This session will provide an overview of Australian health policy challenges and the value of applying behavioural insights to improve health outcomes. Representatives from both policy and academia will provide varying perspectives on the role of behavioural insights in health interventions, including to reduce over-prescribing of antibiotics and increase immunisation rates.
Facilitator: Jerril Rechter
Michael J. Hiscox
Michael J. Hiscox is the Clarence Dillon Professor of International Affairs in the Department of Government, Harvard University. At Harvard he is the Founding Director of the Sustainability, Transparency, Accountability Research (STAR) Lab and a faculty member of the Behavioral Insights Group at Harvard’s Center for Public Leadership. He is also a faculty associate at the Institute for Quantitative Social Science, the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs, and the Harvard University Center for the Environment.
Julie Leask
Julie Leask is a public health researcher who studies what people think, feel and do about vaccination. She leads a program of research focused on responding to vaccine hesitancy and refusal, and strengthening vaccination programs and policy. She holds a PhD (2003) and Master of Public Health (1998) from the University of Sydney. She was inaugural chair of the Collaboration On Social Science in Immunisation (COSSI) and is a visiting senior research fellow at the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance.
Brendan Murphy
Professor Brendan Murphy (MBBS, PhD, FRACP, FAAHMS, FAICD, FACHSM (Hon)) is the Chief Medical Officer for the Australian Government and is the principal medical adviser to the Minister and the Department of Health. He also holds direct responsibility for the Department of Health’s Office of Health Protection and the Workforce Division. Apart from the many committees he chairs, co-chairs and participates, he is the Australian Member on the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Governing Committee and represents Australia at the World Health Assembly.