The importance of qualitative Social Science research for informed Public Health policy at a local and national level -Insights from a Health District in New South Wales, Australia

Jennifer White ^1,2* Kirrilly Thompson ³ Joanne Taylor ¹ David Durrheim ^1,2

• ¹ The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia
• ² Hunter New England Health, New Lambton, New South Wales, Australia
• ³ Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

Australia employs an evidence-based approach to public health policy, emphasising disease prevention, health promotion, and healthcare access that is informed by relevantigorous research.However, implementing effective policy can be challenging due to the complexity of various public health issues. Social and behavioural factors significantly impact individual and community health outcomes, necessitating a deeper understanding of their interrelationships. Social science theories and methodologies provide critical insights into the complex relationships between individuals and society. This perspective paper highlights the critical role of qualitative social science research in shaping public policy by offering rich, contextual insights that quantitative data alone cannot capture. This paper examines the benefit of incorporating qualitative social science research in a New South Wales (NSW) public health unit's pursuit of evidence-based approaches. Through five case studies, we demonstrate how qualitative social science research have been instrumental in addressing key public health challenges, particularly in managing zoonotic diseases and pandemics, ultimately informing and shaping public health policy.