Infrequent monitoring has led to uncertainty about trends in childhood obesity prevalence. Our aim was to establish a sustainable childhood obesity monitoring system in regional Australia using a passive (opt-out) consent process and employing a census-style sampling technique. This system has the potential to provide sustainable monitoring of childhood obesity, which is vital to understanding the problem of childhood obesity in this region.

Parents of young children need opportunities to build community connections and social support networks where they live. Parents who participated in locally placed playgroups were more connected to their local community than parents who participated in playgroups outside their local residential area. Locally placed playgroups have the potential to foster local community connectedness for families with young children.

Fly-in, fly-out (FIFO) work can be associated with mental-health, personal and family-related issues, challenging the well being of workers. This study evaluated whether a 24/7 onsite chaplaincy service can mitigate some of the adverse effects of FIFO work. We found that the proactive outreach approach of chaplains offered effective support, benefitting the health and well being of FIFO employees

The rate of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) for Asian-born women is higher than for other groups. A qualitative interpretive design was used to explore Southeast Asian migrant women’s experience and management of GDM at two Sydney hospitals. They likened their experience of GDM to an elevator ride, which was modulated by ‘insulin’ and ‘information’ to control the disease and manage blood glucose levels, dietary levels, exercise levels and anxiety levels. Better understanding of cultural interpretations may help health professionals support women with GDM.

Aboriginal young people may experience high rates of family violence and poorer reproductive and sexual health than their non-Aboriginal counterparts. To address some of the disparities, the Strong Family Program was developed, based on an extensive consultation process with Aboriginal communities, to deliver reproductive and sexual health promotion and education to Aboriginal communities in New South Wales. Participation increased reproductive and sexual health knowledge and positive attitudes. Health promotion and education with Aboriginal communities should be based on community consultations and carried out within a culturally appropriate framework to promote greatest success.

This study examines how sedentary behaviour was covered as a health issue in Australian newspapers between 2000 and 2012 and how physical activity was framed within this newspaper coverage. Adults who sat a lot were portrayed as ‘sitting ducks’ for ill health. Benefits of physical activity independent of sedentary behaviour were neglected. It is important that the entire ‘move more, sit less, every day!’ message is communicated.

There is a potential for food labels to influence portion size selection of foods, and therefore affect weight status. This study aimed to examine whether two food labels (a kJ/100 g label and the Health Star Rating label) influenced portion size selection of young adults and found that neither label had an effect. These results indicate that current food labels may not be effective in assisting young people to make appropriate portion size selections. This, in turn, could affect weight status, nutrient intake and overall health.

Local governments are uniquely placed to influence the food environment of their communities through healthy eating policies (HEPs) but few have done so. Using a community-based participatory approach, the capacity of 31 South Australian local governments to develop and implement a HEP was increased with 14 endorsed policies. HEPs provide important structural mechanisms to enable local governments to facilitate healthy eating.

The age at which adults started drinking alcohol is strongly associated with the age at which they believe it is acceptable to introduce children to alcohol at home. This phenomenon has the potential to perpetuate a cycle of early initiation and risk of alcohol-related problems.

Fishers in Western Australia were surveyed to investigate differences in behaviours and attitudes towards personal safety while fishing. Fishers born in Asia were poorer swimmers than other groups yet were more likely to have fished from rocks than those born elsewhere. Although most respondents agreed that wearing a life jacket would make fishing safer, 78% ‘never’ wore a life jacket while fishing. Activities aimed at reducing rock fishing fatalities need to be directed towards improving survivability when a fisher is unexpectedly washed into the sea. These could include making the wearing of life jackets mandatory while rock fishing.

The incidence of smoking among clients using homeless services is extraordinarily high. While nurses from an Australian homeless program were aware of their clients’ smoking habits, they underestimated the interest in quitting, which was expressed by many clients. With some simple organisational system changes to homeless services, appropriate cessation assistance could be provided to this vulnerable population.

Universities represent important settings for public health initiatives such as smoke-free policies; however, policy implementation does not necessarily result in a smoke-free environment. University students believe enforcement of smoke-free policies is necessary; however, staff do not see enforcement as part of their role. Explicit enforcement plans, and specific training and support for enforcement roles, are required to avoid pervasive policy non-compliance.