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Conference Program

 

The Conference Program is outlined below - details will be updated as they are confirmed.​

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You can learn more about our Keynote Speakers and the Basil Hetzel Orator on the dedicated pages on our website.​

Please note all times are AEST (Melbourne time). ​

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To view the detailed program, click the button below.

You can also Download the Abstract Book and a Printable PDF Program (no printed program will be available at the venue)​​​​​​

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Day 1 - Tuesday 15 September 2026​

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​Opening Plenary - 

9.00am to 10.30am

 

Theme: Conference Introductory Session 

Session Chair: Ms Mariam Hachem

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  • Welcome to Country - Wadawurrung Traditional Owner, Corrina Eccles - Mok Booreeyn Bagoork

  • Conference Welcome - Prof. Caroline Miller - President, PHAA​

  • Opening Ministerial Address - Hon. Rebecca White MP - Assistant Minister for Women | Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care | Assistant Minister for Indigenous Health

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Keynote Speakers: 

  1. Associate Professor Tilman Ruff AO - Board Member IPPNW, ICAN Australia | International Councillor MAPW | Honorary Principal Fellow Melbourne School of Population & Global Health

  2. Reverend Tim Costello AO - Chief Advocate, Alliance for Gambling Reform

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10:30am - 11:00am - Morning Tea & Exhibition

Concurrent Session 1

11.00am to 12.30pm

  • 1A - Enhancing Equity through Engagement

  • 1B - Sustainable Healthy Communities

  • 1C - Climate Risk and Resilient

  • 1D - Evidence-based Community Inclusion

  • 1E - Data-driven Population Health Prevention

  • 1F - Workshop 1: Co-design for Digital Health, AI and emerging technologies

Details available on our Detailed Program page.

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12:30pm - 1:30pm - Lunch & Exhibition

Plenary Session 2 - Indigenous Leadership: Driving Health Systems Transformation

1.30pm to 3.00pm

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Session Chair: Prof. Sean Taylor

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Keynote Speakers: 

  1. Ms Nicole McCartney - National Director - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Strategy Unit, Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency

  2. Mr Jordie Campbell - Head of Programs and Indigenous Aquatics Manager, Surfing Victoria

  3. Dr. Simone Sherriff - Senior Research Fellow, University of Sydney

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3:00pm - 3:30pm - Afternoon Tea & Exhibition

Public Health Association of Australia - Annual General Meeting

3.30pm to 5.00pm​​​​

PHAA Members ONLY

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Welcome Reception - All delegates can join and network in a relaxed atmosphere

5.00pm to 6.00pm

  • The Welcome Reception is included in for all Face-to-Face Delegates - Please help us avoid food wastage by indicating if you do not plan to attend

  • Canapes, substantial food and non-alcoholic beverages will be served at the reception.

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Day 2 - Wednesday 16 September 2026​

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​Plenary Session 3 - Prevention Challenges and Solutions

9.00am to 10.30am

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Session Coordinator: Adjunct Associate Prof. Craig Sinclair

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Keynote Speakers: 

  1. Professor Becky Freeman - Professor of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney

  2. Ms Emily Harper - Deputy Director-General, Public Health, Australian Centre for Disease Control

  3. Ms Jane Martin - Executive Manager, Food for Health Alliance, Cancer Council Victoria

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10:30am - 11:00am - Morning Tea & Exhibition

Concurrent Session 2

11.00am to 12.30pm

  • 2A - Strengthening Partnership for Equity and Inclusion

  • 2B - Creating Healthier Environments with Evidence

  • 2C - Sustainable One Health and Collaboration

  • 2D - Evidence to Impact: Strengthening Public Health Policy and Practice

  • 2E - Building Trust in a Digital World: Communication, Misinformation and AI

  • 2F - Workshop 2: From Manuscript to Influence: Publishing and promoting research (Download Pre-Activity)

Details available on our Detailed Program page.

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12:30pm - 1:30pm - Lunch & Exhibition

Concurrent Session 3

1.30pm to 3.00pm

  • 3A - Empowering Diversity in Health Systems

  • 3B - Physical and Psychological Wellbeing

  • 3C - Future Public Health Workforce

  • 3D - Translating Evidence into Community Health

  • 3E - First Nation Matters and Inclusive Communication

  • 3F - Workshop 3: Evidence to Action: research to advance action on harmful digital marketing

Details available on our Detailed Program page.

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3:00pm - 3:30pm - Afternoon Tea & Exhibition

​Plenary Session 4 - From Data to Decisions: AI, the Digital Landscape, and the Future of Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention

3.30pm to 4.20pm

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Session Co-chairs: Ms Shayal Prasad & Dr. Jessica Watterson (stepping in for Dr. M Tasdik Hasan)

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Keynote Speakers: ​

  1. Dr. Roisin McNaney - Professor of Digital Health, University of Melbourne 

  2. Associate Professor Amy Peacock - Associate Professor and Deputy Director, National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, UNSW

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Basil Hetzel Oration 

4.20pm to 5.00pm

 

The Basil Hetzel Oration recognises the contribution and commitment to Public Health Research and Advocacy of the Hon Dr Basil Hetzel AC who spent many years working in the international health arena and is well-known for his work on iodine deficiency disorders.

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2026 Orator: Professor Anna Peeters AM - CEO, VicHealth

2026 Theme: Leading Prevention and Equity through Complex Systems

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Conference Dinner - Ticketed Function

6.00pm to 9.00pm

​​A great networking opportunity and a key moment for delegates to connect and unwind in a welcoming atmosphere 

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Day 3 - Thursday 17 September 2026​

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​Plenary Session 5 - One Health in Action: Connecting Animals, Environment and Human Health

9.00am to 10.00am

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Session Chair: Dr. Akhtar Hussain

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Keynote Speakers: 

  1. Dr. Debbie Eagles - Director, Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (CSIRO) 

  2. Associate Professor Daniel O'Brien - Director, Department of Infectious Diseases, Barwon Health ​​​

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Awards Presentations

10.00am to 10.30am​

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The following Awards will be announced:
•    Tony McMichael PHEE Award
•    Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Public Health Award
•    Sidney Sax Public Health Award 

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The winning presentation from the PHAA National Public Health Student Think Tank Competition will also be presented live by the winner Ms Melody Leung. 

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10:30am - 11:00am - Morning Tea & Exhibition

Concurrent Session 4

11.00am to 12.30pm

  • 4A - Turning Evidence into Actionable Mental Health Practice

  • 4B - Advancing Digital Public Health

  • 4C - Sustainable Healthy Living

  • 4D - Sociocultural Determinates and Health Equity

  • 4E - Mental Health and Wellbeing

  • 4F - Workshop 4: Engaging Lived Experience: moving from why to how (Download Pre-Reading Materials)

Details available on our Detailed Program page.

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12:30pm - 1:15pm - Lunch & Exhibition

Concurrent Session 5

1.15pm to 2.30pm

  • 5A - Advancing Health Equity Across Diverse Communities

  • 5B - Designing Innovation for Healthier Communities

  • 5C - Translating Evidence into Health System Improvement

  • 5D - Embedding evidence into Policy and Practice

  • 5E - Navigating Digital Health through Trust Communication

  • 5F - Workshop 5: Building the next generation of public health advocates

Details available on our Detailed Program page.

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2:30pm - 3:00pm - Afternoon Tea & Exhibition

​Closing Plenary - Digital Environments and Health: Power, Profit, and Policy Solutions

3.00pm to 4.20pm

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Session Chair: Prof. Kathryn Backholer

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Keynote Speakers: ​

  1. Dr. Raffaele F. Ciriello - Senior Lecturer - Business Information Systems, University of Sydney

  2. Dr. Kremlin Wickramasinghe - Director, Division of Prevention and Health Promotion, WHO Regional Office for Europe

  3. Dr. Navoda Liyana Pathirana - Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Deakin University

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  • Closing Address - Adjunct Professor Terry Slevin - CEO, PHAA

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Thank you to our supporters!

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