From 28–30 April, AH&MRC staff joined public health leaders, researchers, and advocates at the Public Health Association of Australia’s Preventive Health Conference in Canberra. This year’s theme, “Prevention is Political”, sparked powerful discussions on how political systems, commercial interests, and social structures shape health outcomes—and how we must advocate for policies that prioritise prevention and equity.
Key Takeaways for Our Work:
- Indigenous Leadership in Health: The ILEAP Project workshop, co-hosted with member services Orange Aboriginal Medical Service, Tharawal Aboriginal Corporation, and Walgett Aboriginal Medical Service, reinforced the importance of Aboriginal-led evaluation and community-driven solutions. Systemic reform and Indigenous governance must be central to all health strategies.
- Food Security: Presentations from Victoria highlighted innovative models like social supermarkets and food mapping. These insights build on AH&MRC’s knowledge which will help us develop strategies to strengthen food security initiatives in NSW. If your service has successful strategies, we want to hear from you!
- Cancer Prevention: Sessions featuring Cancer Institute NSW, Cancer Council Victoria, Aboriginal Medical Services, and research institutions showcased co-designed campaigns and culturally adapted screening tools. These initiatives are improving early detection of cancer in Aboriginal communities. The need for sustained funding and Aboriginal workforce development was clear – we hope that the AH&MRC grant opportunity for our members to have 3-years of funding for a cancer coordinator position will be a start to addressing this need.
- Tobacco & Vaping: “Kilung Morunbul Jum” (‘Death by Smoke’ in Yugambeh language) was the statement sculpture in the conference lobby, commanding a powerful presence for the conference. This art piece highlighted how tobacco use within Indigenous communities has had a significant contribution (37%) to Indigenous Australian deaths. From this powerful art installation to youth-focused cessation strategies such as phone apps, the message was strong: we need culturally relevant, community-wide approaches to reduce tobacco and vaping harms.
Call to Action: AH&MRC is committed to integrating these insights into our ongoing work to support and strengthen Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services across NSW. We want to encourage the sharing of knowledge across our NSW network. If your service is working on food security, cancer prevention, or tobacco control, we’d love to showcase your efforts and give others the opportunity to learn from your success. Let’s continue building a healthier, more equitable future—together.
Got ideas or work to share? Reach out to us at publichealth@ahmrc.org.au—we’re here to listen, support, and collaborate.
