Preventive Health Conference 2020

About the event

The Preventive Health Conference is an important conference on the public health calendar.  Convened by the Public Health Association of Australia (PHAA), the Preventive Health Conference is an annual conference aimed at providing a platform to engage, challenge and exchange ideas, where pivotal issues for building prevention in Australia is discussed and where delegates can learn from the experience, opinions and perspectives of sector leaders and their peers.

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The Conference was first held in 2018 and again in 2019, interest in both years exceeded expectations and registrations sold out. In 2018, the Preventive Health Conference focused on prevention and protection, consistent with the World Federation of Public Health Associations’ (WFPHA)’s Global Charter for the Public’s Health. In 2019, the Conference built on the learnings from 2018 and focused on the translation of research and evidence for systems approaches into action, drawing on experiences in Australia and in similar contexts internationally.

The 2020 Preventive Health Conference theme is: ‘CAN DO PREVENTION: effective action in a volatile world’.

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The theme draws on current developments in preventive health in Australia and beyond.  Nationally the Preventive Health Strategy is under development. In Western Australia the Sustainable Health Review calls for five per cent of total health expenditure to be spent on prevention by 2029, and sets the target for WA to have the highest percentage of population with a healthy weight of all States in Australia within a decade. But this is happening in a world filled with Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity and Ambiguity (VUCA).[1]

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As we enter a new decade – which might also be known as the new “Roaring 20s” – we want the evidence of the proven benefits of preventive health efforts to see fruition in influencing policy and practice to benefit the health and well-being of all Australians, particularly those most vulnerable or disadvantaged.

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We must focus on achieving positive outcomes while adhering to core principles of equity, sustainability and health literacy, and giving practical consideration to the social, ecological and commercial determinants of health.  We must build on our communications skills and capacity to influence policy and find means to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which apply as much in Australia as they do world-wide.

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Anxiety about the future is mounting. We need to grasp the realities of the current global and local volatilities and respond with substantive and effective prevention action.

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The Conference will have high quality national experts presenting various aspects of this rapidly moving and exciting era of  preventive health. The conference will have a focus on cross sector, multilevel interventions to build a healthier Australia through preventive health.

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We hope that you can be a part of this vibrant scientific program showcasing exciting and innovative work in preventive health

Early bird registration closes 23 Feb 2020.  Head to the website for more info…