Public Health Advocacy Short Course

As public health professionals, we are all working towards a world that enables and supports our community’s health and wellbeing.

Unfortunately, this is not a given. Rather, major social, political, economic and commercial forces shape the environments and societies in which we live and whether these are conductive to health and wellbeing. In this way, public health is inherently political and obtaining equitable health and wellbeing often requires systemic change, for example through laws, regulations, policies and institutional practices.

Through strategic public health advocacy, we can each play a role in achieving this systemic change, for a world where everybody’s right to health and wellbeing is realised and no one is left behind. Public health advocacy uses strategic collective actions that aim to effectively engage and influence decision makers to take evidence-based actions that deliver better population health outcomes. This short course will teach you about the fundamental aspects of public health advocacy and common advocacy tactics used in public health.

Over 3 weeks, you’ll learn about key skills and practices for engaging in effective public health advocacy such as influencing politicians and bureaucrats, leveraging traditional and social media and building coalitions. You will hear from an array of guest speakers who will provide real-world examples of advocacy in action and share lessons they have learned through their public health advocacy.

• Academics, public servants and other public health professionals.
• Policy officers seeking to understand policy implementation.
• Those working in health-related NGOs looking to improve their skills in being able to influence policy outcomes.

The key role of Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) in developing policy has been fundamental for decades. However, there is a growing need amongst all those involved in policy development and analysis to also understand the implementation process.

Many NGOs of all sizes are keen to have people on board who understand the full policy process from development to analysis and implementation. It is the public health advocacy process that facilitates implementation.

Additionally, the traditional manner in which academics have been regarded has been based on publications and citations. The ability to influence within their area of expertise and translate research into practice, so that research and publications have more practical impact, has highlighted the need for well-developed advocacy skills.

• Understand the policy implementation process in public health.
• Appreciate the importance of values-based advocacy.
• Build practical skills in working with a range of players in the policy implementation process including:
  • The media
  • Local Government Councillors
  • State and Federal Members of Parliament
  • Bureaucrats at a range of levels.
• Understanding how public health influence operates at an international level.
• Build practical skills in preparing and appearing before a Committee of Inquiry that could be:
  • A Commission
  • Parliamentary Inquiry
  • Government Inquiry.