Social media platforms have become central environments for the promotion, normalisation and circulation of e-cigarette content. This presentation examines how e-cigarette content has been governed through platform-led self-regulation and whether Australia’s recently enacted Public Health (Tobacco and Other Products) Act 2023 (Cth) is beginning to shift social media practices and population exposure to e-cigarette promotion.

Part 1: Pre-legislative evidence examined e-cigarette promotion on TikTok and Instagram alongside expert perspectives on social media content governance. Content analyses demonstrated that e-cigarette content was overwhelmingly positive, highly visible and widely engaged with, characterised by minimal health warnings, limited disclosure of commercial relationships and frequent violations of platform content policies. Expert interviews framed social media as a commercially driven, opaque and cross-border system in which platform-led self-regulation was widely viewed as ineffective, prompting calls for statutory governance frameworks supported by meaningful enforcement and oversight.

Part 2: Post-legislative evidence examined the early impacts of the Public Health Act, providing initial indications of regulatory effect. Findings include strengthened platform policies incorporating explicit local law compliance obligations, increased government-directed content removal activity, and post-legislative declines in self-reported adolescent exposure to e-cigarette promotion across major social media platforms. Industry disclosures further identify marketing restrictions as a material regulatory risk.

Taken together, these findings suggest that Australia’s Public Health (Tobacco and Other Products) Act 2023 (Cth) demonstrates how prescriptive legislation, supported by enforcement capacity, can begin to reshape digital marketing environments. The presentation underscores the importance of moving beyond policy intent and platform self-regulation toward sustained implementation, monitoring and accountability to protect public health in rapidly evolving digital spaces, and offers lessons for other jurisdictions considering comparable regulatory approaches.

Context and Aim
Early detection of cryptosporidiosis outbreaks and providing public health advice is crucial to preventing transmission, particularly in aquatic facilities. However, interviewing cryptosporidiosis cases is time-consuming, and interviews are often not prioritised. In 2024, 60% (393/659) of cryptosporidiosis cases were interviewed by the North Eastern Public Health Unit (NEPHU). To improve the timeliness and effectiveness of the public health response, NEPHU now sends text messages to cases with advice and a link to a survey capturing demographic, exposure, and acquisition history.

Methods and Analysis
From 10 November 2025 – 9 April 2026, all confirmed cryptosporidiosis cases were sent the text message and survey link. Existing epidemiological tools analysed survey results and identified outbreaks. The evaluation utilised administrative data and a case evaluation questionnaire.

Outcomes
Text messages were sent to 81/93 (87%) cases, representing an increase of 27% of cases receiving public health advice. Six cases did not have a phone number and 6 cases were not sent a message due to a reporting issue. The survey was completed by 58% (47/81). At least one acquisition risk factor was identified in 41 cases (53%). Two aquatic facility outbreaks were detected at earlier timepoints than previously, enabling early intervention.
Nineteen percent (15/81) of cases competed the evaluation questionnaire. Ninety-four percent of respondents reported that the message prompted at least one public health action (e.g. avoiding swimming) and 87% reported improved understanding of cryptosporidiosis. Nearly all respondents (94%) would be happy to receive similar text messages in the future.

Future action
For cryptosporidiosis the combination of a text message and online survey is an efficient, feasible and acceptable way to screen cryptosporidiosis cases for outbreak detection and to disseminate public health information at scale. This strategy can be employed for other communicable diseases.

Social media plays an increasingly important role in health promotion, public health communication and advocacy. Despite widespread professional use, evidence suggests that many public health professionals have limited formal training, variable confidence, as well as concerns about misinformation, online behaviour and professional risk. Together, these gaps highlight the need for flexible, accessible training that supports effective use of social media in public health practice.

In response to this need, a six-module massive open online course (MOOC), Using Social Media for Effective Health Promotion, Communication and Advocacy, has been developed to build public health professionals’ knowledge, skills, and confidence in using social media for professional practice. This presentation outlines the design and evaluation framework of the MOOC and presents preliminary evaluation findings.

The MOOC is being evaluated through a wait-list randomised controlled trial with Australian public health professionals. Guided by selected elements of the RE-AIM and Kirkpatrick evaluation models, the mixed-methods evaluation examines effectiveness, learner reaction, learning and behaviour change. Quantitative data are collected at baseline, interim post-test and final post-test to measure changes in social media context awareness, competency and perceived impact on professional practice, alongside qualitative exit interviews exploring participant experiences and application of learning.

The presentation will report on preliminary evaluation insights, highlighting key learning domains assessed and summarising emergent qualitative themes related to participant experience, relevance and perceived applicability to public health practice.

Overall, this evaluation addresses an important gap in workforce development by examining whether a MOOC can support public health professionals to engage ethically and effectively in complex digital environments. Findings are intended to inform ongoing professional development initiatives and contribute to emerging evidence on the role of flexible online training in supporting public health communication and advocacy.

In Bangladesh, knowledge regarding Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) among adolescents is generally poor. Factors like severe misconceptions, social stigma, and cultural taboos might be responsible for knowledge gaps which remain a critical public health challenge for youth in the country. This study evaluated the knowledge gaps among the adolescent population and based on that, an interactive mobile health (mHealth) application has been developed that might improve the comprehensive STD knowledge and health-seeking behaviors among adolescents.Cross-sectional study design was conducted to identify the knowledge and health seeking behavioral practice among 200 adolescent girls using structured questionnaire from one of the rural areas in Bangladesh. The study found 39.5% among the adolescents girls have almost no knowledge about STIs. Majority of them agreed upon the improvement of formal education might help to increase the health seeking behavior. Regarding the health seeking behavior (27.5%) identified “social norms” or “social stigma” might be one of the main barriers of not intending to take the appropriate treatment services. From the previous literature, lack of treatment facilities with proper confidentiality can be another significant barriers among many other factors. Therefore, based on the findings, a mobile health application has been developed to get the necessary knowledge, symptoms of diseases, transmission of diseases has been included along with the primary telemedicine services needed for early detection. After implementation of the mobile app among 100 adolescents, significant improvement has been found regarding the knowledge about STDs that can help the adolescents to maximize the health seeking behavior and minimize the severity of disease with proper confidentiality and referral system.

Background
Rapid expansion of digital device use in rural India has raised concerns regarding its impact on physical and mental health. Evidence from rural settings remains limited, particularly across multiple health domains.
Objective
To assess the association of screentime with musculoskeletal, ocular, attention, sleep and mental health disorders among individuals aged ≥5 years in a rural population.
Methods
A population-based cluster cross-sectional study was conducted in Naubatpur, Bihar, using multistage sampling (30 villages; 20 participants per village). Individuals aged ≥5 years with access to a screen device were included. Data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire and validated tools: DSM-5 ADHD checklist (5–17 years) and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (≥18 years). Screentime (hours/day) was analysed as a continuous variable. Associations were assessed using chi-square tests, t-tests/ANOVA, and regression models (binomial, ordinal, and multinomial). Statistical significance was set at p<0.05.
Results
Among 524 participants (51% aged 5–17 years; 65.3% female), mean±SD screentime was 4.37±3.04 hours/day; 17.6% exceeded 2 hours/day. Mobile phones were the predominant devices (56.9%). Ocular symptoms were common (eye strain 14%, watering 11%, burning 9%). Musculoskeletal symptoms were reported by 35%. Among adults (n=257), 22% had mild to severe depression. Increasing screentime was significantly associated with higher odds of depression severity (OR 5.888 for mild, 13.73 for moderate, 67.18 for moderately severe; p<0.001) and musculoskeletal symptoms (OR 1.08 per hour increase; p=0.009). No significant association was observed between screentime and ADHD categories (p>0.05).
Conclusion
High screentime in rural populations is associated with increased ocular symptoms, musculoskeletal complaints, and worsening depression severity. Public health interventions promoting digital literacy, ergonomic practices, and behavioural modification are urgently needed in rural settings. Longitudinal studies using exposure metrics are need to be conducted to objectively establish the causality and deciding age- and context-specific thresholds for safe screentime.
Keywords
Asthenopia; Depressive disorder; Musculoskeletal pain; Rural population; Screen time

Physical activity (PA) is considered a key focus of public health. Technology-supported PA, interactive technology designed to encourage PA is increasingly being explored as a tool to promote PA behaviour across population groups. However, little is known about how technology-supported PA use is being measured in research and/or the validity/reliability of these measurement tools. Without an understanding of how technology-supported PA use is measured researchers understanding of its potential effectiveness as a health promotion tool is limited. The objective of this scoping review was to identify the tools used to measure technology-supported PA use in research as well as their reported validity and reliability (if any).
A systematic search was conducted for articles published after 2010 (year the first mobile fitness apps were released). Eligible studies were peer reviewed research which included the measurement of technology-supported PA use. Two reviewers synthesised the results by type of use (e.g., self-report, objective use), reported reliability/validity of the measurement tools and if or how a session of technology-supported PA use (e.g., minimum number of minutes) was defined.
In total, 74 studies from 3976 records were included: mobile apps (n=31), wearable activity trackers (n=13), interactive websites (n=5), social media (n=4) and multiple types (n=18). Most were conducted in a community setting (n=43) with non-specialised populations (n=60). Technology-supported PA use was measured via self-report (yes/no, frequency) (n=44), objective analytics data (n=29) or both (n=1). There was minimal discussion of the tool’s validity (n=17), reliability (n=13) or how a session of use was defined (n=2).
Despite its widespread use in health promotion there is limited evidence that technology-supported PA use is being measured in a valid/reliable way. Future research needs to consider how tools that accurately measure technology-supported PA use across populations could be developed to effectively assess its potential as a health promotion tool.

Social media platforms have become significant channels for the marketing of e‑cigarettes, exposing young people to commercial content associated with increased uptake and harm. While the World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control recommends comprehensive bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship, the regulatory approaches to e‑cigarette advertising on social media lack consistency across countries. This scoping review identified and mapped existing and recommended legislation governing e‑cigarette advertising on social media in five high‑income countries: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Guided by the PRISMA‑ScR framework and Arksey and O’Malley’s methodology, peer‑reviewed and grey literature were systematically searched to identify in‑force legislation and policy recommendations addressing e‑cigarette advertising, promotion and sponsorship on social media, including cross‑border provisions. Data were charted and synthesised to describe regulatory approaches, enforcement mechanisms and areas of policy convergence and divergence. Eighteen documents met the inclusion criteria, comprising in‑force legislation (n=8) and peer‑reviewed studies proposing regulatory responses (n=10).

The review identified substantial variation in how e‑cigarette advertising on social media is regulated across countries. Only a limited number of countries had comprehensive prohibitions aligned with WHO recommendations, while others relied on partial restrictions or regulatory frameworks with discretionary powers. Cross‑border advertising and enforcement mechanisms were inconsistently addressed, creating regulatory gaps within a globalised digital media environment. Recommendations from the peer‑reviewed literature consistently called for stronger government leadership, clearer statutory definitions of advertising and promotion, platform accountability, and enhanced enforcement capacity.

This scoping review synthesises in force and recommended legislation regulating e-cigarette advertising and sponsorship on social media across five countries and identifies gaps between Article 13 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and current national regulatory approaches.

Objectives:
Mental health challenges among older adults are growing globally. Around 14% of adults aged 60+yrs live with mental disorders, and in Australia 9.6% of people aged 65-85 report a mental health condition. This review mapped evidence on how artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots support older adults’ mental health, including help-seeking, and developed a practice-oriented conceptual framework.

Methods:
We conducted a prospectively registered mixed-methods systematic review. Six databases (MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Scopus, Web of Science) were searched for English-language, peer-reviewed empirical studies from 1 January 2014 onward. Eligible studies included qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods designs with participants aged 60+, or mixed-age samples with separable/majority older-adult data. Chatbots were classified by architecture and interaction modality. A convergent integrated mixed-methods synthesis was used.

Results:
A total of n=28 studies were included: quantitative (n=13), mixed methods (n=12), and qualitative (n=3). Most were published in 2024-2026 (20/28), conducted in Asia (18/28), and had small samples (median n=23; range 12-2896). Chatbots were classified by architecture and interaction modality. By architecture, studies examined large language model-enabled systems (n=11), rule-based systems (n=5), hybrid systems (n=1), and other/unspecified systems (n=11). By modality, chatbots were delivered via text (n=11), voice/call (n=5), embodied/avatar interfaces (n=3), and multimodal formats (n=9). Implementations spanned community, residential aged care, and clinical/caregiver contexts, most often for companionship, psychoeducation, self-management, and symptom support. Four consistent patterns emerged: older adults valued companionship and emotional support; engagement depended on usability, accessibility, and personaliszation; mental health effects were generally promising but mixed across studies; and chatbot value was highest when used to complement, not replace, human care. Evidence on long-term outcomes remained limited.

Conclusions:
AI chatbots show practical potential as adjunct supports for older adults’ mental health across diverse settings. Their contribution appears strongest when design prioritizes accessibility and personalization and when implementation is integrated into person-centered care pathways.

International students form a vital part of Victoria’s community, yet many navigate sexual health, mental wellbeing and healthcare access amid HIV/STI stigma, unfamiliar services, OSHC confusion, language barriers, and fear of being judged or exposed. These trust gaps matter in a national context where Australia is working toward the virtual elimination of HIV transmission by 2030 (Australian Centre for Disease Control, 2024).

In response, SafeDownUnder was developed as a grant-funded digital platform that brings trusted, culturally safe health information closer to international students, supporting HIV prevention and health navigation (SafeDownUnder, 2026). Delivered in partnership with Melbourne Sexual Health Centre and Study Melbourne, with AusWISE central to student engagement, co-design and community-led implementation, the project demonstrates how a student-focused non-profit can transform lived experience into practical public health infrastructure.

AusWISE supported a nine-member Student Advisory Group, including the presenting author, alongside a public health project team and student volunteers. Together, they shaped the platform from research and content writing to service mapping, tone, visual identity, navigation and dissemination. Facilitators, professionals and Ending HIV Network members reviewed content and provided specialist input, while the student-led team kept the platform relatable, culturally safe and easy to use.

The project was strengthened through resource audits, stakeholder consultation, co-design workshops, structured usability surveys, website analytics, evaluation survey responses and in-depth interviews. Since its February 2026 launch, SafeDownUnder has been well received by students, the Department of Health Victoria and sector stakeholders, generating strong interest in future scale-up.

This presentation will demonstrate how international students can be positioned not as passive recipients of health information, but as trusted co-designers, cultural translators and emerging public health leaders. It will explore how culturally safe digital communication improves service navigation, and how cross-sector solidarity can transform health systems through lived experience.

References:
Australian Centre for Disease Control. (2024). Ninth National HIV Strategy 2024–2030.
SafeDownUnder. (2026). SafeDownUnder.