Public has an awareness that's now passed (9)
I believe the answer is:
overtaken
'now passed' is the definition.
'overtaken' can be an answer for 'passed' ('overtake' can be a synonym of 'pass'). I am unsure of the 'now' bit.
'public has an awareness' is the wordplay.
'public' becomes 'overt' (both can mean well-known or unconcealed).
'has' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'an' becomes 'a'.
'awareness' becomes 'ken' ('that's out of my ken').
'overt'+'a'+'ken'='OVERTAKEN'
'that's' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for overtaken that I've seen before include "left behind" , "Passed on road" .)