Background: A major component of work at the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS) relates to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. In 2024 NCIRS developed an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Immunisation Advisory Group that is broadly representative, and this Group has been meeting since February, 2025. It is known that benefits to individuals and their communities are strengthened by involving community in all stages of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health research and decision making. Therefore, this project describes the early achievements of an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Immunisation Advisory Group at NCIRS.

Methods: The Group adopted a strengths-based approach grounded in community governance. Since the development of the Group, NCIRS’ work relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health has been designed with the Group. Early actions focused on building relationships, identifying the Group’s priorities, the creation of working groups based on members' interests, and embedding Group feedback into NCIRS’ work including research and surveillance.

Results: Within the first 6 months of operation, the Group has achieved several early wins, including ratification of the Terms of Reference, establishment of regular online meetings, improvements to reporting of immunisation data, support for submissions to the Commonwealth regarding access to immunisation data and increased participation from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in NCIRS’ research and surveillance. A face-to-face meeting is scheduled for August 2025, and this will build on the Group’s achievements to date.

Conclusions: The early successes of the Group highlight the effectiveness of community-led approaches to immunisation and public health. These outcomes also support the value of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander governance structures. Continued investment in governance structures such as community Groups is essential for achieving long-term change and upholding good health and wellbeing outcomes.


Aboriginal Governance structures: This abstract has two Aboriginal authors, and it will be presented by an Aboriginal person. The presentation will also be reviewed and approved by the NCIRS National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Immunisation Advisory Group which consists of 31 Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander members. The Group plays a central role in upholding data sovereignty at NCIRS, as the Group has been actively contributing to decisions about how data is interpreted, shared, and used to benefit Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

Background
The routine collection of sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) data in health settings is essential for addressing health disparities experienced by LGBTQA+ populations. However, uncertainty remains regarding individuals’ willingness to disclose this information, how it is collected, and its perceived importance in healthcare settings. We examined perceptions of SOGI data collection in Australian healthcare services and explored demographic influences on attitudes towards data sharing.

Results
We conducted a cross-sectional online survey of 657 Australian residents to assess attitudes towards SOGI data collection and preferences for data collection methods. Our findings indicate that while participants generally recognise the value of demographic data in healthcare, willingness to disclose SOGI information varies significantly by gender, sexual orientation, and cultural background. LGBTQA+ participants expressed greater willingness to provide SOGI data but preferred inclusive and contextually appropriate data collection methods. Notably, factors such as perceived privacy, trust in healthcare providers, and clarity of data use influenced willingness to disclose. Preferences for how SOGI data should be collected also varied, with LGBTQA+ participants favouring methods that offer greater flexibility and inclusivity.

Discussion
Our results underscore the importance of implementing culturally competent and sensitive SOGI data collection practices to enhance healthcare inclusivity. Normalising the collection of SOGI data while ensuring privacy and clear communication about its purpose may improve disclosure rates and health outcomes. Addressing health providers’ discomfort and reducing assumptions about patient identities are crucial steps towards fostering a more inclusive health system.

Conclusion
By improving SOGI data collection methods, we can help reduce health disparities and ensure equitable service provision for LGBTQA+ populations. Public health policies should prioritise the integration of inclusive and affirming data collection practices to improve healthcare accessibility and quality for diverse communities.

Introduction
Access to oral health care is essential in maintaining optimum oral health. Globally, oral health services are not distributed in an equitable manner. This study aims to find various factors associated with oral health-seeking behaviour (OHSB) among Islamic boarding schools’ (IBS) children in Pakistan.
Methods
A cross-sectional survey was conducted at four IBS in Lahore, Pakistan (May-June 2024). The children aged 12-17 years, who were able to read and write in the Urdu language were asked to respond to three previously validated self-reported questionnaires covering different aspects of their oral health. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the association between oral health-seeking behaviour and associated factors while adjusting for potential confounding variables.
Results
A total of 534 children participated in the study. Out of them, 74% (385) had never visited a dentist, 56% (291) had no intention of seeking dental treatment, and 24% (126) could not afford to see a dentist. Healthy teeth (AOR 3.40, 95% CI [2.21–5.24]), healthy gums (3.03, [1.96–4.69]), and the female gender (AOR (1.57, [1.07–2.30]) were associated with intention of seeking dental treatment. Regular brushing (1.45, [0.53–3.97]), fathers’ higher education (2.04, [1.06–3.95]), and employment (3.38, [1.51–7.56]) were strongly associated with the children’s ability to pay to see a dentist.
Conclusion
Most of the children from this population had never visited a dentist, while girls and children from higher age-group accessed more dental services and had intentions to seek dental services. Use of dental services had been associated with parents’ education and income level. Regular access of dental services at school-level is needed to improve oral health-seeking behaviour in these children.

This collaborative research project between Western Sydney University and the South Western Sydney Local Health District (SWSLHD) Mental Wellbeing Team explores the factors influencing men’s mental wellbeing and help-seeking behaviours. It aims to strengthen the evidence base in an under-researched area by examining the dynamic benefits of storytelling as both intervention and insight.
The project includes ethics approval, literature review, thematic analysis, in-depth interviews with men sharing personal stories, a community-wide survey (n=257), and co-design workshops to inform future phases. Story collection culminated in published narratives promoted through the Centre for Male Health website, local exhibitions, media releases, and public-facing events featuring portrait photography.
Preliminary findings indicate key risk factors include social isolation, marginalisation, cumulative distress, traumatic events, unemployment, and grief. Protective factors include supportive family and community connections, hearing others’ stories, courage, patience, and redefining personal purpose. For the men involved, reported outcomes included increased self-confidence, recognition of storytelling’s power, adoption of healthier definitions of masculinity, prioritisation of wellbeing, and a shift from feeling like a burden to becoming an advocate.
Survey responses reflect changing community attitudes toward men’s health, greater awareness, and increased support for mentoring and accessible services. The project contributes meaningfully to population health by advancing narrative-based approaches to mental health promotion, particularly in hard-to-reach groups.
The project is currently being adapted in collaboration with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and staff in South Western Sydney to ensure it is culturally safe, strengths-based, and community-led.

Background: University students exhibit high engagement in health risk behaviours – such as unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, sedentary behaviour, inadequate sleep, tobacco use, and alcohol and illicit drug use. Health risk behaviours are associated with adverse academic and mental health outcomes. Universities are recognized as pivotal settings for health promotion; however, limited evidence-based guidance exists on how institutional policies can address these behaviours. This scoping review aimed to identify and synthesize current policies and strategies targeting student health behaviours across Australian universities.
Methods: A systematic search of websites and policy libraries of 39 Australian universities was conducted in January 2025. Policies/strategies were included if they were current, included students within their target group, and addressed at least one health risk behaviour. Data was extracted about policy characteristics (e.g. target audience, years of implementation, health risk behaviours addressed) and evaluated using the Behaviour Change Wheel to classify policies/strategies according to intervention functions and policy categories.(1)
Results: Fifty-four policies/strategies from 30 universities met the inclusion criteria. Most universities had a policy/strategy focused-on smoking (74.4%), alcohol (64.1%), and drug use (43.6%). Three (7.7%) universities had a policy/strategy addressing physical activity and one (2.6%) diet. No universities had a policy/strategy that addressed sedentary behaviour or sleep. The most common intervention function and policy category across all policies was environmental restructuring and environmental/social planning.
Conclusion: This review highlights a fragmented policy landscape, with significant gaps in addressing key health behaviours as part of policy or strategy at Australian universities. These finding are pivotal to provide guidance for future institutional policy/strategy development and invoke trans-disciplinary dialogue to embed student wellbeing into the core mission of higher education.

References

1. Michie S, van Stralen MM, West R. The behaviour change wheel: A new method for characterising and designing behaviour change interventions. Implementation science : IS. 2011;6(1):42-.

Introduction: Young people born in this millennium are the first generation to grow up with widespread, saturation-level marketing of gambling products. Research indicates that nearly one-third of those aged 12-17 consider sports betting normal, and half of all young people have gambled by age 16. Exposure to gambling poses significant risks for young people, however, their perspectives on this issue- and their voice in gambling advocacy and reform- remain largely underexplored.



Methods: The Not Kid’s Business study used a photovoice methodology to document young people’s exposure to and perspectives of gambling advertisements and simulated gambling, and identify actions to address these. The study recruited 175 year 10 students (15-16 years old) who captured, captioned, and sent images of their gambling exposures to the project team via SMS over one week. Initial and follow-up workshops aimed to enhance understanding of gambling harm and discuss preventive solutions. Image captions and workshop notes were analysed thematically to capture youth consensus and opinions on future action.



Results: Young people revealed their exposure to gambling advertisements and simulated gambling through mobile games, free Spotify accounts, social media (especially TikTok and YouTube), and casino-style games in Arcade centres. They expressed concern about being targeted by gambling advertisements, noting that ads pose harm to young people by normalising gambling behaviour. Many suggested measures to reduce their exposure, including complete media bans, age-restrictions, and making unavoidable ads skippable, which they expressed in 141 letters sent to the NSW Advocate for Children and Young People.



Discussion: Photovoice effectively captured gambling exposure from unique sources, providing insights into young people’s interactions with gambling promotions. The results are discussed in context of current gambling research, highlighting how the voices of young people can be used to advocate for changes in Australian legislation and the internal policies of widely used platforms.

Food insecurity is a growing concern, requiring the public health nutrition workforce, to be well-equipped to address it. Traditional teaching methods of a complex problem may not fully convey its lived realities or challenge biases. This study evaluated A Seat at the Table, a learning activity designed to enhance empathy, awareness, knowledge, and confidence regarding food insecurity in nutrition and dietetic students.

Delivered in the Community and Public Health Nutrition subject at the University of Wollongong (Autumn 2024), this two-hour tutorial incorporated a case study video featuring lived experiences of food insecurity, followed by guided discussions and reflective activities. The module aimed to deepen understanding of food insecurity’s causes, consequences, and coping strategies while fostering critical thinking about application in professional practice. Pre- and post-activity surveys assessed self-reported knowledge, motivation, concern, and confidence, as well as empathy and perceptions of food insecurity. Focus groups provided qualitative insights.

Matched pre-post survey data (n=48) showed significant improvements in knowledge (41.5% to 86.3%, p < 0.001), motivation to address food insecurity (60.4% to 84.0%, p = 0.006), and concern about food insecurity (47.2% to 80.4%, p < 0.001). Confidence in identifying food insecurity (17.0% to 72.0%, p < 0.001), understanding coping strategies (17.0% to 74.5%, p < 0.001), and integrating food security knowledge into practice (34.0% to 80.4%, p < 0.001) also increased significantly. Thematic analysis revealed three key themes: (i) enhanced emotional engagement through lived experience narratives, (ii) deeper understanding of food insecurity’s complexity, and (iii) increased motivation to integrate food security into practice. While empathy improved, some stigma-related perceptions persisted.

Findings highlight the effectiveness of integrating lived experiences to strengthen student’s understanding and ability to address food insecurity. Continued efforts are needed to foster empathy, focusing on implicit biases to best connect public health nutrition practitioners with people experiencing food insecurity.

Addressing the social determinants of health remains central to reducing health inequities, but doing so effectively requires a clear understanding of how these determinants manifest at the community level. This qualitative study explored the perspectives of community-based service providers working with socioeconomically disadvantaged populations in Tasmania - Australia’s most disadvantaged state¹, with a high burden of preventable chronic disease².

Through interviews with 13 leaders across health and social care organisations, we examined local health and social conditions, barriers to service delivery, and engagement strategies. Thematic analysis identified seven interrelated themes reflecting the complex interplay between social disadvantage, health needs, and system limitations. These included the compounding effects of poverty, food and housing insecurity, low health literacy, and limited access to primary and urgent care. While social determinants have long shaped health outcomes, current pressures - including rising living costs and shifting demographics - are deepening inequities.

In past and present: community organisations play an essential and integrative role in addressing both health and its social determinants. Looking to the future: our findings highlight an opportunity to build on this through a more community-oriented public health system that invests in coordinated, upstream prevention. We propose three shifts to support the delivery and impact of Tasmania’s new 20-Year Preventive Health Strategy³: 1) interventions must be grounded in people’s lived realities, including social determinants; 2) systems and funding must be reconfigured through state and national reforms to support long-term, local, and early responses, and 3) genuine community participation must be embedded in all stages of planning and delivery.

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021b). Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA), Australia. ABS.
2. Cox, J., et al., (2023). Report on the Tasmanian Population Health Survey 2022. Department of Health, Tasmania.
3. Tasmanian Department of Health. (2025). 20-Year Preventive Health Strategy. https://www.health.tas.gov.au/20-year-preventive-health-strategy

Background
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a prevalent communicable disease in Australia that can progress to cirrhosis or liver cancer if untreated. HCV disproportionately affects high-risk groups including people who inject drugs and migrants.¹ Since 2016, General Practitioners (GPs) have been eligible to treat the infection with subsidised direct-acting antivirals (DAAs). However, many cases remain undiagnosed and untreated.²
In NSW, positive HCV serology and RNA results are reported to Public Health Units (PHUs). Effective testing and care linkage—especially in GP practices— is crucial to the NSW Ministry of Health’s goal of eliminating HCV by 2028.

Project / program details
In partnership with the South Western Sydney Primary Health Network, South Western Sydney Public Health Unit (SWSPHU) introduced an innovative surveillance model to track and follow up positive HCV results via NSW Health’s Notifiable Conditions Information Management System (NCIMS). The first of its kind in NSW, this enhanced surveillance model was part of a larger quality improvement project. The project focused on GP engagement, education, and community-based care.

Outcomes
SWSPHU received 871 HCV notifications from October 2023 to February 2025. The HCV Clinical Nurse Consultant (CNC) provided intensive follow-up for 296 serology and 88 RNA positive cases reported by GPs. A GP letter and resource pack was provided to 263 GPs, with the CNC engaging 155 GPs via phone for tailored guidance, resources, and customised educational sessions.

Implications for practice
Key aspects of this HCV surveillance model are now part of SWSPHU’s standard follow-up approach. GP outreach - via letters and resources - will continue, alongside established referral pathways between the PHU and specialist services.

References
1. NSW Health. Hepatitis C Control Guideline. St Leonards, NSW, Australia: NSW Health; 2019.

2. NSW Health. NSW Hepatitis C Annual Data Report | January to December 2023. St Leonards, NSW, Australia: NSW Health; 2024.

Decolonisation of Australian higher education is gaining momentum, challenging colonial structures that shape curricula, knowledge systems, and institutions. This shift to decolonise higher education has important implications for the future public health workforce, shaping graduates who are equipped and empowered to address health inequities, engage meaningfully with diverse communities, think critically, challenge the dominant discourse, and develop innovative solutions to complex public health issues.

Student and early-career public health societies, such as the Students and Young Professionals in Public Health (SYPPH) branch of the Public Health Association of Australia, play a vital role in advancing the decolonization agenda. As key stakeholders, they are crucial in ensuring these discussions remain central to curriculum development. SYPPH’s diverse leadership is one of its greatest strengths, contributing unique perspectives, lived experiences, and community connections that enrich the committee’s advocacy efforts, reach and impact.

Their initiatives, including a Global Public Health Week 2025 webinar and an InTouch Public Health article, highlight successful curriculum decolonisation approaches and the importance of student engagement in shaping workforce preparedness. In addition to platforming conversations on decolonization, SYPPH provides members with opportunities to engage with key public health issues such as decolonisation through initiatives like the National Think Tank Competition. Such opportunities foster critical thinking and advocacy skills, empowering emerging professionals to contribute meaningfully to institutional change.

Beyond national conversations, the SYPPH is expanding its reach internationally by partnering with the World Federation of Public Health Associations Young Professionals Network. This new collaboration aims to enhance visibility of critical public health issues and strengthen youth-led associations through shared expertise. Such global engagement provides meaningful opportunities to advance the decolonisation agenda.

In this presentation we will explore the ways the SYPPH are actively calling for institutions to prioritise equity, cultivate culturally competent graduates, and drive meaningful change in public health.

Abstract
Background: Accurate measurement and monitoring of child survival are central to achieving the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target of reducing under-five mortality (U5M). Despite different U5M estimation methods, a comprehensive and up-to-date review of existing methodologies was lacking. This methodological systematic review comprehensively synthesised U5M estimation methods globally.
Methods: We searched seven databases including Medline, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL, Global Health, and ProQuest Central, as well as grey literature sources from inception to August 20, 2024. The review protocol was prospectively registered in the International Prospective Registry of Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (PROSPERO) (CRD42023465476).
Results: Thirty-two studies were included in this review. The most frequently employed child mortality method was the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study method (n=10), followed by the indirect method (n = 7), the direct method (n = 6), and the United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME) method (n = 6). Significant variation was observed across studies in geographical scope, temporal coverage, data sources, uncertainty quantification, statistical modelling, and bias adjustment.
Conclusions: There are substantial variations in U5M estimation methods, with challenges in data availability, uncertainty estimation, and bias adjustment. Further research needs to prioritise harmonising methodological approaches and refining estimation methods. Strengthening vital registration systems is imperative to ensure accurate and reliable data for evidence-based decision-making, tracking global and national child mortality reduction targets.
Keywords: Child mortality, infant mortality, methods, vital statistics, censuses, Global Burden of Disease, systematic review

Title
First Bite: Evaluation of a Vegetable Promotion Intervention in Early Childhood Education

Background
Only 2% of Australian children (4-8-years) meet daily vegetable intake recommendations, with implications on the development of lifelong dietary behaviours. Enhancing children’s access, exposure and familiarity with vegetables can support vegetable intake. This study aimed to test the efficacy of a vegetable-focused intervention on the vegetable intake of 3-5-year-old children in the Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) setting.

Method
An 8-week cluster-randomised controlled trial was conducted with ECEC services (n=30) and children (n=373) within socioeconomically disadvantaged areas of two local health districts in New South Wales, Australia between July and December 2024.

The First Bite intervention comprised educator professional development, a daily vegetable break, experiential learning activities for children, and parent resources. The primary outcome measure was change in children’s vegetable intake, measured at baseline and post-intervention using a Veggie Meter® device. This novel approach objectively measures skin carotenoid levels, a marker of fruit and vegetable intake. The device scores range from 0 to 800 units (healthy range ≥280). Group-by-time interactions were analysed by linear mixed model regression, accounting for ECEC clustering.

Results
There was a statistically significant group-by-time interaction in children’s carotenoid readings. The intervention group showed a mean change that was 25.821 units greater than the control group (95% CI 2.306, 49.337; p=0.032). There was a dose response relationship based on program implementation fidelity. Services with the highest level of fidelity demonstrated a mean change that was 59.624 units greater (95% CI 31.571, 87.677; p<0.001) than the control group.

Summary
This comprehensive ECEC-based nutrition intervention was efficacious in improving children's vegetable consumption in socioeconomically disadvantaged areas. The findings may inform ECEC policy and practice recommendations in NSW to promote healthy eating in early childhood.

Food insecurity disproportionately affects people living with mental illness, contributing to poorer health outcomes, reduced treatment efficacy, and increased hospitalisation risk (Coleman-Jensen et al. 2016). Despite this, food insecurity is rarely addressed within clinical mental health settings. This project outlines the co-design, implementation, and early outcomes of a food security pathway within a community mental health service in South Western Sydney Local Health District.
Led by health promotion specialist Kelly Hayes and Emily Mason, the initiative introduced screening using the validated two-item Food Security screening tool, alongside a clinician training module and a referral guide to local food relief. Developed through consultation with peer workers, clinicians, dietitians, from the mental health service physical health team, the pathway aims to embed social determinants of health into everyday practice.
Initial evaluation shows increased clinician awareness, improved confidence in identifying food insecurity, and greater uptake of referral pathways. Feedback from consumers indicates the pathway is respectful, timely, and supportive. Importantly, it has enhanced partnerships and led to further investment in nutrition-focused initiatives within the service.
This case study demonstrates that addressing food insecurity in mental health services is both feasible and impactful. Embedding such pathways enhances person-centred care and contributes to equity by ensuring clients receive practical support for basic needs—an essential foundation for recovery and wellbeing. In a complex system, this low-resource, high-impact intervention offers a scalable model for integrating upstream prevention into frontline mental health care (Baum et al., 2022).

References:
Alisha Coleman-Jensen, Matthew P. Rabbitt, Christian A. Gregory, and Anita Singh. 2017. Household Food Security in the United States in 2016, ERR-237, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.

Fran Baum, Adam Graycar, Toni Delany-Crowe, Evelyne de Leeuw, Carol Bacchi, Jennie Popay, Lionel Orchard, Hal Colebatch, Sharon Friel, Colin MacDougall, Elizabeth Harris, Angela Lawless, Dennis McDermott, Matthew Fisher, Patrick Harris, Clare Phillips, Jane Fitzgerald, Understanding Australian policies on public health using social and political science theories: reflections from an Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia Workshop, Health Promotion International, Volume 34, Issue 4, August 2019, Pages 833–846, https://doi.org/10.1093/heapro/day014

Abstract
Background:
The place of childbirth is a critical determinant of maternal survival, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where maternal mortality rates are significantly higher than the global average. More than two-fifths of maternal deaths occur during labor or shortly after delivery and giving birth in non-institutional or poorly equipped settings substantially increases the risk of maternal death.
This study aimed to produce high-resolution geospatial estimates of childbirth settings and identify their predictors in SSA.
Methods: We used the latest Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) data (2016-2024) from 25 SSA countries. Our sample included 236,334 reproductive-aged women who had live births within the five years of the survey. A mixed-effect multinomial logistic regression model was employed to identify the predictors of childbirth settings (public health facility, private health facility and home), accounting for individual, household, and community-level factors. Geospatial analysis identified geographic hotspot areas where childbirth settings are most prevalent.
Result: The proportion of childbirths in public health facilities across SSA ranged from 26.4% in Nigeria to 91.3% in Burkina Faso (mean: 68%). The private sector's contribution varied from as low as 0.2% in Mozambique to as high as 22.5% in Cameroon (mean: 7.7%). In contrast, home births accounted for as little as 3.7% in South Africa and up to 60.1% in Madagascar (mean: 22.5%). After adjusting for travel time to health facilities and cities and population density, spatial analysis revealed hotspots of private health facility childbirth in Cameroon, southern Nigeria, and Rwanda. Public facility childbirth hotspots were concentrated in South Africa and Burkina Faso, whereas home-birth hotspots were identified in northern Nigeria, Mali, Mauritania, eastern Ethiopia, and Madagascar. Compared to women without formal education, those with secondary education or higher were more likely to give birth in private facilities (RRR: 3.44; 95% CI: 3.00, 3.94) or public facilities (RRR: 1.73; 95% CI: 1.60, 1.87) rather than at home. Similarly, women from high-income households were more likely to give birth in private facilities (RRR = 4.50; 95% CI: 4.02, 5.05) or public facilities (RRR = 2.08; 95% CI: 1.93, 2.25) compared to women from low-income households. Conversely, women residing in rural areas were less likely to deliver in private facilities (RRR = 0.38; 95% CI: 0.34, 0.44) or public facilities (RRR = 0.36; 95% CI: 0.32, 0.40) compared to urban residents, using home births.
Conclusion:
Health‑facility childbirth remains low in the region; the private sector contributes only a small share of childbirth services, while a substantial proportion of women still rely on home births. Efforts should focus on empowering women through financial and literacy programs, while also strengthening the role of the private sector in maternal health service delivery, particularly in underserved areas.
 

Global demand for vegetable oils—key ingredients of processed foods—is increasing alongside the nutrition transition to processed foods. The production of prominent vegetable oils—palm, soy and coconut oils (the oils)—causes environmental harms, including deforestation in highly biodiverse regions. Yet these oils remain attractive to food producers due to their unique functional and economic advantages. Understanding the prevalence and use of these oils in the food supply can inform regulatory efforts seeking to promote planetary health. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the prevalence, distribution and characteristics of food products containing the oils among packaged foods in Australia.

In a sample of 26,831 products, we quantified the prevalence of products containing the oils individually and combined, overall and by major food category. We calculated prevalence ratios (PR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) to determine if a priori selected food characteristics were associated with the presence of the oils.

Overall, 9% of products contained one or more of the oils. The highest prevalence was observed in bread and bakery products (25% of products), followed by snack foods (16%). The prevalence of the oils in ultra-processed products was over six times higher than in non-ultra-processed products (13.5% vs 2.0%; PR = 6.73; 95% CI: 5.85–7.75, P<0.001). Products classified as discretionary per the Australian Dietary Guidelines, with a lower Health Star Rating, with higher energy density and made using imported ingredients had significantly higher prevalence of the oils (all P<0.001).

Though not widespread across the entire food supply, the oils were concentrated in particular major food categories and markedly higher in ultra-processed and less nutritious products with imported ingredients. Strategies directed toward reducing unsustainable production practices and preventing overconsumption of products with these oils could benefit both planetary and human health.

Health Impact Assessment (HIA) is a policy tool for creating healthy cities, using scientific data, professional expertise, and stakeholder input to review how urban policies and developments affect population health and health equity. Despite strong evidence supporting HIA effectiveness in creating healthier more equitable built environments, systematic integration into city planning and policy processes remains variable. Successful institutionalisation requires structured capacity building across multiple levels.
This presentation introduces a comprehensive HIA capacity framework developed through reviewing existing capacity and capability frameworks internationally and relevant competency literature. The framework identifies capacity building requirements across three organisational levels: micro (individual/team HIA understanding and implementation), meso (organisational commitment to resources and sustainable HIA application), and macro (creating capacity and influencing implementation across agencies). Expertise levels progress from novices learning HIA application, to competent independent users, to experts providing support and extending applications. Required knowledge encompasses both technical (declarative and procedural) and tactical (conditional and functional) domains.
We assessed international programmes against this framework, including Australia's Centre for Primary Health Care and Equity Learning by Doing model (supporting HIA capacity across 30+ countries with 2,000+ participants since 2002) and South Korea's Korea Institute of Health and Social Affairs HIA programme (facilitating 27 HIAs across diverse policy sectors since 2008). This assessment reveals varied approaches to addressing multilevel competencies, with strengths in technical skill development but gaps in strategic and organisational capacity building.
For the Australian public health community, this framework offers a structured approach to strengthen HIA integration within local government planning processes and state health policy development, guiding targeted professional development and advocacy for systematic embedding across health and planning sectors.

Justice health is a field where the disciplines of public health, criminology, social science, psychology, law, and medicine converge. Within it, diverse methodologies are deployed to investigate and address the overlapping determinants of crime and health among one of society’s most marginalised groups. Addressing the health needs of such populations with multiple and complex needs, requires ongoing efforts that fight against entrenched systemic and sociocultural ideas and transcends disciplinary boundaries.

Drawing on case studies and research experience of the Justice Health Research Program, UNSW Sydney, this presentation will explore the practical realities of conducting justice health research in Australia, including lessons learned in funding, ethical issues and approvals, co-design, and bridging conceptual divides. Major challenges in advancing justice health research, and the potential consequences of these, will be explored.

The session will stimulate thought on how the public health community can advance health equity orientated solutions for those in complex social conditions. By focusing on the potential of transdisciplinary and cross-sectoral research, the presentation aims to raise awareness, inspire new collaborations, and propose solutions for positive change. Ultimately, improving the health of those involved in the justice system is essential for achieving health equity, reducing health disparities, and improving overall community health.

Objective
To investigate the associations between food security with diet quality and dental caries among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.
Methods
We analysed cross-sectional data from the South Australian Aboriginal Birth Cohort study. Food insecurity was assessed using the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale, dental caries via the DMFT Index, and diet quality with the Menzies Remote Short Item Dietary Assessment Tool. Linear regressions and generalized linear models estimated associations between food insecurity, diet quality and dental caries.
Results
Of the 219 children, 55.7% had caries. Nearly half of the children and families faced food insecurity: 13.7% mild, 28.3% moderate, and 14.6% severe. Children in severely food-insecure households had more caries, though the association was non-linear, with moderate insecurity linked to fewer caries than mild insecurity. Severely food-insecure children had slightly poorer diet quality, mainly due to lower vegetable intake, with negligible differences in other food groups.
Conclusion
This study highlights the burden of food insecurity and dental caries among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, underscoring the need for targeted support to improve long-term health. Our findings highlight the need for culturally appropriate food security measures and recognition of food security as a social determinant of Indigenous health and a basic human right.
References:
1. Castell GS, Rodrigo CP, de la Cruz JN, Bartrina JA. Household food insecurity access scale (HFIAS). Nutricion hospitalaria. 2015;31(3):272-8.
2. Rohit A, Brimblecombe J, O'Dea K, Tonkin E, Maypilama Ḻ, Maple‐Brown L. Development of a short‐item diet quality questionnaire for Indigenous mothers and their young children: The Menzies remote short‐item dietary assessment tool. Australian Journal of Rural Health. 2018;26(3):220-4.
3. Jamieson LM, Garvey G, Hedges J, Leane C, Hill I, Brown A, et al. Cohort profile: indigenous human papillomavirus and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma study-a prospective longitudinal cohort. BMJ open. 2021;11(6):e046928.


Outline of the Aboriginal Governance Structures:

South Australian Aboriginal Birth Cohort study is a prospective birth cohort study and was co-designed with Aboriginal communities in South Australia and guided by strong Indigenous governance structures. The study received ethical approval from multiple bodies, including the Aboriginal Health Council of South Australia and human research ethics committees of participating hospitals. Recruitment of 449 Aboriginal women occurred through antenatal clinics at Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs) and public hospitals.
An established Aboriginal Reference Group provides governance and oversight of all study processes, ensuring alignment with community values and cultural protocols. This group, in collaboration with ACCHO stakeholders and led by a Senior Aboriginal Research Officer, has played a pivotal role in study design, governance, and implementation across all phases. Strong rapport with the South Australian Aboriginal community has contributed to excellent participant retention and trust throughout the study.
To support culturally respectful engagement, participants have been kept informed through newsletters, community presentations, and social media platforms such as Facebook. Members of the Aboriginal Reference Group have also presented findings at international conferences, reinforcing Indigenous data sovereignty through community-led dissemination and stewardship.

Healthy Cities Australia (HCA) is a not-for-profit health promotion organisation based in the Illawarra Shoalhaven region of Australia. In 2024 HCA commenced an asthma prevention partnership with Asthma Australia. Responding to evidence of the association between indoor air pollution and the burden of childhood asthma, HCA reached out to local and national health and environmental advocates to build a campaign around improving air quality in Wollongong. Our focus has been on advocating for development controls on new buildings leading to a phase out of gas appliances over the long term. We have built alliances based on shared concerns about the direct health impacts of burning gas and its long-term implications for climate change. This connects the impact of gas on the large number of people who experience asthma with broader concerns around climate change and air quality that affect the whole community. The northern suburbs of Wollongong have already shown national leadership in the movement to electrify buildings. Local campaign groups and individuals have shaped the conversation around the importance of all-electric buildings to promote health, reduce the cost of living, and tackle climate change.
Our community activism for clean air shows how public health advocates can work with environmental NGOs and community members to reshape the discourse around climate and health. Our focus on indoor air quality draws on the experience of community activism and the social networks that have sustained community engagement in environmental policy in Wollongong over many decades. By bringing a broader perspective to bear on a common chronic disease, we have shown how public health principles can reinvigorate environmentalism by highlighting the connection between the health of the individual and our shared environment in an increasingly urbanised world.

Background and Aims
Ensuring equitable health care requires addressing the unique barriers faced by marginalised populations. LGBTQ+ individuals with a cervix often encounter discrimination, misinformation, and exclusion in traditional health settings, leading to significant gaps in preventive care. To promote diversity, equity, and inclusion, ACON partnered with clinical service providers to develop pop-up cervical screening clinics tailored to LGBTQ+ people with a cervix at community pride events.

Methods
These clinics were strategically located at major LGBTQ+ events (Newcastle Pride, Mardi Gras Fair Day and ChillOut Festival), offering culturally safe, accessible, and affirming spaces for screening. Specialised training equipped clinicians to provide sensitive care, while targeted outreach and creative educational tools—such as campaign lip glosses mimicking self-swabs—helped engage communities and spark conversations about self-collection.

Results
Outcomes demonstrate the impact of this inclusive approach: 69% of those who screened had never previously screened or were overdue. Further, more than 200 lip glosses were distributed at each event and associated social media posts had on average nearly 40,000 views and 38 interactions. These pop-up clinics exemplify how community-led health promotion is a powerful tool to cultivate diversity, equity, and inclusion. By creating opportunities for under screened populations to positively engage with health services, we build trust, break down longstanding barriers, and empower individuals to take charge of their health. This approach not only addresses health inequities in real time but also provides a replicable model for reaching other underserved communities.

Background
Adhering to dietary recommendations can be challenging for individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D) experiencing food insecurity¹. Medically tailored meals (MTM) are a promising strategy to address this issue. This study is an interim analysis of an MTM intervention on dietary intake, food insecurity (FI), and nutrition insecurity (NI) among adults with T2D, compared to a control group.

Methods
The ongoing MTM trial randomised 230 food-insecure participants to receive either 20 MTMs and 300g of unsalted mixed nuts, home-delivered per fortnight or continued usual care in Sydney, Australia². The trial aimed to evaluate the effect of the MTM intervention on glycated haemoglobin as the primary outcome at 26 weeks. Between-group differences in dietary intake, FI, and NI at 26 weeks were pre-specified secondary endpoints. This interim analysis included 88 participants with dietary intake data, collected using 24-hour recalls. FI and NI status were assessed using the USDA 6-item survey and Nutrition Security Screener, respectively. Between-group differences were assessed using ANCOVA or logistic regression models, adjusting for baseline.

Results
Participants were on average (SD) 59 ±13 years old, 40% female, and 57% had gross annual household income <$52,000. There were no statistically significant between-group differences in dietary intake from baseline to week 26, however trends towards improved nutrient intakes in the intervention group were observed. Estimated differences were -13.8 g/d (95% CI: -31.19, 3.64; P=0.12) for sugar and -208.3 mg/d (95% CI: -549.62, 133.02; P=0.23) for sodium intake. Odds of FI (OR: 0.46, 95% CI: 0.16,1.32; P=0.15) and NI (OR: 0.46, 95% CI: 0.18,1.19; P=0.11) at week 26 trended lower in intervention participants.

Conclusion
Interim findings did not support improvements in dietary intake, FI or NI during an MTM intervention. However, future analyses including all trial participants and a more comprehensive assessment of diet quality will clarify the intervention’s effects.

References
1. Hill-Briggs, F., et al., Social Determinants of Health and Diabetes: A Scientific Review. Diabetes Care, 2021. 44(1): p. 258-279. 10.2337/dci20-0053
2. Law, K.K., et al., Protocol for a randomized controlled trial of medically tailored meals compared to usual care among individuals with type 2 diabetes in Australia. Contemp Clin Trials, 2023. 132: p. 107307. 10.1016/j.cct.2023.107307

Introduction: Smoking continues to be a leading contributor to global morbidity and mortality. Despite considerable achievements in tobacco control, efforts are undermined by the deliberate and exploitative tactics used by the Tobacco and Nicotine Industry to capitalize on profits at the annual cost of over 8 billion lives lost to smoking. Indigenous peoples continue to bear a disproportionate burden of commercial tobacco-related harms, perpetuated through systems of settler colonialism and racism. Addressing these harms requires approaches that respect and affirm Indigenous sovereignty and self-determination.

Aim: To synthesise the evidence on structural approaches to eradicating commercial tobacco and nicotine related harms, including policy reforms, that affirm Indigenous sovereignty and hold the Tobacco and Nicotine Industry and settler colonial systems accountable to these harms.

Methods: A protocolised scoping review will be conducted in alignment with established methodological and reporting guidelines. Peer reviewed and grey literature published between January 1, 2000 and January 28/29, 2025 will be systematically searched using the following databases: PubMed, Scopus, Informit, Web of Science, PsycINFO and ProQuest. Papers will be included if they focus on Indigenous peoples from one/more of the following regions: Aotearoa, Australia, Canada, USA and Pacific Islands Countries and Territories. Papers must also demonstrate and report meaningful engagement with Indigenous peoples, which will be assessed against the consolidated criteria for strengthening reporting of health research involving Indigenous Peoples (CONSIDER). Papers will be screened by two reviewers to determine eligibility, followed by full-text data extraction.

Expected outcomes: Findings will inform Indigenous-led priorities for commercial tobacco reform and identify conditions that support Indigenous sovereignty in the implementation of strategies to prevent further nicotine-related harms. This review intends to move beyond individualised health approaches and shift focus toward structural and system-level reforms that challenge colonial and industry driven inequities.

Governance:
This review was requested and conceived by Indigenous peoples and communities involved with the Indigenous Circle of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco (SRNT) and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led Tobacco Free Executive Group within Yardhura Walani at the Australian National University. The context around this request was to help inform Indigenous-led local, regional and national strategies towards eradicating tobacco and nicotine related harms.
This work will continue to be governed by the Indigenous Circle of the SRNT and the Tobacco Free Executive Group. The Tobacco Free Executive Group will provide regular oversight and leadership for this work, including but not limited to: assigning reviewers; helping to resolve conflicting screening decisions; guidance on information-gathering and interpretation; authoring conference proceedings and peer-reviewed publication; determining actions and recommendations that stem from the review. The Indigenous Circle of the SRNT governed the development of the scoping review protocol and will also help determine actions and recommendations based on the review, along with the Tobacco Free Executive Group.

Footnote: This review is anticipated to be completed in full by August 2025.

People who are Deaf, deaf, hard of hearing or have hearing loss experience significantly higher rates of mental health concerns, including stress, anxiety, and depression. Yet, their experiences remain largely absent from mainstream conversations about health service delivery and workforce capability. This presentation shares insights from our recent research exploring the experiences of individuals with hearing loss and mental health concerns navigating health services, alongside the perspectives of carers and service providers. The research was guided by a commitment to centring lived experience and valuing the voices of those who navigate both the mental health and hearing care systems—often in isolation, and too often, unheard.

This work aligns with the conference theme, “Leadership and collaboration to connect a divided world”, by highlighting how gaps in communication, cultural competency, and inclusive practice contribute to poor outcomes and disconnected systems of care. Participants spoke to the frustration of not being understood—sometimes literally—as well as emotionally, and the need for services that recognise the diverse ways hearing loss intersects with mental health.

Our findings reinforce the importance of ensuring that all public health practitioners—not only mental health specialists—possess foundational competencies in mental health literacy. Just as importantly, given the high prevalence of hearing loss in the community and its close relationship to psychological wellbeing, there is a clear need to equip the workforce with skills and awareness specific to this intersection. Without this, we risk leaving a large and growing segment of the population behind.

This presentation will highlight key themes from our research and offer a call to action for collaborative, cross-sector workforce reform. Our focus is on practical, inclusive strategies that build a workforce ready to hear—and respond to—what has too often been missed.

Background:
While research suggests that walkability of an area does not necessarily reduce fall risk, a history of falling may influence a person’s perception of walkability. Furthermore, most current walkability metrics do not account for different groups' perceptions of walkability. To address this gap, we are developing a new walkability metric co-designed with older people. Through qualitative and formative research, this study also provides an opportunity to understand how perceptions of walkability may vary by previous experiences.

Aims:
This study aims to explore how older adults living in Hong Kong with and without a history of falls describe the concept of walkability.

Method:
Using modified participatory and Delphi consensus approaches through a series of 3 workshops, participants will develop a definition of walkability encompassing the perceptions of all participants. Data from the first round of workshops will be used to address this study’s aim. For the first round, participants (n=30, >65 years, residents of Hong Kong) will be grouped into those with a history of fall (n=6), and those without a fall history (n=24) and participate in separate groups to explore how the concept of walkability might vary between these groups. Groups will be audio recorded and transcriptions analysed using an inductive approach.

Excepted Results:
It is expected that older participants with a fall history will be more concerned about safety, such as road leveling with handrails and the presence of intersections. Whereas older participants without a fall history may be more concerned with walkability factors such as aesthetics and amenities.

Conclusion:
The findings will provide novel insights into how perceptions of walkability may vary by previous experience. The outcomes will be fed into later workshops, where all participants will work together to develop a definition of walkability that encompasses the perspectives of older adults inclusive of previous experiences.