1. Sideline Meeting World Congress on Public Health Melbourne, Australia
3 April 2017
Advancing Public Health Education, Research and Workforce Development

2. Welcome
Welcome to colleagues from across the globe – very pleasing to see you all here today.
'Before we begin, I would like to acknowledge the Wurrunjerri people of the Kulin nations and their elders past and present, the traditional custodians of the lands where the buildings we meet are situated. I would also like to acknowledge members of other indigenous peoples who may be here today.‘
Introduce self as President of CAPHIA
This meeting really represents an opportunity to:
make connections to each other
and
to hear about what is happening in terms of teaching and researching public health internationally.
The program tonight is structured to reflect this:
2 sections to the meeting: presentations and networking.
We have a number of presentations this evening from like organisations internationally. Each speak has 15 minutes to highlight issues that are pertinent to them and their association. We have asked for a 10 minute presentation which leaves 5 minutes for questions – time permitting.
The second half of the meeting will be an opportunity to continue the conversation informally over canapes and drinks.
I hope that you will be able to stay and join us for those.

3. Researching and Teaching Public Health - The View From Australia
CAPHIA as peak body
National and outward focussed stance - NZ
Funding of the tertiary sector in Australia
Teaching and Learning, Recognition, Advocacy
CAPHIA – been in existence for approx. 7 years
Brings together universities with public health teaching/ research or service activity across Australia as a peak body representing universities that have a PH program
Pitched at head of School level to engage with those who have influence in our member universities.
Currently all universities across the country are CAPHIA members. Affiliate membership from Australasian Faculty of Public Health Physicians
Adopt a national and an an outward focussed stance – looking for opportunities to join with NZ universities to strengthen our work. Discussions have taken place with NZ universities and there is a lot of support for broadening CAPHIA to include New Zealand Universities.
These discussions are ongoing with concrete moves from 2 universities for affiliate membership.
The tertiary sector in Australia is supported by the commonwealth government. Funding for Australian universities has been under pressure in recent years and indications are that the funding for Australian universities will suffer in the upcoming May budget.
Students either pay the cost of their course (full fee paying) or their enrolment is Commonwealth supported. In both cases Australian domestic students are able to defer payment of their fees and pay off their debt through the taxation system as they reach income thresholds after they commence employment.
I think it’s safe to say that although the degree varies throughout Australia, there has been a decrease in the priority given by government to public health and a prevention agenda at both state and federal levels.
This has impacted on the employment opportunities for public health graduates in the more traditional areas where graduates would have traditionally been employed
Also impacted on the profile of public health in competitive research funding in what is an increasingly competitive environment.
A lot of CAPHIA energy is expended around teaching and learning, recognition and advocacy.

4. Teaching and Learning
Mutual shared goal – producing high quality PH graduates
Issue: Ensuring high quality programs and highly skilled teachers who deliver our programs in contemporary and innovative ways
Foundation Competencies for Public Health Graduates in Australia
T&L Forum
Singular focus – Public Health T&L
Networking opportunity
As university schools or departments of Public Health we share a mutual goal of producing the best quality PH graduates who are competitive in what amounts to a global market.
to achieve this we need high quality programs taught by teachers who deliver teaching in contemporary and innovative ways.
CAPHIA runs an annual T&L forum that facilitates 2 things
1. The only designated opportunity that teaching staff get to discuss T&L as it relates specifically to PH. 2 days set aside for this singular endeavour
2. Importantly an opportunity for teaching staff to network with each other

5. Recognition
Issue: Limited number of national awards for public health academics and research students
CAPHIA National Awards
Public Health Teaching
PhD research
Public Health Team Research
President’s Award
Dual purpose:
Recognising and rewarding excellence
Raising profile of public health in broader tertiary sector and community
One of the things that sets PhD student apart in terms of competitiveness for fellowships and for promotion for academic staff is awards.
In Australia - a number of national awards for academic staff and research in medical and clinical areas –but very limited for public health.
Our CAPHIA national awards recognise excellence in PH teaching, in PhD research, PH team research + each year themed ‘President’s Award’
Our awards are dual purpose: individually for each recipient but also about awareness raising –raising the profile of PH Teaching and PH research in the broader sector and community.

6. Advocacy Secretariat in national capital
Very strong relationship with PHAA
Issue: Academic public health and public health workforce issues on agenda of current and future government
Labor Health Summit
Meeting with Ministers and their staff
Issue: Ensuring academic public health voice on issues related to teaching/learning and research and issues that impact our students
Watt Review – Research Policy and funding arrangements
Senate Select Committee on Health – Inquiry into linked data
Submission to the Inquiry into Budget Savings (Omnibus ) Bill 2016
Issue: Ensuring good representation of Public Health research in nationally competitive schemes
Structural Review of NHMRC’s Grant Program
Input into Medical Research Future Fund
 CAPHIA active in this space.
Secretariat situated in nation’s capital – easier access to federal parliamentarians and bureaucrats
Very strong relationship with PHAA – supports our advocacy efforts
On occasions join with PHAA, with one or other organisation taking lead, on submissions Or
Submissions submitted individually mutually reinforce the other
Work to ensure that public health and public health workforce issues are on the agenda of government or future governments
EG: Labor Health Summit – opposition party at national level hoping to form government at next federal election
Make submissions to reviews/enquiries that impact academic public health and our students
EG: Watt Review –review of research policy and funding arrangements The review was given the task of developing options to strengthen Australia’s research system and encourage greater collaboration between universities and business and other research end users to enable Australia’s high quality research to be translated into economic and social benefits for the nation
EG: Senate Select Committee on Health Inquiry-Health Policy, Administration and Expenditure. Inquiry into Linked Data
EG: Submission to the Inquiry into Budget Savings (Omnibus) Bill 2016 – Schedule 1 – submission related to the introduction of a new minimum repayment threshold for HELP debts of 2 per cent when a person’s income reaches $51,957  
One of our main efforts is to ensure PH research is well represented in national health and medical research funding streams
EG: Structural Review of NHMRC’s Grant Program
EG: Input into Medical Research Future Fund

7. Other Areas of Involvement
Relationship building with similar organisations – inside and outside of academia
Accreditation – ‘Watching Brief’ in this space
Building an evidence base – Public Health workforce
Groups such as Deans of Health Science, Deans of Medicine
No accreditation requirements currently for PH in Australia
Build the evidence base on the public health workforce in Australia: how much public health expertise does Australia require? Do we meet this ? Methodologically complex, but we need to start somewhere.

8. Questions? Thank you. Conclusion of first part of meeting
Summarise any clear themes across regions.
Has been an invigorating series of presentations. Lots of momentum gained. Would be a shame if the energy ended with this meeting and the following networking drinks.
Really like to keep in touch and would welcome input into this including ways to best facilitate this.