This is the first perspective in a series of four reviewing the past decade in preventive health. While the gains won in selected areas of public health in Australia over the last decade should be acknowledged, the nation continues to fall short of the aspirations expressed in its prevention policies. Sporadic and disjointed implementation are perennial issues. The governance, organisational and funding requirements for effective prevention need to be addressed. The National Preventive Health Strategy 2021–2030 and the Australian Centre for Disease Control are current opportunities for improving the leadership and coordination of implementation across sectors and agencies.

This article belongs to the collection: A Decade of Insight: 10th Anniversary Collection of Public Health Research & Practice.

This is the second perspective in a series of four reviewing the past decade in preventive health. First Nations peoples have long practised holistic, community-led approaches to health and wellbeing. This paper explores how the National Preventive Health Strategy (NPHS) can better embrace Indigenous strengths and knowledge to improve health outcomes. By privileging First Nations leadership, cultural governance, and meaningful partnerships as core business in health policy, the paper highlights opportunities to create a more inclusive and effective approach to preventive health – one that supports self-determination and long-term wellbeing for communities.

This article belongs to the collection: A Decade of Insight: 10th Anniversary Collection of Public Health Research & Practice.

This is the third perspective in a series of four reviewing the past decade in preventive health. Preventing illness is a core part of what general practice does. Over the past 10 years, screening for cancer, prevention of heart disease and immunisation have all increased. However, assessment and referral of patients with overweight and unhealthy behaviours has remained too infrequent due to high workload, inappropriate funding and poorly developed information systems.

This article belongs to the collection: A Decade of Insight: 10th Anniversary Collection of Public Health Research & Practice.

This is the fourth perspective in a series of four reviewing the past decade in preventive health. Despite successfully lowering smoking rates, tobacco use remains a leading cause of preventable illness and death in Australia. Reducing smoking prevalence to no more than 5% by 2030 could be readily achieved with continued tobacco control policy innovation. Australia has the opportunity to once again be a global leader in tobacco control by adopting world-first polices that strictly limit where and how easily tobacco is sold.

This article belongs to the collection: A Decade of Insight: 10th Anniversary Collection of Public Health Research & Practice.

The multidisciplinary public health workforce and its education have evolved over time, with government reforms driven by social initiatives. Recent polycrises – natural and man-made disasters and crises – shed light on the strengths and weakness of the Australian public health effort and therefore its workforce education. Multidisciplinary public health competencies must drive public health education and training with accredited degrees to ensure internationally transportable qualifications and a future-proofed workforce.

This article belongs to the collection: A Decade of Insight: 10th Anniversary Collection of Public Health Research & Practice.

Artifical intelligence (AI) has the potential to revolutionise healthcare and public health globally, but do its risks outweigh its potential? Here we outline the issues of AI and provide examples of where it could be successful. Advances in AI technologies must consider ethical implications and regulations while undergoing further research and experimentation to fulfil its potential; otherwise health inequalities will be exacerbated and advances in AI will fail to serve the best interests of individuals and communities worldwide.

This article belongs to the collection: A Decade of Insight: 10th Anniversary Collection of Public Health Research & Practice.

Planetary health aims to achieve the highest attainable state of health for current and future generations by protecting the natural systems on which all health depends. Despite the increasing uptake of planetary health concepts within health systems, decision-making frameworks remain firmly and narrowly focused on best patient outcomes relative to financial cost. More action is needed to secure the adoption of planetary health within health systems. Public health professionals, working in collaboration with other disciplines, are important and influential agents for this change.

This article belongs to the collection: A Decade of Insight: 10th Anniversary Collection of Public Health Research & Practice.