BACKGROUND:
Public health has historically been shaped by colonial power structures that continue to influence knowledge production, governance, and practice. These legacies have contributed to epistemic injustice, marginalisation of Indigenous and Global South knowledges, and inequitable health outcomes. Decolonisation of public health has emerged as a critical paradigm for addressing structural inequities and reorienting public health toward justice, equity, and self-determination.

METHODS:
This paper presents a critical synthesis of decolonial theory, public health scholarship, and global health policy literature. Seminal decolonial frameworks, Indigenous methodologies, and contemporary critiques of global health governance were examined to identify core principles, methodological implications, and pathways for transforming public health research and practice.

RESULTS:
The synthesis highlights three interrelated domains central to decolonising public health: (1) re-centering Indigenous and local knowledge systems as legitimate and authoritative sources of evidence; (2) disrupting colonial power dynamics embedded in research agendas, funding mechanisms, and authorship practices; and (3) advancing participatory, community-led methodologies that prioritise relational accountability and self-determination. Evidence indicates that decolonial approaches strengthen contextual relevance, improve trust, and enhance the sustainability of public health interventions.

DISCUSSION:
Decolonisation requires more than symbolic inclusion; it demands structural transformation of public health institutions, epistemologies, and leadership models. Integrating decolonial and Indigenous theories challenges positivist dominance and expands methodological pluralism, enabling public health to more effectively address complex and inequitable health realities. Impact on Practice This work provides public health researchers, educators, and policymakers with a framework for operationalising decolonisation through ethical research partnerships, equitable knowledge production, and community-driven action. Decolonising public health is essential to advancing global health equity and restoring public health’s moral and social mandate.