The Future of Health, La Trobe University, Public Health

Public Health is a focus that is at the center of all our communities, Australia wide and globally.

The promotion of good and equitable health is of the upmost importance and we are constantly challenged by issues such as infectious disease, antimicrobial resistance, access to immunization and much more.

Creating innovative ways to promote health and providing equal access to healthcare is proving to be one of the most challenging plights of the modern world.

These issues are tackled by professional bodies as large as the World Health Organisation and as small as your own community healthcare centers.

Digital innovations in healthcare are advancing and enabling us to more carefully use healthcare data to benefit public health, but not at the expense of public privacy which has become a topical debate in recent times.

You’re invited to join us for an exciting discussion centered around the future of health. Hear from our panel of leading health professionals as they discuss how the future of health is impacted by technology.

Following the panel discussion will be an optional presentation available for those interested on the Master of Art Therapy presented by Dr. Patricia Fenner

Keynote address:

Dr. Norman Swan

Host of the Health Report, on ABC Radio National, presenter of Health Minutes on ABC NewsRadio and ABC Television’s Catalyst, health commentator, speaker and facilitator, Dr Norman Swan, is a multi-award winning broadcaster and journalist.

One of the first medically qualified journalists in Australia, Norman was born in Scotland, graduated in medicine from the University of Aberdeen and later obtained his postgraduate qualifications in Paediatrics.

Joining the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in 1982, he has won numerous awards for his journalism and broadcasting.

Download Norman's Full Bio [DOC 94KB]

Members of the Panel:

Associate Professor Melissa Graham

Lecturer, Public Health - La Trobe University

Melissa Graham, BPH (Hons), GCHE, Grad Dip Epi Biostats, PhD is an Associate Professor of Public Health and the Course Coordinator for the Master of Public Health programs at La Trobe University.

She is the Deputy Director, Centre for Health through Action on Social Exclusion (CHASE), a multi-disciplinary research centre which works collaboratively to promote social inclusion, in the School of Health and Social Development, Faculty of Health at Deakin University.

Her research focuses on the exploration of the lives of women who do not have children, the role of policy on reproductive health, and reproductive decision-making and is underpinned by concepts of social in/exclusion.

Download Melissa's Full Bio [DOC 50KB]

Professor Stephen Duckett

Director, Health Programs - GRATTAN Institute

Emeritus Professor Stephen Duckett is Director of the Health Program at Grattan Institute, and a former Pro-Vice Chancellor at La Trobe University.

He has a reputation for creativity, evidence-based innovation and reform in areas ranging from the introduction of activity-based funding for hospitals, to new systems of accountability for the safety of hospital care.

An economist, he is a Fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia and of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences.

Professor James Boyd

Chair of Digital Health -  La Trobe University

Professor James Boyd has been appointed as inaugural Chair in Digital Health at La Trobe University.

He has a strong research background and is an international expert in data linkage who will lead La Trobe’s Digital Health strategy around course development and research on this important topic.

The digital health program at La Trobe University aims to address limitations and inefficiencies in the healthcare system resulting from the lack of ‘joined-up’ information, evidence and knowledge. Using ‘joined up’ information that covers the whole healthcare system allows clinicians to practice knowing the full context of their patients and their outcomes allowing care to be personalized rather than generic.

Download James' Full Bio [DOC 88KB]

Professor Vijaya Sundararajan

Head, Department of Public Health - La Trobe University

After qualifying as a general physician in the United States, Vijaya completed research fellowships in primary care research (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) and cancer outcomes research (Columbia University).

In her clinical roles Vijaya has delivered direct patient care in US and Australian emergency departments, general medical wards and ambulatory clinics, most recently in general practice in Clayton, Victoria.

Beginning in 2000 she worked in digital health at the Victorian Department of Health where she secured $AU 5.5 million funding from both Australian and Victorian government sources and advanced the technical development of the State’s data linkage capabilities. She served as the Foundation Director of the Centre for Victorian Data Linkage between 2009 and 2011.