Public Health Practice in Australia

Public Health Practice in Australia offers a thorough introduction to what public health practitioners do, and the 'effort' involved in improving the health of the public.

This second edition has been fully revised and updated in line with current policies and practice. It highlights common threads that underlie seemingly disparate activities, ideas and entities that comprise the organised effort of public health practice. The emphasis is on securing and maintaining the conditions in society that enable people to live healthy and fulfilling lives.

The authors examine the impact of historical, social, economic, environmental and political factors on the health of individuals, communities and populations. Taking an applied, multidisciplinary approach, they outline the strategies and tools that public health practitioners use to improve health outcomes: identifying infrastructure needs in the workforce, public and private sector organisations, and in regulation; gathering, analysing and using health data; applying interventions in health policy, provision of health services and health promotion.

Public Health Practice in Australia draws on current international and Australian research and the interwoven case studies make the theories and concepts come alive. It is a valuable resource for students and professionals across the health sciences including public health, medicine, environmental health, health promotion, health information management and health administration.

'The book is impressive in the completeness, clarity and consistency of the material covered, and for the way in which many of the theoretical issues are related to current practice. An extremely useful and valuable reference for both students and practitioners alike.' - Thomas Tenkate, Environmental Health

About the Authors

Vivian Lin is Professor of Public Health at La Trobe University, Vice President for Scientific Affairs for the International Union for Health Promotion and Education and Senior Editor for Health Policy for Social Science and Medicine. She has held senior positions in a range of health authorities and non-government organisations across Australia, and is the co-author of Health Planning (2001) and co-editor of Evidence-based Health Policy (2003).

James Smith is an independent public health planning consultant and public health policy adviser to local government and its peak bodies. He is also an Adjunct Associate Professor in the School of Public Health and Human Biosciences at La Trobe University and in the School of the Environment at Flinders University. He is a past President of Environmental Health Australia and former Editor-in-Chief of the journal Environmental Health.

Sally Fawkes is Senior Lecturer in Health Promotion and Leadership at La Trobe University where she teaches post-graduate subjects in public health policy, health promotion, and law and management in health. She has extensive national and international experience in health promotion policy development and practice. She serves on the boards of Women's Health Victoria and the International Network of Health Promoting Hospitals and Health Services.