Public Health Association statement in support of Dr Helen Haines MP
Public Health Association of Australia
20 October 2026
Statement by Public Health Association of Australia CEO, Adj Prof Terry Slevin
The Public Health Association of Australia (PHAA) joins the long list of Australian people and organisations who are shocked and saddened by the attack on Dr Helen Haines, the independent Member for Indi.
Helen has had a close connection to PHAA. She’s been a member of our association, as well as a presenter at our conferences, initially as a PHAA member/public health researcher, and later from her political perspective. We also regularly engage with her in her political role.
Helen is a nurse and midwife by training, and earned a Master's degree in Public Health at the University of New South Wales. Helen completed a doctoral degree in medical science at Uppsala University in Sweden in 2012. Her doctoral thesis was titled ‘No worries’: A longitudinal study of fear, attitudes and beliefs about childbirth from a cohort of Australian and Swedish women.
Helen was a founding Co-Convenor of the Parliamentary Friends of Public Health along with Dr Mike Freelander MP, which commenced in 2019. Helen is an extraordinary person. Committed, dedicated, hardworking, principled, brave, and thoughtful. She remains determined to draw on the best available evidence to promote improved policy.
Helen has been a reasoned and consistent voice for fair and progressive public policy making. She has been an unwavering supporter of strong public health policy and practice. During busy sitting days in Parliament House, Helen always finds time to touch base on key issues of the day. Helen always shows and consistently earns the greatest respect across the political divide.
Helen Haines is the very model of a political leader and servant of the community she represents. The world, and in particular the Parliament – every Parliament – needs more Helen Haineses.
On behalf of PHAA, I am keen to wish her and her family the best over the challenging days, weeks, and months ahead. We wish her the speediest of recovery.
About us:
About the Public Health Association of Australia
We’re Australia's peak body for public health and advocate for the health and wellbeing of everyone. We strive to help prevent – rather than cure – illness and disease. We represent around 2,000 individual members from more than 40 professional groups interested in the promotion of public health. We have branches in every state and territory. Learn more at https://www.phaa.net.au/
Contact details:
Paris Lord (he/him), PHAA Communications & Media Manager, 0478 587 917, [email protected]