The 2025 Preventive Health Conference theme is: ‘Prevention is political’.

There is no doubt that preventive health initiatives and programs provide tangible health outcomes for the individuals, are excellent value for money and deliver co-benefits to many other aspects of society and community. However, working in prevention is not as straightforward as identifying and delivering evidence-based programs to improve outcomes. This year’s theme and sub-themes have been selected both with a nod to our host city, and also to surface the reality that is extremely familiar for those working in prevention and public health.

Politics plays a critical role in both the success and failure of preventive health initiatives. We are aware of the role that governments play in funding the generation of evidence and implementation of initiatives, the impact that a change of government or structures within government can have on preventive health programs and approaches, and of the challenges that come from the interaction between different governments, agencies and organisations. However, the politics of prevention goes much further than the machinations of government, with politics influencing who works with who, how organisational relationships play out over decades, and how well-intentioned initiatives end up failing due to the complexities of their authorising environment. There is also the role of the relationship between unhealthy industries and government, through lobbying, revenue, donations and other more subtle means of exercising influence. Politics is everywhere in prevention and it’s time to discuss the benefits, challenges and opportunities it presents.

This event is now closed.