PREVENT AND PROTECT: NSW POLITICAL CANDIDATES OUTLINE POLICY PRIORITIES IN GREAT HEALTH DEBATE co-hosted by PHAA NSW Branch & University of Sydney’s School of Public Health
With
Anita Dessaix, NSW Branch President
Public Health Association of Australia &
Director of Cancer Prevention & Advocacy
Cancer Council NSW
Professor Camille Raynes-Greenow,
Deputy Associate Dean (Research),
Faculty of Medicine and Health,
University of Sydney
SEGMENT
Filmed in Sydney | October 2026
Heading towards NSW State Election in March 2027, the NSW Health Minister, Shadow Minister for Health and Greens Health spokesperson met to debate one another this week – laying out their vision of how they would protect the health of NSW residents and use prevention to reduce demand on NSW hospitals, doctors and ambulances.
Held on 1 October and co-hosted by the Public Health Association of Australia NSW Branch and the University of Sydney’s School of Public Health, the debate examined how NSW can reduce pressure on hospitals and health services by addressing health risks before they develop into serious illness.
The discussion highlighted priorities including obesity, tobacco control, climate change, gambling, health inequities and the broader social determinants of health. Speakers also emphasised the need for sustained investment in prevention rather than relying solely on expanding hospital and clinical capacity.
Anita Dessaix, NSW Branch President of the Public Health Association of Australia, told Australian Health Journal that a key priority is for the next NSW Government to commit to a long-term preventative health strategy.
“One of our critical policy asks is for the next NSW Government to introduce a five-year New South Wales Preventative Health Strategy.”
Professor Camille Raynes-Greenow, Deputy Associate Dean (Research) at the University of Sydney, also highlighted the importance of prevention and research-informed policy.
Speaking in her interview with Australian Health Journal, she said: “Ultimately, I’d really like to see a much stronger focus on prevention.”
The debate reinforced the growing focus on prevention as a critical component of a sustainable NSW health system.
POLITICAL CANDIDATES IN GREAT HEALTH DEBATE
- The Hon. Ryan Park MP, NSW Minister for Health, Minister for Regional Health,
- The Hon. Sarah Mitchell MLC, Shadow Minister for Health, Shadow Minister for Regional Health, and Shadow Minister for Mental Health
- Dr Amanda Cohn MLC, a Member of the NSW Legislative Council, and the NSW Greens spokesperson for Health.
Source: Adapted from PHAA media release (September, 2026) & transcript
-
Peak body in child and family services urges prioritising healthcare for kids in care
The Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare (the Centre) is calling on the Australian Government to prioritise healthcare access for children in out-of-home care.
“We have many amazing young people in care with huge potential, but they’re not set up for success,” said Deb Tsorbaris, CEO “Young people and workers tell us that access to health and education assessments is a huge disadvantage.”
-
LIVED EXPERIENCE: Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection (SCAD)
Jen O’Neill is a Social Work Program Manager and mother of two from the Central Coast, NSW.
At 36, she experienced her first spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) heart attack and has since survived two further SCADs before age 43.
-
Space Health & Medicine on Australia’s Clinical Launchpad
Professor Smart is a veteran, medical doctor, health leader, aerospace medicine specialist, and retired Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) senior officer. She is currently at the Professor, Military and Aerospace Medicine at the Australian National University (ANU), and serves as the Interim Director of the ANU Defence Institute, and as a Mission Specialist at the ANU Institute for Space. She previously served as the University’s COVID-19 Public Health Lead from 2020 to 2022.
