Read the original journal commentary here: doi.org/10.1016/j.an...

Australia’s new dietary guidelines must be road tested by those who will use them Introduction by Croakey: As previously reported at Croakey, the protracted process carried out by the National Health and Medical Research

"Dietary guidelines can be empowering and pragmatic, but they must be appropriate for diverse groups, not just dominant groups."

Margaret Murray and Carrie Wong expand on their recent ANZJPH commentary with an op-ed in @croakeynews.bsky.social

#PublicHealth @publichealthaus.bsky.social

Read the more about the research here: doi.org/10.1016/j.an...

Do you think it's time to ditch the blazer?

The Adelaide Advertiser reports on research published in ANZJPH and led by the University of Newcastle showing strong public support for allowing kids to wear sports uniforms daily 📚⚽🏫

($$) www.adelaidenow.com.au/education/sc...

Ahead of new food-based dietary guidelines, research led by Swinburne University argues any proposed guidelines need extensive user-testing by the communities guidelines are meant to serve.

The article is published today in the ANZJPH.

🔗 doi.org/10.1016/j.an...

@publichealthaus.bsky.social

The PHAA strongly advocates for strict gun control reforms and supports the article in The Point this week by Roland Browne from Gun Control Australia.

Read the article in The Point: thepoint.com.au/opinions/260...

If you don’t have a good reason for having a gun, why should you be allowed to use or possess one?

The shootings at Bondi on 14 December 2025 came about in circumstances where a person living in suburban Sydney had six firearms, all held by him under the guise of being a recreational hunter. There appears to have been no effective scrutiny given to any “genuine reason” that that person offered as being a justification for the acquisition of any of those six firearms.

What is needed is refinement in the evidence necessary to satisfy the firearms registration authority as to the bona fides of the applicant, and to ensure that each firearm that is acquired can equally satisfy the registering authority as being for good reason.

Recent estimates suggest there are as many as 200,000 people in NSW alone who have gun licences without proper need or genuine reason. We made good progress in getting rid of firearms in the 1990s, but we seem to have been going backwards since.

Ahead of new food-based dietary guidelines, research led by Swinburne University argues any proposed guidelines need extensive user-testing by the communities guidelines are meant to serve.

The article is published today in the ANZJPH.

🔗 doi.org/10.1016/j.an...

@publichealthaus.bsky.social

Emerging Aboriginal leaders call for greater Indigenous control over native foods.

Read the Guardian's coverage: www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

Read the article in ANZJPH
🔗 doi.org/10.1016/j.an...

The Guardian has written a feature on new research from the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health in which emerging Aboriginal leaders call for greater Indigenous control over native foods.

Read the Guardian piece: www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

Image of regional bay with walking path to the side - text: Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, Photo: Georgia McGrath

People living in walkable regional towns walk 75 minutes more each week, new research led by @menzies-research.bsky.social finds.

Published today in ANZJPH, the study highlights the health benefits of more walkable regional communities.

🔗 doi.org/10.1016/j.an...

@publichealthaus.bsky.social

Image of school children sitting alongside one another - they are depicted from the chest down, showcasing their traditional tunic and shorts/button shirt uniforms and leather shoes. Text reads: Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health

🏫 🏃‍♂️Should Australian school students be able to wear their sports uniform five days a week?

A new paper published in ANZJPH today suggests there is broad public support for the idea.

doi.org/10.1016/j.an...

Photo of Dr Luke Williams (supplied by the University of Queensland) and Dr Alana Gall (supplied by Southern Cross University / Anna Warr). Both sit in native bushland. Text: Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health

Australia’s native food industry is booming - but who benefits?

Experts are concerned about the commercial exploitation of traditional knowledge.

A new commentary calls for greater action to protect Indigenous access and control over traditional foods and botanicals.

🔗 doi.org/10.1016/j.an...

Image of crates of fresh fruit and vegetables at a storefront. Text: Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health

👩‍🌾🚚🛒🥕 Better access to fresh, affordable fruit and veg could improve health in rural Australia.

But a new scoping review found that while many solutions have been suggested, few have been implemented or evaluated.

🔗 doi.org/10.1016/j.an...

@publichealthaus.bsky.social

Integrated care can improve outcomes for people with cardiovascular disease.

New research identifies the barriers preventing GP referrals to allied health and what could make integrated care easier.

🔗 doi.org/10.1016/j.an...

@publichealthaus.bsky.social

Image of human head shape made of puzzle pieces, with a few pieces missing/to the side. Text: Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health

💡NEW💡

Dementia is now Australia's leading cause of death.

A new ANZJPH letter published today argues that brain health needs to be a national priority, including a focus on prevention.

🔗 www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... @publichealthaus.bsky.social

Image of teenage hands holding using a mobile phone in the dark. Text: Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health

New age-verification requirements for online pornography come into effect today in Australia.

One of our most-read ANZJPH articles published in 2024 found the average age of first porn exposure was 13.2 for boys & 14.1 for girls.

🔗www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S132...

Image of woman in grocery shop with paper bag shopping, she is looking slightly concerned at a receipt. Text "Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health"

🥦🍎 💰 🩺 Are proposals to increase GST & broaden it to staple foods ignoring the health impacts?

This letter estimates that the reduction in fruit & veg consumption could cause 172k more cases of cardiovascular disease & 68,500 extra cases of Type 2 diabetes.

doi.org/10.1016/j.an... #PublicHealth

cover image of ANZJPH with text "New Issue Vol 50, Issue 1, February 2026"

Looking for the latest #FirstNations public health research?

Our latest issue of ANZJPH includes several papers focused on Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander & Māori health.

🔗 www.sciencedirect.com/journal/aust...

#PublicHealth

“Radical, or plain common sense?” Public health’s perennial question : Intouch Public Health Terry Slevin I was recently invited by ABC Radio Adelaide to talk about our policy asks ahead of the March 2026 state election. The invitation followed the release of our association’s South Australia...

Seatbelts? You can't tell me what to do! Driving drunk? Everyone does it! Public health and the discursive shifts from radical to normal.

intouchpublichealth.net.au/radical-or-p...

Ensuring a healthier South Australia for years to come. 2026 State Election Virtual forum, 6pm AEDT Monday 23 February. Logos of the Public Health Association, Health Promotion, and South Australian Council of Social Service.

Today 6pm AEDT, join South Australian political candidates for our virtual forum exploring the state's public health challenges.

Details: www.phaa.net.au/Web/Events/2...

Read the SA #PublicHealth Consortium's election platform:
voteforpublichealth.org

#SApol, #VoteForPublicHealth

Background image of DNA helix. Text: "A qualitative study of genomics in cancer control for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians"

💡This new paper centres Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander perspectives on genomics in cancer care, showing why co-design is essential to achieving equitable access to precision medicine.

🔗 doi.org/10.1016/j.an...

#CancerCare #Genomics #PrecisionMedicine #Equity #PublicHealth

Eight ANZJPH articles that made headlines in 2025 : Intouch Public Health Here are eight standout journal articles that shaped public health conversations in 2025.

ICYMI: With over 1.1 million reads annually, ANZJPH research continues to shape public health debate.

Here are eight 2025 articles that made headlines and shouldn’t be missed.

🔗 intouchpublichealth.net.au/eight-anzjph...

@publichealthaus.bsky.social

Cover of Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, featuring image of family playing soccer in the backyard, text: New Issue, Vol 50, Issue 1, February 2026

📣NEW ISSUE OUT NOW📣

Our first issue of 2026, Vol. 50, Issue 1 is now complete & available online.

Articles capture a wide range of #PublicHealth topics - lots on #FirstNationsHealth, #ClimateChange, #OneHealth & #Obesity

🔗 www.sciencedirect.com/journal/aust...

@publichealthaus.bsky.social

'More outbreaks' of deadly zoonotic disease in southern Australia Researchers say leptospirosis is emerging as a climate‑driven health threat in Australia, with frequent storms, floods and heatwaves pushing the disease further south.

⛈️More frequent storms and floods are increasing the risk of leptospirosis in rural Australia - and experts say rats and mice are also contributing to the spread. 🐀

Read more about recent research published in ANZJPH in this story from the ABC.

#OneHealth @publichealthaus.bsky.social

IMAGE: "Tumbetun Ruwi" Healing Country, 2025, Artist: Talia Scriven, Ngarrindjeri People his artwork celebrates resilience rooted in identity, family, and connection to Country. At its centre, two emus stand tall, symbolizing continuity, protection, and intergenerational care. This highlights the importance of early, culturally safe support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples after road traffic injuries. The circular shapes throughout represent strong identity, family support, and connection to appropriate care services. The largest circle symbolizes connection to Country – a vital cultural determinant of health and wellbeing. Together, these elements remind us that recovery depends on the strength of relationships and place, not just the individual. Beneath the emus, the silver daisy bush blooms – a totem of resilience known for thriving in tough conditions. It symbolizes endurance, hope, and growth despite challenges. The land, environment, and shared cultural knowledge passed across generations are crucial to healing, as Aboriginal participants have emphasized. Connection to Country plays a key role in supporting recovery, especially after trauma. Effective healing is community-led, involving Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations and Aboriginal Health Workers who provide early, culturally appropriate psychological and physical care. This artwork calls for stronger community-focused education and support for Aboriginal patients following road traffic injuries. Healing is not just about treatment – it is about connection, culture, and care that honours the strength of community.

📄New paper 📄

"Indigenous Measures for Protecting and Addressing Critical Trauma (IMPACT) – Project protocol"

🔗 doi.org/10.1016/j.an...

IMAGE: "Tumbetun Ruwi" Healing Country, 2025, Artist: Talia Scriven, Ngarrindjeri People

Takeaways from this publication:
1️⃣ #Lepto ?expanding into new regions due to climate change
2️⃣ burden underestimated due to surveillance gaps
3️⃣ Manual‑harvest ag workers need proper PPE + training
4️⃣ Better access to PCR = earlier Dx+Tx
5️⃣ #OneHealth surveillance needed to map transmission pathways

Image of stethoscope and ECG print out, with a heart shaped object. Text reads "Provider perspectives on heart healthcare inequities among Māori and Pacific Peoples in Aotearoa New Zealand: A qualitative study"

Heart disease is the leading cause of life expectancy gaps between Māori & Pacific populations compared with other New Zealanders.

Interviews with care providers revealed the need for adequately resourced services, designed by & for Māori and Pacific people.

Read more 👉 doi.org/10.1016/j.an...

How can we do more to keep Australian children at a healthy weight?

Our latest ANZJPH issue explores translating evidence into practical tools, the limitations of KPIs and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander strengths and inequities.

🔗 www.sciencedirect.com/journal/aust...

#childhealth

Communicable Diseases & Immunisation Conference call for abstracts extended to 20 Feb. Conference runs 15 to 17 June 2026 at Marvel Stadium in Naarm / Melbourne.

Need extra time for your #abstract for our Communicable Diseases & Immunisation Conference?

We've extended the submissions deadline to 20 Feb.

Details via www.cdic2026.com/call-for-abs...

See you in Naarm/Mebourne at Marvel Stadium #CDIC2026