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    Home > Resource hub > Public health law, regulation and policy for prevention

Public health law, regulation and policy for prevention

Public health law research is a relatively new field of research that looks at the determinants and relationships between law, policymaking and health. Research into specific topics is common, such as food labelling laws and implications for diet and obesity prevention, yet little work has been undertaken that examines and synthesises the evidence across topic areas to generate lessons for applied policy and practice.
  • Synthesis of knowledge from the Prevention Centre

    Synthesis Report

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  • Public health law, regulation and policy for prevention

    Synthesis Summary

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What did we do?

This knowledge synthesis aimed to combine the expertise of research, policy and communication experts to draw out policy-relevant lessons from research conducted by the Prevention Centre.

The findings described below are based on evidence drawn from 12 projects and 40 peer-reviewed publications and reports, with half of those publications focused on big policy issues and the other half on law and regulation.

The public health topics included food, alcohol, tobacco, physical activity, immunisation and road safety, and the research focused on local, state and territory and national levels of government. The types of research undertaken were: regulatory analyses; developing new methods or indicators to support evaluation; investigating governance and policy frameworks; evaluating impact on health or behaviour; perspectives on regulation; and industry relationships and tactics.

We asked our policy partners about the implications of our body of research into aspects of public health law, regulation and policy, has on their current and planned work.

What did we find?

  • We found public health law can provide rules and frameworks to shape the social and commercial determinants of health.
  • Public health law can help make the case for prevention and is supported by the community.
  • There are opportunities for public health law to strengthen a co-benefits approach across health and other sectors.
  • A range of different types of research and evidence can make valuable contributions to public health law making.
  • Researcher/policy networks are important for engagement of policy partners in public health law research.

Opportunities for further research

There is also a need for research to better describe and understand what design features of public health laws are or are not effective, providing useful evidence for policy makers developing and implementing public health laws. Cross-government and inter-jurisdictional collaboration as well as working with other agencies will also be important for identifying joint learning opportunities from other experiences and to demonstrate co-benefits.

Associated content

  • What is the role of law in the prevention of chronic disease?

    Resource category: Podcasts Podcasts
    Date 11 Dec 2022
  • The spectrum of research for public health law

    News Category: Prevention Centre News
    Date 15 Dec 2022
    Rainbow coloured spectrum of glass vials
Details

DATE 11 Dec 2022

TYPE Knowledge Syntheses

Prevention experts

  • Maddie Heenan

    The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre
    Headshot of Madeline Heenan
  • Dr Elly Howse

    The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre
    Headshot of Elly Howse
  • Adjunct Associate Professor Jo Mitchell

    The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre
    Headshot of Jo Mitchell
  • Beth Stickney

    The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre
    Beth Stickney
  • Professor Lucie Rychetnik

    The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre
    Headshot of Lucie Rychetnik
  • Helen Signy

    The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre
    headshot of Helen Signy
  • Dr Jenny Kaldor

    World Health Organization
    Headshot of Jenny Kaldor

Prevention methodologies

  • Regulation and governance ,
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More resources

  • What do we know about the laws that shape our built environments for walking and cycling in Australia?

    Resource category: Visuals Visuals
    Date 20 Jan 2023
  • Policy Development Handbook

    Resource category: Reports Reports
    Date 22 Dec 2022
  • What is the role of law in the prevention of chronic disease?

    Resource category: Podcasts Podcasts
    Date 11 Dec 2022

Acknowledgement of Country

The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn, and work.

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Funding Partners

The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre is funded by the NHMRC, Australian Government Department of Health, ACT Health, Cancer Council Australia, NSW Ministry of Health, Wellbeing SA, Tasmanian Department of Health, and VicHealth. The Australian Government also contributed through the Medical Research Future Fund. Queensland Health became a financial contributor in 2022. The Prevention Centre is administered by the Sax Institute.

©2023 The Sax Institute.

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