When you think about public health,you might think of hospitals and sick people. But public health works behind the scenes to keep you, your family and your community safe and well as you go about your day to day life.

The water from the taps in your home is safe, secure and clean because it is regulated. S you’re protected from waterborne diseases. The Health Star Rating on the packaged foods you buy lets you know you have made healthy choices. You know that walking and cycling is good for you, and the shared pathways maintained by your local council make active travel easier and safer. Staying healthy through winter is important to you, and you know having an annual influenza vaccination protects you from common strains of flu, so you are less likely to get sick. When you go to the shopping centre, the air- conditioning is safe because the cooling towers are regulated to stop the growth of legionella bacteria. 

Yon understand that how food is handled is an important part of making sure it is safe to eat and the food Safety Rating certificate on the door reassures you that the people who manage the cafe do too. You know eating nutritious food is an important part of keeping healthy, so you pick a wholemeal salad sandwich for lunch along with a bottle of water and a piece of fruit. You know it's important for you and the kids to be physically active. Being active makes you feel good. It's about having more energy and feeling better. 

You aim to include fun, physical activity into your family's busy day. At the local public pool, the water is clean and safe because it is regularly inspected and regulated. And when you spend time outside, you know it's important to protect yourself and your family from mosquitoes and the diseases they carry. 

Throughout your day, public health has worked behind the scenes in many ways to keep you and your family safe and well.