How do we address equity when implementing prevention policy and practice?

The Public Health Association of Australia (PHAA) Preventive Health Conference will feature more than 30 presentations from researchers, practitioners and policy decision makers involved with the Prevention Centre through research, as a member of our funding partners, or through the Collaboration for Enhanced Research Impact (CERI).

Attendees at the event in Darwin are invited to a Prevention Centre workshop and policy dialogue discussing how to improve equity considerations in the implementation of prevention policy and practice. 

‘How do we better address equity when implementing prevention policy and practice? Building prevention success stories’ is designed to address a key challenge for policy and practice – how to implement policies and programs for place-based contexts and priority populations, while retaining their proven health impacts on individuals and the broader population. 

Building on our knowledge synthesis on implementing policies and programs in prevention (published in March 2024), the workshop will present research on applying equity considerations in practice. The aim is to stimulate a collaborative and informed dialogue between researchers, policy makers and practitioners on ways to better support equity in implementation. 

It is also designed to provide a forum for participants to understand each others’ perspectives on policy implementation and collaboratively identify opportunities to build evidence, as well as share success stories, experiences and learnings from those who are working to address equity in their prevention efforts. 

The workshop will be facilitated by Ms Nadia Mastersson, Prevention Centre Head, with speakers Professor James Smith, Deputy Dean Rural and Remote Health and Professor of Health & Social Equity at Flinders University, Dr Scott Winch, Director of Aboriginal Health at the Sax Institute, and Dr Cassandra Lane, Research Fellow at the National Centre of Implementation Science. 

Ms Mastersson said addressing equity in chronic disease prevention policy and practice is crucial for improving the health and wellbeing of all Australians.  

When we’re delivering evidence-based policies and programs, it’s critical we use implementation approaches that are not only evidence-based but also support equity and do not inadvertently exacerbate health disparities. We hope this workshop will foster partnerships and identify research gaps for further addressing equity considerations in prevention.  

Nadia Mastersson

The workshop will be held from 8:00am – 9:20am ACST on Thursday 2 May.

Register here