Australasian Faculty of Public Health Medicine
The Australasian Faculty of Public Health Medicine (AFPHM) is a Faculty of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP).
In its work, the AFPHM is driven to achieve a high standard of population health in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. AFPHM:
- provides postgraduate advanced training in public health medicine
- supports public health medicine research and development
- advocates for the highest standard of population health
- promotes public debate on matters that affect the health of the community
- supports continuing professional development of Fellows as required to maintain specialist qualifications recognised by the Medical Board of Australia and the Medical Council of New Zealand (MCNZ).
AFPHM recognises the unique position of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and Māori in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand's culture and history. We're committed to seeking equity in the partnership with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of Australia and Māori of Aotearoa New Zealand in ways that recognise their distinctive cultural and legal rights and the different social and administrative contexts within which they live, including in Aotearoa New Zealand the specific guarantees of Te Tiriti o Waitangi (The Treaty of Waitangi).
Learn more about our mission and vision by reading the Statement of Purpose (PDF).
About Public Health Medicine
Public health physicians are medical specialists with a duty of care for populations rather than individuals. To explain the scope of practice of specialists in public health medicine, the AFPHM released a publication entitled Public Health Physicians: Protecting, Promoting and Improving Health for the Whole Community (PDF) in 2020.
This publication articulates the value of public health physicians, credentialled as Fellows of the AFPHM, to the contemporary public health workforce and their capacity to contribute to the broader health system. It's useful to health system decision makers in their strategic and workforce planning.
Other key insights include:
- public health physicians are trained to solve complex health problems and assessed for their ability to make sound evidence-based decisions at a systems-level;
- public health physicians are trained to lead complex change management including health promotion and disease prevention, systems reform, strategic planning, and performance monitoring required to meet heath needs;
- public health physicians lead policy reforms and interventions to transform population health in ways that are evidence-based and cost-effective;
- protection of public health is a key role of government and public health physicians work across government portfolios; and
- public health physicians can sub-specialise in specific components and/or issues within health systems, remaining focussed on population gain rather than individual perspectives.
The publication also summarises the broad range of training, expertise and impact of public health physicians, including their unique skills in:
- leading, collaborating and finding solutions for complex population health challenges
- supporting populations and health systems
- integrating medical and public health expertise
- creating and leading evidence-based health systems and public health interventions
- ensuring equity in health policies
- statutory health protection and disease prevention.
Watch this video to learn from Fellows and trainees about the experience, expertise, and qualities required for work in public health medicine.
Training in Public Health Medicine
Interested in joining AFPHM and becoming a public health physician? AFPHM runs the Public Health Medicine Advanced Training Program in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. After completing this 3-year training program, trainees are awarded the Fellowship of the Australasian Faculty of Public Health Medicine (FAFPHM).
Visit Public Health Medicine Advanced Training Program for detailed information about the program, entry requirements, how to apply, and more.
Additional training resources
AFPHM offers a number of additional training resources for trainees. While some are also available to the public, most recordings and presentation slides are only available to Fellows and trainees via Medflix, the RACPs educational video library. Members will need to log in to gain access. Check AFPHM resources for an overview of available recordings.
AFPHM Monthly Webinar Series
AFPHM conducts eight educational public health webinars per year from February to November. The webinars cover a wide range of topics and speakers across Public Health Medicine and are intended for trainees as an additional source of information and further learning opportunities. Interested Fellows and the public are welcome to attend this series.
Upcoming webinars can be found on the RACP events page or on the ROC. Registration is required to attend but trainees can register for the entire series in advance to not miss any sessions.
AFPHM National Training Days (NTD)
AFPHM conducts National Training Days each year. Relevant and engaging public health medicine topics are identified by trainees which help support the cultivation of sound knowledge.
All AFPHM trainees are invited, and registration is required. Confirmed dates are published on the RACP events page and on the ROC.
AFPHM Examination Preparation Series
About two to three months prior to the Oral Examination, AFPHM’s Education, Learning and Assessment Department conducts the Examination Preparation Series. The series consists of several sessions, with the first usually offering an opportunity to meet the Lead Examiner and ask questions about the exam process. Subsequent sessions will have defined topics from the curriculum and allow trainees to practice for the exam.
The series is intended for trainees who meet all training requirements to sit the exam and trainees will be invited by the Faculty based on their eligibility.
Recordings (audio only) will be made available online after each session on AFPHM resources.
Information about the exam and current exam dates can be found on the AFPHM Oral Examination page.
AFPHM awards and prizes
AFPHM recognises the work and achievements of its Fellows and trainees with a number of awards and prizes. These include:
Click on each award for detailed information on the prize, its eligibility criteria and application deadline.
Resources
Australian Indigenous HealthBulletin | Significant dates for cultural events 2022
Wise Practice collection | ANZSOG
NAIDOC Week 2021 Reading List (PDF) | Lowitja Institute
Amplifying Indigenous voice and curriculum within the public health academy – the emergence of Indigenous sovereign leadership in public health education (PDF) | Higher Education Research & Development
Cultural Safety in Vocational Medical Training | Te Ohu Rata O Aotearoa (Māori Medical Practitioners Association)
First Nations Cultural Safety Framework (PDF) | Australian Evaluation Society
Readings | Working With Indigenous Australians
Public Health Action to Address Whiteness: A Curated List (PDF) | National Collaborating Centre for Determinants of Health
Latest news
Visit the ROC (RACP Online Community) for the latest news and information on public health medicine and the Faculty. Download the app or login via MyRACP.
For news across the College check the RACP news page.
Get involved
You can get involved in the Faculty and connect with other AFPHM Fellows and trainees in a number of ways.
AFPHM committees | Check the Expressions of Interest page for vacant committee positions and apply.
AFPHM advocacy activities | Contribute to the RACP's policy and advocacy work on a variety of topics.
AFPHM events | Attend events and connect with AFPHM Fellows and trainees.
Governance
The AFPHM is governed by the AFPHM Council. The current President of the AFPHM is Professor Jeanette Ward.