The Rabies In Borneo (RIB) conference was established in 2022 to advance community rabies prevention, control and eliminating to support meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) for neglected tropical diseases. In line with the SDG’s is the global mission to eliminate dog-mediated human rabies by 2030, which has been significantly setback due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This annual Asia-Pacific two-day conference brings together a diverse mix of global and local stakeholders including researchers, practitioners, policymakers, government officials, program staff, educators, media and community leaders to network across sectors and disciplines. It also provides an interactive platform for participants to engage in exchange of lessons learnt from One Health practices to eliminate rabies across country borders.
Australia is at increasing risk of a rabies incursion given the increased prevalence of dog-mediated rabies and spread east-ward from West Timor into Timor Leste. This presentation will share the establishment and success of the RIB platform to operationalize One Health practices for rabies elimination in the region. Key learnings have included the importance of reviewing current One Health rabies control strategies, promoting international collaboration, fostering research and innovation, implementing evidence-based policies and advocacy campaigns, and actively involving communities and NGOs. The emphasis on culturally appropriate communication and rabies awareness, along with the promotion of responsible dog ownership and dog/cat population management, have highlighted the multifaceted nature of strategies needed for sustainable zoonotic disease control. Recommendations from RIB serve as a roadmap for One Health action plans that the Australian public health community can learn from.

BACKGROUND
Rabies and Australian bat lyssavirus (ABLV) cause rabies. Rabies affects the central nervous system and is usually fatal.
Administration of rabies immunoglobulin and / or rabies vaccines - known as Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) -prevents infection. PEP should be administered as soon as possible after the exposure.
Rabies exposures are notifiable to Public Health Units (PHU) in NSW. The PHU assesses exposures and arranges PEP delivery from Sydney to a healthcare provider.
The administration of the PEP was often delayed beyond the day of first presentation to health services, because the PEP delivery took days. Clients had to reattend health services to receive PEP. This was both inefficient for the system and reduced client satisfaction. Additionally the PEP administration process diverged from the guidelines – delay in administration - which was a clinical risk.

METHODS
Pharmacy, nursing and medical teams were consulted using quality improvement methodology to develop the intervention: to pre-position PEP (pPEP) at two district hospitals.
After sharing a motivation, the Ministry of Health NSW approved the change. In ISLHD documentation were developed and approved by committees. Training was conducted and the change was implemented in April 2024.

RESULTS
Preliminary data shows that the proportion of cases attending hospitals with pPEP for which pPEP stock was available at hospitals changed from 0% before to 100% after the intervention. There were fewer after hour orders submitted by the PHU.
The proportion of cases receiving PEP on the day that they presented to the health facility – changed from 15% to 95%. The proportion of cases that received PEP at their initial presentation at hospital increased from 0% to 100%. More formal analysis will be done and presented at the conference.

CONCLUSION
Prepositioning PEP at hospitals improved the same day administration of PEP. This intervention could be considered elsewhere.

In December 2024, the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services published a landmark report on the interlinkages among biodiversity, water, food, and health (and climate change) - also known as the 'Nexus assessment' (IPBES, 2024). The report emphasises that tackling the critical challenges in these sectors together can reduce negative, costly and unjust outcomes. Existing actions or responses, undertaken by the different sectors that positively impact two or more sectors, form the backbone to the analysis of multisector evidence, equity, cost, governance and alignment with Sustainable Development Goals and other international frameworks. Indigenous scholars and communities, major custodians of biodiverse regions and multiple knowledge systems and cultural perspectives, were integral to all parts of the assessment

Findings of the Nexus Assessment that particularly relate to health are the focus of this presentation. Here, health refers in the first instance to human health but the assessment aims to optimise the health of people, plants, animals and ecosystems. While not explicitly starting with a One Health lens, the assessment's approach may prove to be useful to those building capacity for One Health in its broadest sense or for other integrated health approaches. The summary for policy makers of the assessment was negotiated with delegates from 147 countries and will influence the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) outputs and national policy. Published at much the same time was the CBD Global Action Plan for Biodiversity and Health. While international leadership provides these policy tools, translating these in the Australian context face multiple hurdles.

IPBES (2024). Summary for Policymakers of the Thematic Assessment of the Interlinkages among Biodiversity, Water, Food and Health of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. Harrison et al., (eds.). IPBES secretariat, Bonn, Germany. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13850290

Abstract

Aim: To systematically review the evidence on the longitudinal association of self-reported oral health and tooth-loss/edentulism with all-cause-mortality, cause-specific mortality and disability-free survival (DFS) in adults.

Methods: MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, SCOPUS, Web of Science and Cochrane Library were searched from inception to 25th March, 2025, including only cohort studies in English language. Two reviewers independently conducted abstract and title screening, full-text screening, and data extraction. Due to heterogeneity, narrative synthesis was conducted to summarise findings between self-reported oral health, tooth-loss/edentulism with mortality and DFS.

Results: 463 studies were screened with 23 studies included, comprising 1,191,223 participants aged ≥26 years. The majority of the studies were conducted in Japan (39.1%) and China (30.4%); others were from Norway, USA, Brazil, and Australia. Poor self-reported oral health and tooth-loss/edentulism were associated with a higher risk of mortality and shorter DFS. A dose-response relationship was observed for tooth loss and higher risk of mortality or shorter DFS. Subgroup analyses indicated that those aged 65-74 and 84-95 years, married or partnered, current smokers or alcohol drinkers, or with low income had a higher risk of mortality if they had poorer oral health or fewer/no teeth.

Conclusion: Poorer oral health, having fewer teeth or being edentulous was associated with a higher risk of mortality, dementia, and reduced disability-free survival; while particularly vulnerable may be those that are older, married or partnered, current smokers and drinkers or have a lower income. Stronger collaboration between dental and medical health professionals is necessary to optimize patient outcomes. To address the broader social determinants such as access to health and dental care services and health education, policymakers should promote healthy behaviours and better nutrition through policy reforms, community programs and public health initiatives.

The prevalence of overweight and obesity is rapidly rising among children and adolescents in South Asia, including Nepal. A key driver of this trend is the increased consumption of unhealthy foods, which is strongly influenced by pervasive and targeted food marketing. Exposure to unhealthy food marketing contributes to the normalisation of these products, increasing the risk of excess weight gain across the life-course. This type of marketing by large transnational companies is increasingly expanding into emerging economies like Nepal. Children and adolescents are likely exposed to high volumes of marketing for unhealthy foods across different media and settings, and on digital devices. Food companies are using digital media due to its relatively low costs, broad reach, and ability to target individuals and personalise marketing messages. However, there is a lack of data on children and adolescents' exposure to digital food marketing in South Asia, and no studies have been conducted in Nepal so far. Hence, there is an urgent need to close these data gaps to support the development of regulations that protect children and adolescents from the digital marketing of unhealthy foods in South Asia.
As part of my PhD studies, I am currently recruiting 50-100 adolescents residing in Kathmandu, Nepal. For each participant, I am collecting 30 minutes of digital screen capture from the device they usually use. Screen recordings are being analysed and coded according to the WHO nutrient profile model to identify instances of unhealthy food marketing. I will present the average number of unhealthy food advertisements adolescents see online, the platforms where they see these advertisements, and the digital marketing strategies used. These findings will be crucial in informing policy and practice for protecting adolescents when they go online in Nepal and will demonstrate a method that can be extended to other South Asian countries.

Background
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a common communicable disease in Australia and the leading cause of liver cancer. In New South Wales, most individuals with chronic HBV were born overseas. South Western Sydney Local Health District (SWSLHD) has the highest HBV notification rate in the state, accounting for 24.8% of all cases.¹

In NSW, positive HBV serology results are reported to Public Health Units (PHUs). Strengthening testing and care linkage, particularly within general practices, is essential to meeting national and WHO targets for hepatitis B elimination by 2030.
Primary healthcare services, including General Practitioners (GPs), play a key role in providing education, testing, ongoing treatment, services for HBV and early diagnosis, monitoring and surveillance to mitigate advancing liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma. Assisting SWS GPs in screening, treating, monitoring, and vaccinating for HBV can enhance health outcomes for SWS residents.

Project / program details
South Western Sydney Public Health Unit (SWSPHU) implemented a surveillance model using NSW Health’s Notifiable Conditions Information Management System (NCIMS) to monitor and follow up on positive HBV cases. GPs with newly diagnosed patients, not under specialist care, received letters advising HBV screening and vaccination for non-immune contacts, along with guidance on initial assessments, antiviral treatment considerations, referral indications, and ongoing monitoring.

Outcomes
SWSPHU sent 190 letters to GPs from September 2024 to May 2025. Additional phone follow-up for these GPs, providing tailored guidance, resources, and customized educational sessions, is currently being considered.

Implications for practice
This HBV surveillance model is now embedded into practice as 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. NSW Hepatitis B Annual Data Report. NSW Health; 2024.

Background: Pakistan launched a health insurance scheme in 2015 as part of its efforts to achieve Universal Health Coverage, partially funded by the German government through Kreditanstalt-für-Wiederaufbau (KfW) bank. This demand-side initiative, known as the "Sehat Card," aims to empower patients in healthcare provider selection while reducing out-of-pocket expenditure. This approach has provided a facilitating environment for a plurality of purchasers and providers (with the government in a strategic and regulatory role). This program has survived government transitions, which could be attributed to strong public support as a pathway to universal health coverage.
Methods: We conducted a community perception survey across four districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, sampling eight rural and four urban communities. Selection of key informants and community members for IDI was based on a modified quota sampling strategy. Our qualitative approach included 12 key informant interviews (KIIs) with community opinion leaders and 48 in-depth household interviews (IDIs) with both users and non-users of the health insurance scheme during the previous 12 months. Feedback on the Sehat Card's benefits, usage challenges, perceptions of government's role, suggestions for improvement, and potential political implications was solicited. The research also aimed to understand political implications for the ruling party in elections.
Results: Most participants demonstrated awareness of the scheme and understood the services available under its coverage. All respondents were aware that Sehat Card covered secondary and tertiary care public & selected private hospitals. Almost two-third of user household respondents reported using the Sehat card once in the last 12 months for 2 to 3 hospital stays. all 48 household respondents agreed that Sehat Card provided equal access to services, which is a significant advantage for poor patients.
Conclusions: There is an overwhelming public acceptance for the health insurance scheme. To achieve universal health coverage in Pakistan, the government must focus on ensuring this initiative's sustainability and investing in improved hospital infrastructure. Findings of this study have informed strategic planning processes.

The One Health paradigm recognises the inter-dependence of human, animal and ecosystem health. Systems based approaches are used in One Health to better understand these often-complex relationships. In the case of infectious diseases, systems approaches enable identification of relationships between factors, barriers to control and leverage points for interventions. The ‘Evidence-Based Approach to Guide Decision Making for Livestock Infectious Disease Outbreaks’ Project was a collaborative project between Indonesian and Australian animal health professionals to build capacity in animal infectious disease modelling in the Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture. Endemic foot and mouth disease (FMD) within the smallholder farming system in the Indonesian province of Nusa Tenggara Barat was used as a case study. Stakeholder perspectives on current activities and challenges in FMD management were integrated through systems mapping using a causal loop diagram (CLD). This approach highlighted the influence of socio-economic and cultural factors on control and management of FMD. The CLD additionally demonstrated the potential impacts of poorly controlled FMD on farmers and cattle traders, with a reinforcing feedback loop illustrating the potential for a cycle of continuing production losses and economic impacts. Control of FMD was dependant on the actions of these stakeholders in response to recommended interventions such as cattle movement control and vaccination.
In low- and middle-income countries such as Indonesia, economic security influences achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. Protection against economic losses by effective animal disease control can reduce adverse impacts on local communities, alleviating poverty and hunger, and supporting good health and wellbeing, access to education, thus reducing inequalities. This case study demonstrates the need for collaborative, systems-based approaches to optimise health and well-being in both humans and animals, even in non-zoonotic animal disease outbreaks. One Health approaches should also be used to ascertain impacts of human disease outbreaks on animal health and welfare.

Background: Mental health has often been overlooked in broader health and development initiatives, especially in low-resource settings where the mental health burden is increasingly recognized as a significant public health concern. While digital technologies are contributing to reducing the burden of mental health disorders globally, in many LMICs, including Bangladesh, digital mental health is only just emerging as a potential area.

Methods: To understand the challenges and opportunities for delivering digital mental health tools and services within the Bangladeshi context, we conducted a qualitative interview study with n=32 participants, including those with lived experience (n=6), caregivers (n=6), and mental health professionals (n=20; including clinicians and clinical researchers). Most participants were based in Dhaka, Bangladesh's capital, with a smaller subset from the Jashore district. We analysed the data using an inductive approach.

Findings: Our findings identified five key themes: 1) perceptions of mental health, 2) the rise of digital mental health, 3) opportunities for using digital technologies in mental health care, 4) challenges in implementing digital solutions for mental health care, and 5) recommendations for improving mental health service delivery in Bangladesh. This study provides in-depth insights into the existing gaps and challenges in mental health care and highlights the unique potential of digital technologies to bridge these gaps.

Conclusion: The study underscores the importance of reducing stigma, building trust, and leveraging social media to share accurate mental health information. It also suggests several design opportunities, such as strategies for increasing awareness, engaging users digitally to help manage symptoms, and monitoring digital media content for mental health support. Finally, we offer recommendations for researchers to consider when designing and implementing digital mental health tools and services in Bangladesh and similar LMIC contexts.

Australian Bat Lyssavirus (ABLV) poses a significant occupational health risk to veterinary professionals, with pre-exposure rabies vaccination recommended for those likely to handle bats. Climate-induced heat stress, food shortages and natural disasters have increased mass mortality events in bats, and thereby, human-bat interactions in NSW. Alongside vaccinated wildlife rescuers, veterinarians serve as frontline responders for attending to sick bats, yet vaccination coverage among veterinary professionals remains unknown.

We conducted parallel online surveys of registered veterinarians in private practice and final-year veterinary students across NSW. Surveys examined perceptions of zoonotic disease risk, rabies vaccination status, willingness to attend to bats, and availability of sufficient and practical information regarding ABLV and bat handling. Data collection is ongoing. We will present the results of analyses of spatial patterns in ABLV risk perception, vaccination uptake, barriers to vaccination, and perceived gaps in information to needed guide effective risk-based decision making in practicing veterinarians and veterinary students.

This research addresses critical gaps at the intersection of animal and human health, where low vaccination coverage in veterinarians creates occupational safety risks, animal welfare issues from delayed emergency bat care, and potential increases in community ABLV exposure. Findings will strengthen One Health implementation by informing targeted interventions, such as professional education programs and policy development for subsidised vaccination schemes.

Background
A key reform in Australian Government funded primary care is to increase access to multidisciplinary care including nursing and allied health professionals. There is a need to explore current practices, gaps and opportunities for multidisciplinary team care in primary care settings for healthy ageing, and to inform recommendations to optimise the multidisciplinary primary care workforce.
Methods
This mixed methods study involved a national survey and interviews with nursing and allied health professionals working with adults aged 40 years and above in primary care settings in Australia. Snowballed survey was disseminated between August 2024-January 2025. Interviews were held in April 2025 for deeper exploration of barriers, enablers and future opportunities for multidisciplinary team-based primary care. Quantitative data were analysed descriptively, qualitative data were analysed using content analysis.
Results
Survey respondents (n=263) were predominantly occupational therapists (31.4%), nurses (30.9%) and physiotherapists (13%). Many allied health and nursing referrals were received from GPs (59%), however 57.7% infrequently collaborate with general practitioners, and feel GPs have a limited understanding of their role (30.1%). Most survey respondents (15.2%) had worked in primary care for 20-29 years, with 24.2% intending to stay in their role in primary care for the next 1-5 years.
Preliminary interview data indicate barriers to multidisciplinary team-based primary care include system and funding structures that encourage siloed care. GP’s inclusion and active participation in multidisciplinary teams was inconsistent; often limited by time, professional networks and understanding of disciplines. Limited health literacy of patients to navigate health services was also a challenge.
Conclusion
Gaps exist in the integration of multidisciplinary teams with GPs in primary care in Australia. Findings are contextual with system, funding and workforce challenges requiring Commonwealth policy and funding models to optimise allied health and nursing to be embedded in primary care, and to work effectively with general practices.

Reproductive coercion (RC), a form of intimate partner violence (IPV), undermines women's reproductive autonomy through behaviours such as birth control sabotage, pregnancy coercion, and control over pregnancy outcomes (Fanslow et al., 2019). Globally, RC affects 8–19% of women, with higher prevalence among those experiencing IPV, lower socioeconomic status, or from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds. Afghan immigrant women are particularly vulnerable to RC due to intersecting factors such as patriarchal norms, war trauma, and migration-related challenges (Grace et al., 2022).
Forced displacement exacerbates these vulnerabilities by limiting reproductive autonomy and increasing exposure to IPV. Afghanistan’s prolonged conflict has led to one of the largest global displacement crises, with 10.9 million Afghans displaced by 2023. Afghan women face compounded risks of IPV and RC due to systemic instability and deeply entrenched gender norms (Khatir et al., 2024). In Australia, Afghan refugees represent a growing community, with South East Melbourne hosting 42.7% of the country’s Afghanistan-born population. This region provides a unique setting for exploring RC within a specific cultural and migratory context.
This research will highlight the intersection of IPV, RC, and forced migration among Afghan immigrant women (Home Affairs, 2022). It examines how cultural norms, displacement experiences, and systemic barriers shape their reproductive health outcomes. The study aims to address critical gaps in understanding RC in CALD communities and inform culturally sensitive interventions by focusing on this population.
Given the significant public health implications of RC—including unintended pregnancies and restricted access to healthcare—this research underscores the urgent need for targeted support services for Afghan immigrant women. Findings will contribute to developing evidence-based strategies that enhance reproductive autonomy and mitigate the impact of IPV within this vulnerable group.

Abstract
Background: The link between stunting, thinness, and academic performance in Ethiopia remains underexplored. The current study analyses a large and longitudinal dataset to estimate the relationship between thinness, stunting, and children's academic performance in Ethiopia.
Method: Data from the Young Lives Study, a longitudinal survey conducted from 2002 to 2016 in Ethiopia, were analyzed. We focused on child academic outcomes measured by the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test (PPVT) and math scores. We used the system Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) as our model in this study.
Result: Our system GMM estimates revealed that stunted children had significantly lower PPVT scores by 0.13 units compared to non-stunted peers (β = -0.13, p<0.01). The lag stunting also had a negative effect on both PPVT and math scores. Children stunted in the previous survey round scored 0.16 units lower on PPVT and 17.89 units lower on math than non-stunted children (β = -0.16, p<0.01; β = -17.89, p<0.01). For each additional year of being stunted, math scores decreased by 2.69 points (β = -2.69, p < 0.01) and PPVT scores by 0.03 (β = -0.03, p < 0.01). Children with both malnutritional issues (stunting and thinness) scored 0.09 points lower than their counterparts (β = -0.09, p < 0.05). However, thinness was not significantly associated with either PPVT or math scores.
Conclusion: Our findings indicate that stunting is significantly negatively associated with child academic performance (PPVT and math scores), after adjusting for child, household, and parental socio-demographic factors, location, and prior academic performance. To improve the intellectual capabilities and human capital of future generations, policy measures in Ethiopia should prioritize addressing childhood thinness and stunting.

Changes in the contributions of risk factors to under-five mortality in Low- and Lower-Middle-Income Countries (1997–2022): an analysis of Demographic and Health Survey data

Abstract
Background: Under-five mortality (U5M) is a critical public health challenge in low- and lower-middle-income countries (LLMICs), where over 90% of global deaths occur. Despite progress, the changing contributions of risk factors to U5M in LLMICs remain unexplored.
Methods: We analysed Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) data from 24 LLMICs across two periods: 1997–2005 and 2016–2022. We included 139,890 live births in 1997–2005 and 319,034 in 2016–2022. A mixed-effects robust Poisson regression model with a log link function was employed to identify risk factors of U5M in each period. Population-attributable fractions (PAFs) were calculated and compared to investigate changes in the contributions of risk factors over time.
Results: U5M attributable to never having been breastfed increased by 15.5 percentage points (95% CI: 8.6, 22.9), early maternal age at birth (<20 years) by 5.4 percentage points (95% CI: 3.1, 5.7), and plural births by 1.2 percentage points (95% CI: 0.4, 1.8). U5M reductions attributable to maternal secondary education were increased by 5.5 percentage points (95% CI: 0.4, 11.0) and tertiary education increased by 2.6 percentage points (95% CI: 1.6, 4.2). However, U5M reductions associated with 1-3 antenatal care (ANC) visits decreased by 7.2 percentage points (95% CI: 2.4, 11.7).
Conclusions: The contributions of risk factors to U5M have changed over time. Interventions need to prioritise promoting breastfeeding, enhancing maternal education and increasing ANC uptake, and addressing other significant contributors to U5M.

Keywords: risk factors; changes; contributions; under-five mortality; low- and lower-middle-income countries.

Introduction
The prevalence of diabetes in Malaysia rose from 13.4% in 2015 to 15.6% in 2023, driven by lifestyle factors like obesity, physical inactivity, smoking, and poor diet. Telemedicine has shown promise in improving outcomes for diabetes patients by reducing HbA1c. Building on this evidence, this mixed-methods study will evaluate a pilot telemedicine intervention for patients with diabetes in Malaysia.

Methods
100 participants with Type 2 diabetes in Kuala Lumpur received a tablet with the Health2Sync app, a smart glucometer and blood pressure (BP) monitor. Participants could optionally track meals and receive guidance from a dietician. They were asked to record their blood glucose 5 times per day for at least 6 days in the 2 weeks before their quarterly telehealth appointment with their doctor. HbA1c, body mass index (BMI), and BP were measured at baseline and after 12 months. Self-rated health status, diabetes-related distress, and diabetes self-care activities were measured by survey at baseline and after 9 months. Semi-structured participant interviews were conducted with 4 doctors and 9 people with diabetes to explore their experiences with the program after 6 months.

Preliminary Results
A total of 77 patients completed the full 18-month program and baseline and follow-up measurements and surveys (33% attrition rate). Among these participants, HbA1c decreased from a mean of 8.68 at baseline to 7.42 at 12 months (p<0.001). The frequencies of most diabetes self-care activities statistically significantly improved. Self-rated health status increased from a mean of 2.52 (out of 5) at baseline to 2.84 at follow-up (p=0.03). Diabetes-related distress (PAID-5 score  8) decreased from 87% of participants at baseline to 59% at month 18. Interviewed participants felt more empowered in managing their diabetes but had mixed feelings about virtual consultations. Doctors appreciated improved data access.

Conclusion
Preliminary findings suggest the program may enhance diabetes management.

Neurodevelopment is a complicated mechanism involving genetic, cognitive, emotional, and behavioural processes. Factors related to parental migration directly or indirectly affect their children’s neurodevelopmental process and may lead to neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs). However, there is a gap in data on the prevalence of neurodevelopmental disorders among migrant children. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to estimate the prevalence of neurodevelopmental disorders among preschool children of migrants and refugees in high-income Western countries.

Five databases, including Medline, Embase, Scopus, CINAHL, and PsycINFO, have been searched for eligible studies to date. Three reviewers independently screened and selected studies, extracted data, and assessed methodological quality. The 'meta prop' command in STATA was employed to estimate the weighted pooled prevalence of different types of neurodevelopmental disorders. Given the significant heterogeneity among the studies (I² > 50%), a random-effects model was employed to account for between-study differences.

Out of 12434 records, 8 met the criteria. The weighted pooled prevalence of Autism with Intellectual Disability (ID) among the study population is 0.28% (95% CI: 0.13-0.43). The weighted pooled prevalence of autism is 0.31% (95% CI: 0.15-0.47). For Intellectual disability (ID), the weighted pooled prevalence among the target population is 0.78% (95% CI: 0.65, 0.90). The weighted pooled prevalence for diseases of the motor system and speech and language disorder is 6.15% (95% CI: 3.69-8.61) and 6.54 (95% CI: 4.45-8.63), respectively.

Our study revealed the notable prevalence of intellectual disability, autism, and speech and motor disorders. The findings underscore the need for targeted early identification and intervention strategies tailored to the unique challenges faced by migrant populations. Moreover, the limited number of studies and data inconsistencies highlight a critical gap in the literature, underscoring the need for further high-quality research to better understand the underlying risk factors and inform equitable public health policies and services.

Physical activity is a critical factor in the prevention of chronic disease and in achieving and maintaining good health. However, little is understood about the link between the built environment and physical activity levels in regional areas. We linked geospatially-assessed walkability with population health surveillance data gathered from urban and regional locations across Tasmania, Australia, to determine (a) the feasibility of linkage, and (b) to assess if walkability was associated with physical activity. We used linear regression analysis to determine associations between physical activity duration and the walkability index level generated by geospatial assessments. We demonstrated a clear association between higher walkability and greater physical activity duration, which was more pronounced in regional areas when compared to urban areas. We concluded that geospatially-assessed walkability data can be linked with population health surveillance data to show associations with physical activity. Designing the built environment to increase walkability may be a simple but effective strategy for enabling more physical activity, especially in regional settings, which has clear implications for public health and town planning.

Background:
Despite sustained global commitment to sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR), adolescents and young adults from migrant and refugee backgrounds continue to face disproportionate barriers to accessing appropriate services. In Australia’s multicultural landscape, systemic issues such as cultural stigma, limited sexual health literacy, and inadequate culturally responsive services exacerbate these disparities, highlighting the need for an interest-holder-centred and evidence-informed approach to SRH research prioritisation
Methods:
This study employed the James Lind Alliance (JLA) Priority Setting Partnership (PSP) methodology to collaboratively identify and prioritise key research uncertainties in sexual and reproductive health (SRH) for migrant and refugee adolescent and young adults in Australia. Guided by a multidisciplinary steering committee, the process encompassed five structured stages: partnership formation, literature-based identification of uncertainties, interest holders’ consultation and refinement, an interim prioritisation survey, and a final consensus workshop. A rapid literature review generated 83 research questions across five domains and twelve thematic areas, which were assessed via two rounds of structured online surveys. Participants included youth interest holders (adolescents and young adults aged 18–24 from migrant and refugee backgrounds), alongside diverse professional interest holders from healthcare, academic, governmental, and community sectors.
Results:
A total of 92 interest holders, including 31 adolescent and young adults, identified 18 key research priorities across five SRH domains. The final consensus workshop confirmed 11 high-priority questions. Key areas included community-based interventions for sexual health, barriers to STI testing, psychosocial factors influencing gender-based violence, and the accessibility of abortion services. These priorities reflect urgent research needs to improve SRH outcomes for migrant and refugee youth in Australia.
Conclusion:
This interest holders driven priority setting initiative highlights the pressing need for tailored SRH research responsive to the lived experiences of migrant and refugee adolescent and young adults in Australia. The identified priorities serve as a foundation for future evidence-based interventions and policy development to advance health equity and service inclusivity.
Keywords:
Adolescents and young people, Australia, Migrants and refugees, sexual and reproductive health, priority setting partnership

Background: Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs) face unique healthcare delivery challenges including geographically dispersed populations, workforce shortages, and poor infrastructure. While national Electronic Health Records (EHRs) can strengthen health systems through improved care continuity, they are available in only 47% of countries globally. The status of national EHRs in PICTs has not been previously documented in published literature.

Objective: This study mapped national EHR coverage across 14 WHO Western Pacific Region PICTs classified as Small Island Developing States, examining system presence, software platforms, facility coverage, and relationships with country income levels.

Methods: Given the absence of peer-reviewed literature, we conducted a three-stage environmental scan to systematically search government, bilateral, multilateral, and philanthropic organisation websites for documents describing national EHR implementation status across all 14 target PICTs.

Results: Twelve countries (85.7%) have implemented EHRs within public health systems and eight (57.1%) have a single national system implemented at more than one facility, exceeding global coverage (47%). However, average facility coverage was only 38.9% (median 15.7%). EHR coverage correlated positively with country income and was highest in tertiary hospitals (46.3%) and secondary facilities (37.7%), but minimal in primary care (1.5%). Overall facility coverage across all 14 countries assessed was 2.5% (108/4,267 facilities). EHR platforms implemented include Tamanu, Medtech, Vesalius, PATIS Plus, and custom systems.

Conclusion: This study is the first to show that EHRs are being implemented in PICTs, with some deployed at scale. Despite high coverage in some areas, implementation success and health worker uptake remain unclear. Grey literature suggests some EHRs are failing or unable to scale nationally. To close digital health gaps and ensure equity and sustainability, governments should prioritise fit-for-purpose, open-source, and scalable EHRs. Future research should evaluate adoption success and impact on health service delivery and outcomes.

Liver cancer is one of the fastest growing cancer types in Australia in terms of cancer incidence and cause of cancer death. These rates are expected to continue growing. Data shows that cancer-related deaths in Australia costs upwards of $4.8 billion in 2019-2020 alone. We also know that over 65% of liver cancers are preventable, through viral hepatitis treatment and prevention, reduction in alcohol and tobacco use, and addressing metabolic factors such as obesity and diabetes.

These social and economic costs have a significant impact on public health in Australia. Yet, despite this there has been no nationally coordinated approach to support action to reduce the growing burden of liver cancer. 

Australia’s first Roadmap to Liver Cancer Control in Australia was launched in 2023 and outlined 2-, 5-, and 10-year priorities for collective action to reduce the disease burden and improve outcomes for all Australians affected by liver cancer. The Roadmap , a critical policy blueprint, promotes a shared agenda to support prevention and early detection activities to achieve improved liver cancer outcomes. 

This presentation will showcase progress against the Roadmap priorities, two years on since it was first launched. While there has been no national commitment or coordinated funding to support dedicated activities, the health sector, including policy advocates, researchers, and health care professionals, are working to improve health literacy, awareness, understanding and utilisation of liver cancer control activities, across the life course to achieve better outcomes.

In the presentation we will share how we must leverage commonalities between liver disease prevention activities and other chronic disease prevention, such as weight loss and tobacco and alcohol cessation, to drive progress and success of the Roadmap’s priorities towards effective national liver cancer control.