 2025
Sep 2025 | Auckland

Over 2 days, leaders from NZ engaged with evidence based frameworks, strategic tools, and innovative applications of the Universal Wellbeing Model & Universal Wellbeing Evaluation Tool

✨ How to join the:
• Share a story that changed your view on health
• Create a video, sketch, poem, or podcast that humanises evidence
• Host or attend a community conversation
• Use #WorldEBHCDay + worldebhcday.org
🔗 worldebhcday.org

Let’s make evidence something people feel — not just read.

🌍 World Evidence-Based Healthcare Day 2025
Theme: Collaborative Knowledge Communication

Have you ever shared a story that helped someone make a better decision — about their health, family, or community?
That’s collaborative knowledge communication.

- Shared by Adelaide Chiang

To accelerate progress toward a tobacco-free future, the WHO report urges:
👉 Policy action
👉 Taxation
👉 Cessation support
👉 Vigilance against industry tactics

#TobaccoControl #PublicHealth #HealthPromotion #GlobalHealth

WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000–2024 and projections 2025–2030 This report presents WHO estimates of tobacco use prevalence among the population aged 15 years and older from 2000–2024, with trends projected to 2030. Estimates are at global, regional and country l...

Global Tobacco Use Falling — But Not Fast Enough

Tobacco use dropped from 33.1% (2000) to 19.5% (2024), projected to be 19.2% by 2025 — just short of the 30% reduction target.

Women met the goal early; men’s use remains 32%.

🔗 www.who.int/publications...

Shared by: @drazizrahman.bsky.social

📢 We are seeking new Editors!

EOIs sought from experts in:
👉Indigenous health
👉Environmental health
👉Infectious disease
👉Chronic disease prevention
👉First Nations research methods
👉Evidence synthesis & systematic reviews
👉Quantitative methods

More: www.phaa.net.au/common/Uploa... #PublicHealth

Sustainable progress requires more than penalties; it needs:
👉Awareness campaigns
👉Community engagement
👉 Long-term planning in investments
👉Youth-focused incentives to quit use of tobacco

A balanced approach combining regulation with prevention & support is key.

The government intends to limit tobacco use in the general public, but history shows that tough restrictions can strain resources and fuel the black market.

🔗https://tinyurl.com/5745crz2

Enforcement of tobacco licensing to commence as grace period ends for retailers The three-month grace period for NSW retailers and wholesalers to apply for a licence to sell tobacco or non-tobacco smoking products as part of the Minns Labor Government’s new Tobacco Licensing Sche...

🚭 Tobacco Licensing Enforcement in NSW

NSW has enforced Tobacco licensing for retailers, with potential penalties to be imposed for those involved in non-licensed sales of tobacco products.

🔗 tinyurl.com/53xj8vuu

- Shared by @shariqalikhan.bsky.social

Every day, 58 people in Australia will be diagnosed with breast cancer. October is breast cancer awareness month - a time to focus on support for patients, and the importance of early detection in saving lives.

You can try:
👉Standing after every 30 mins
👉Stretch between tasks
👉Walk/cycle to nearby places
👉Strength exercises 2x/week

Small efforts can offset sedentary routines and protect long-term health.

What’s one change you can start today?

- Shared by HPSIG member Huma Abdi

Breaking the sitting cycle!

With so much time spent at the desk, it’s easy to forget how much our bodies need movement.

The Australian Physical Activity Guideline recommends for adults (18 to 64 years):
🚶‍♂️ 150–300 mins of moderate activity, or
🏋️ 75–150 mins vigorous activity/wk

As of July 2025, there have been changes to traffic rules. However, these corrective measures are not enough!

Greater investment is needed in:
🔹 Health promotion initiatives
🔹 Research into road user behaviour

With stricter rules, education, and research, Australia can move toward safer roads.

🚦 Road Safety in Australia

Australia saw more road traffic injuries & deaths in early 2025 vs 2024.

🚎 Unfortunately, not all contributing factors are known to the authorities.

- Shared by HPSIG member Babatunde Balogun

✅ To stay safe this summer:
- Supervise kids around water
- Learn swimming & lifesaving skills
- Wear lifejackets
- Swim between the red and yellow lifeguard flags at patrolled beaches
- Avoid alcohol & drugs near water
- Check weather & water conditions before and during your visit

What do the stats say?
👶 Children <5: 15 deaths (dropped)
📉 Older adults (65+): 33% of all drownings
🌊 Coastal areas: 154 deaths (82 at beaches)
🏞️ Inland waterways: 122 deaths (99 in rivers)
📍 People in remote regions drown at >2 x the rate of those in major cities
🌏 Overseas-born: 33% deaths

National Drowning Report 2025 Reports Alarming Rise in Fatal Drownings

Australia has recorded 357 drowning deaths in the past year — the highest ever, marking a 27% increase over the 10-year average.

Read the full report here: tinyurl.com/4tpd495y

Shared by Hannah Graefe (née Calverley)

To address these barriers, researchers and institutions can:
🔹 Strengthen Indigenous leadership & self-determination
🔹 Provide researcher ethics & cultural training
🔹 Streamline review processes
🔹 Follow the AIATSIS Code of Ethics

#IndigenousResearch #EthicalResearch

Indigenous Ethical Governance: Barriers and Approaches
By Dr Nazmul Huda

Ethical research with Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander communities faces:
🔹Complex & time consuming approvals
🔹Uneven ethics committee coverage
🔹Resource constraints

⬇️ Read more for solutions

📩 Contact HPSIG for nomination forms and submit completed nomination forms to: HPSIG@phaa.net.au or ma.rahman@federation.edu.au

🗓 Deadline for nominations: Friday, 12th September 2025

We look forward to your nominations!

📢 HPSIG Committee Nominations Are NOW OPEN

We are calling for nominations for the 2025–26 Health Promotion SIG Committee. If you are interested in contributing to the leadership and direction of the SIG, we encourage you to nominate.

#HealthPromotion #PHAA

More details 👇‬

📢 Health Promotion SIG Annual General Meeting (AGM)

We are pleased to invite members to the Health Promotion SIG Annual General Meeting (AGM) on:

🗓 Thursday, 25th September 2025
🕑 2:00 – 3:00 PM AEST
📍 Online via Zoom
🔗 Register NOW for the AGM: us02web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...

Freedom Wellbeing Institute is helping schools & organisations create evidence-informed wellbeing systems that foster belonging & positive behaviour.

Upcoming event: New Zealand's #1 Evidence-Based Wellbeing Conference (11-12 September) in Auckland.

For more information: tinyurl.com/438373n4