ABSTRACTIntroductionFalls are a major health risk for older Australians, causing most injury‐related hospitalisations and deaths in this age group. Despite growth in Australia's older culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) population, limited data exist on the availability and suitability of falls prevention programmes for this group. This study examines the availability and suitability of such programmes for CALD populations in local government areas (LGAs) in Greater Sydney, NSW.MethodsAn audit of publicly available demographic data and falls prevention programme offerings from 20 LGAs was conducted, based on language diversity and Socio‐Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA)—Index of Relative Socio‐Economic Disadvantage (IRSD) score. Seven LGAs with the highest and lowest SEIFA‐IRSD scores, plus seven LGAs with the most and least linguistic diversity were included. Data are presented using column charts to identify trends.ResultsFewer programmes were found in areas of greater disadvantage and higher linguistic diversity. Least disadvantaged areas offered more programmes, whilst the most disadvantaged and linguistically diverse areas offered fewer. Only one programme was offered in a language other than English, in a least disadvantaged LGA (Ku‐Ring‐Gai). These trends suggest that programme availability does not align with community needs.ConclusionsDisparities exist in falls prevention programme availability across LGAs, with fewer programmes in areas of higher disadvantage and linguistic diversity, highlighting access inequities for older CALD populations.So What?Older CALD populations in high‐need LGAs have reduced access to falls prevention programmes, signalling a need for targeted, culturally and linguistically appropriate health promotion initiatives.

ABSTRACT Objective Food environments are significant drivers of obesity and diet‐related diseases, making them key targets for interventions that support healthier food choices. The role of Local Government Authorities (LGAs) is pivotal in shaping community food environments. However, the specific intervention commitments of these authorities remain unclear. The aim of this study was to identify Western Australian (WA) LGA commitments to improve food environments, as specified in their Local Public Health Plans (LPHPs). Methods Between July and October 2023, all WA LGA ( n = 139) websites were reviewed to identify publicly available LPHPs. All commitments relating to food environments were identified, summarised and thematically analysed using a document analysis methodology. Results Thirty‐five percent of LGAs ( n = 48) had publicly available LPHPs. Within these LPHPs, there were 11 food environment‐related focus areas containing a total of 412 commitments. All LPHPs addressed at least two focus areas; the most prevalent being alcohol reduction ( n = 44; 92%), food quality and safety ( n = 43; 90%) and healthy food/drink policy or provision in LGA settings ( n = 37; 77%). Overall, the commitments within each focus area lacked clarity and a clear strategy for how they would be achieved and evaluated. Conclusion It is commendable that WA LGAs are committed to enhancing food environments through their LPHPs. For their efforts to be successful, ensuring LPHPs are well‐informed, adequately resourced and supported is essential. So What? Without increased support for LGAs to deliver on their LPHP commitments, food environment advancements may be limited. Future research should assess the implementation of LGA LPHP commitments and subsequent impacts.

ABSTRACTIssue AddressedDespite substantial investment in government‐funded physical activity initiatives, there is limited evidence on how external stakeholders are engaged in their development and implementation. Gathering stakeholder feedback is often challenging, particularly without established mechanisms for ongoing evaluation. Therefore, this study aimed to explore how external stakeholders interacted with a government‐funded population‐based physical activity portfolio of initiatives in South Australia and examine key factors influencing its implementation, including challenges and opportunities to optimise future implementation.MethodsIn‐depth, semi‐structured interviews (n = 18) were conducted with stakeholders working at relevant agencies in South Australia. Interviews were audio‐recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analysed thematically to identify key themes related to stakeholder interaction and implementation insights.ResultFour key themes were identified related to: (1) awareness and engagement, (2) benefits and challenges to participation, (3) benefits and challenges to organisational partnerships, and (4) opportunities to enhance implementation. Funding, networking, and communication significantly influenced the promotion and engagement of the initiatives. Expanding funding and improving decision‐making were identified as opportunities to improve the implementation of future initiatives, with stakeholders emphasising transparency and the importance of monitoring and evaluation.ConclusionThis study highlights the crucial role of external stakeholders and the need for more funding and effective communication to enhance engagement in state government physical activity initiatives.So What?These findings provide policymakers with insights into stakeholder relationships and emphasise the importance of strengthening collaborative approaches to enhance stakeholder contributions to government‐led physical activity initiatives.

ABSTRACTIssue AddressedThis study explores how community health and social service providers in Tasmania perceive local health challenges, navigate system barriers, and support socioeconomically disadvantaged populations. In the context of Tasmania's ongoing public health reform, these perspectives are critical for shaping equitable strategies grounded in lived experience.MethodSemi‐structured interviews were conducted with leaders from diverse health and social service organisations in southern Tasmania. Analysis combined inductive thematic coding with a critical realist framework to map relationships between the local context, mechanisms of change, and outcomes.ResultsHealth risks and chronic conditions are closely entwined with socioeconomic disadvantage, unmet basic needs, and systemic challenges. Providers responded with adaptive, community‐based strategies emphasising trust, accessibility, and contextual sensitivity. Yet, these mechanisms were constrained by limited resources, low health literacy, and broader contextual barriers, producing mixed outcomes ranging from engagement and empowerment to persistent disengagement and cycles of poor health.ConclusionCommunity health and social service providers are essential intermediaries, bridging gaps through integrated, localised programs. Findings support Tasmania's vision for an integrated wellbeing approach and highlight the need for greater investments in prevention, stronger local governance and coordination, and strategies that address the structural determinants of health and enhanced community participation.So What?This study extends Tasmanian health promotion scholarship by foregrounding provider perspectives and provides a unique system‐level account of how providers adapt to entrenched disadvantage. It also demonstrates the value of a critical realist lens for understanding cycles of disadvantage. Together, these insights offer practical guidance for equity‐oriented public health reform.

ABSTRACTAlcohol, tobacco and other drug screening tools are essential components of health promotion strategies to help identify individuals at risk of harmful substance use and guide them towards timely and appropriate interventions. These tools play a particularly important role in antenatal care, where routine screening for pregnant women supports healthier pregnancies and promotes long‐term wellbeing for mother and child. However, it is unclear whether there are culturally responsive, validated tools for use with pregnant Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. A search of recent literature identified tools commonly used with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations but found limitations in how the use of these tools was reported. We outline key considerations for improving the implementation and reporting of alcohol, tobacco and other drug screening tools in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations. We discuss how prioritising cultural responsiveness, validation and acceptability in screening practices can enhance healthcare equity and improve outcomes for pregnant Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples affected by alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use.

ABSTRACTObjectiveThe objective of this study is to examine food and beverage advertising and stores around New Zealand (NZ) primary schools.MethodsFood and beverage advertising and stores within 800 m of 18 primary schools in NZ were collected in August 2023. Food and beverage advertising and store characteristics were compared across low (1–3), medium (4–7) and high (8–10) decile schools, reflecting socioeconomic status.Results‘Non‐core’ food and beverage advertisements (n = 426, 89%) outnumbered ‘core’ (n = 53, 11%) with sugar‐sweetened beverages (n = 192, 40.1%) the most common category, and Coca‐Cola the most common brand (n = 158, 33%, p = 0.033). Food stores were the most common location for food and beverage advertisements (97.1%, p ≤ 0.001). More food and beverage advertisements surrounded low (n = 406, 43%) and medium (n = 208, 43.4%) decile schools, with low‐decile schools having more nearby advertisements (0–400 m) (n = 111, 57.5%). The most common food and beverage stores near schools were local fast‐food (44.7%) and convenience stores (24.2%). Store type varied by school decile, with more convenience stores (51.9%) and fast‐food chains (81.3%) near low‐decile schools.Conclusions‘Non‐core’ food and beverage advertising, local fast‐food, fast‐food chains and convenience stores were prevalent surrounding primary schools, particularly low and medium‐decile schools.So What?These findings highlight high levels of exposure to unhealthy food and beverage advertising and food stores, especially surrounding schools within low and medium socioeconomic areas.

ABSTRACTIssue AddressedCitizen science, an approach to health promotion that involves public participation and collaboration, has been posited as a promising approach to reach diverse or marginalised populations. This scoping review aims to explore the involvement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and other First Nations and Indigenous peoples internationally in citizen science in health‐related studies. While current health promotion in Indigenous communities is already strongly embedded in participatory approaches, we sought to examine whether citizen science methodologies have been used in health promotion and see what it could add.MethodsWe searched three databases for self‐identified citizen science studies on health‐related topics in the peer‐reviewed literature using the term ‘citizen science’ combined with search terms relevant to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and global Indigenous populations. We recorded data about project characteristics and the citizen science approach used and appraised the cultural engagement quality of studies included.ResultsEleven articles were included for full‐text review. Included studies focused on a range of health‐related topics, including environmental issues, physical health, food security, and youth mental health. Six studies (55%) adopted a co‐created citizen science approach in which citizen scientists had input in key project phases and activities as collaborators and partners. The remaining studies took contributory (27%) or collaborative (9%) approaches, while no studies were citizen‐led. The cultural engagement quality of included citizen science projects was positive overall, although there were areas for improvement, specifically having clear Indigenous research leadership and governance, and transparent agreements on rights to cultural and intellectual property arising from the research.ConclusionCitizen science projects focusing on health‐related issues among Indigenous peoples and communities are relatively few. The potential of this approach to enrich current community‐based participatory or co‐design approaches to health promotion among Indigenous communities remains to be determined.So What?Future citizen science projects involving Indigenous people and communities should prioritise and support Indigenous‐led citizen science approaches where communities initiate, lead, and govern research processes. Cultural engagement quality could be improved, particularly in relation to having Indigenous‐led research governance, and rights of access to and protections of Indigenous intellectual and cultural property.

ABSTRACTIssues AddressedLesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer or Questioning, and/or other people with a cervix (LGBTIQ+ people with a cervix) face barriers to cervical screening, leading to lower participation rates. Our study aimed to report on the design and evaluation of community‐informed video resources to promote safe and inclusive cervical screening for South Australian LGBTIQ+ people with a cervix.MethodsTwo videos promoting inclusive cervical screening were developed by Cancer Council SA, SHINE SA and LGBTIQ+ people with a cervix for LGBTIQ+ people with a cervix (Video 1), and healthcare providers (Video 2). Evaluation involved two online surveys with LGBTIQ+ community members (n = 35) and healthcare providers (HCPs, n = 9) about their respective videos. Quantitative data were analysed descriptively in R; qualitative responses were thematically analysed using a general inductive approach.ResultsThe community‐focused video (Video 1) received positive feedback, with LGBTIQ+ people with a cervix feeling represented and expressing increased likelihood and intention to undergo screening. Responding to Video 2, half of the healthcare providers reported increased confidence in interacting with LGBTIQ+ people with a cervix and offering self‐collection.ConclusionsImproving cervical screening participation among LGBTIQ+ people with a cervix is essential to achieving the National Cervical Screening Program targets. This study highlights a respectful, community‐informed and relatively inexpensive approach to promote safe and inclusive cervical screening. The positive feedback from LGBTIQ+ people with a cervix underscores the value of inclusive messaging tailored to community needs.So What?LGBTIQ+ people with a cervix face barriers to cervical screening participation, but self‐collection may alleviate some barriers. Community‐informed resources can effectively support this population to access inclusive cervical screening.