CHP PhD Confirmation Seminar: Rebecca Zosel

Bio: Rebecca Zosel is a public health practitioner, consultant, and PhD candidate. She has worked across government and non-government sectors on a range of health issues, with a focus on policy and strategy development, including as lead writer of several national health strategies. Rebecca has observed a persistent gap between the potential of prevention and its limited real-world realisation, which her doctoral research seeks to unpack. She balances professional work and doctoral studies with family life on the Mornington Peninsula.

Abstract: Public health is commonly defined as 'the art and science’ of promoting health and preventing disease. This research examines the ‘art’ of public health policymaking, exploring how public health is understood, communicated and valued by policymakers and stakeholders, and how politics and power shape resource allocation decisions. It aims to identify barriers and enablers to investing in public health and generate insights to inform future policy, practice, and investment.