Public Health Association Conference 2006

Public Health Association Conference 2006
For release Tuesday 4 July 2006

Public health workers from around the country will gather in Palmerston North tomorrow for the annual Public Health Association (PHA) conference. The conference is a ‘must-attend’ event on the public health calendar.

The conference, which runs from 5 to 7 July at the Palmerston North Convention Centre, features internationally-renowned speakers including Professor Mason Durie (Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Maori) and Professor of Maori Research and Development at Massey University), Professor Tony McMichael (Director of the National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health at the Australian National University), Dr Cindy Kiro (Children’s Commissioner), and Dr Jane Freemantle (Vice President of the Public Health Association of Australia).

The theme of the conference is Sustaining Public Health – Pupuritia Te Whare Tapa Wha. PHA Director Dr Gay Keating says that while it sounds obvious, public health is essential to sustaining society.

“If you don’t have healthy people, society doesn’t prosper and advance. However, people don’t always realise that the health of the public is about far more than hospitals, doctors and nurses.

“Many of the things that impact on our wellbeing are from areas outside health – such as housing, employment, education, transport, recreation and the environment.

“This conference is about involving the whole of society in working for a healthy future for our children.”

Papers will address one or more of the conference streams.

- Whanau Ora
- Transport and access
- Public Health Organisations and public health
- Sustainable and safe environments
- Families, houses and homes
- Collaboration.

On Thursday evening (6 July), former Director-General of Health and 2001 Public Heath Champion Dr George Salmond will present the Public Health Champion 2006 award. On Friday morning the Minister of Health, Hon Pete Hodgson, will address the conference.

ENDS

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