diff --git a/resources/admin/__init__.py b/resources/admin/__init__.py
index d5a71a37e..c82282774 100644
--- a/resources/admin/__init__.py
+++ b/resources/admin/__init__.py
@@ -166,6 +166,15 @@ class ResourceAdmin(
     def save_related(self, request, form, formsets, change):
         super().save_related(request, form, formsets, change)
         form.instance.update_opening_hours()
+    
+    def get_form(self, request, obj=None, **kwargs):
+        form = super().get_form(request, obj, **kwargs)
+        
+        # If we're creating a new object, set initial value for 'public'
+        if obj is None:
+            form.base_fields['public'].initial = False
+        
+        return form
 
 
 class PeriodTemplateListFilter(admin.SimpleListFilter):
diff --git a/respa_admin/forms.py b/respa_admin/forms.py
index 06ef9fc21..0daffd29f 100644
--- a/respa_admin/forms.py
+++ b/respa_admin/forms.py
@@ -308,6 +308,7 @@ def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
             if choice[0] not in ["", "none"]
         ]
         self.fields["authentication"].initial = ["weak"]
+        self.fields["public"].initial = False
 
     def clean_notification_email_addresses(self):
         notification_email_addresses = self.cleaned_data["notification_email_addresses"]