2015 UDIA state of the land report

Providing enough new serviced land in our cities and towns is the key to successfully accommodating our growing population, and is a major challenge for policy makers at all levels of government. This is the seventh edition of the annual State of the Land Report prepared by the Urban Development Institute of Australia. Unlike in previous years, this years’ report has been undertaken in partnership with Charter Keck Cramer and Research4, which have provided land supply and market performance data from the National Land Survey Program (further details in the last section of this report). This ground breaking partnership allows data sourced from developers on the ground across the country to bring a new level of reliability, consistency and depth to the Report. The modest upswing in development industry activity that we saw emerging in 2013 continued to gather momentum throughout last year, and as a result, 2014 was a strong year for industry, and for new land supply. Nationally, the NLSP data sample indicates that 50,150 new greenfield lots were released over the 2014 calendar year, up 31% from 38,350 in 2013, and the highest level of new releases since the global financial crisis. Despite low interest rates and strong market demand, at the national level, new lot prices have remained largely in check across most cities, with the notable exceptions of Sydney and Perth. As noted in previous years’ State of the Land Reports, median lot sizes across most cities have continued their downward march, a reflection of changing market preferences, land constraints, and affordability pressures. 2015 is currently shaping up to be another good year for the development industry and for new land supply, with continued strong demand and high levels of market activity, with the exception of South Australia. However despite recent improvements, most cities across Australia still face major constraints when it comes to new land supply. Governments cannot afford to be complacent. They must undertake the necessary actions to improve planning systems, increase infrastructure investment, and reduce red tape, to ensure the availability of sufficient serviced land to deliver affordable housing, and to support jobs and economic activity in the development industry

Vacuous standards – Subversion of the OSAC standards-development process

In the context of development of standards for forensic science, particularly standards initially developed by the U.S. Organization of Scientific Area Committees for Forensic Science (OSAC), this perspective paper raises concern about the publication of vacuous standards. Vacuous standards generally state few requirements; the requirements they do state are often vague; compliance with their stated requirements can be achieved with little effort – the bar is set very low; and compliance with their stated requirements would not be sufficient to lead to scientifically valid results. This perspective paper proposes a number of requirements that we believe would be essential in order for a standard on validation of forensic-science methods to be fit for purpose

Increasing the knowledge, identification and treatment of osteoporosis through education and shared decision-making with residents living in a retirement village community

Objective: This pilot study explored whether individual goal setting in a retirement village setting could improve strategies to strengthen bones in an ageing population and help prevent osteoporosis. Methods: A two-phased osteoporosis prevention program was developed, piloted and evaluated involving a group education session followed by the development of individualised Bone Plans based upon personal understanding of individual fracture risk and lifestyle factors. Results: A significant improvement in knowledge and understanding of factors to prevent and manage osteoporosis was achieved, and changes in lifestyle behaviours were sustained at six months. Conclusion: Success was due to education by specialist medical and health personnel, flexibility of goal setting, use of group sessions and location of the program within the retirement community setting. The ‘Mind Your Bones’ program is a feasible and acceptable way to translate preventative bone health messages to a large number of people via the retirement village network

Tenure, mobility and retention of nurses in Queensland, Australia: 2001 and 2004

[Abstract]: Aim: Data were collected on tenure, mobility and retention of the nursing workforce in Queensland to aid strategic planning by the Queensland Nurses’ Union. Background: Shortages of nurses negatively affect the health outcomes of patients. Population rise is increasing the demand for nurses in Queensland. The supply of nurses is affected by recruitment of new and returning nurses, retention of the existing workforce and mobility within institutions. Methods: A self-reporting, postal survey was undertaken of Queensland Nurses Union members from the major employment sectors of aged care, public acute and community health and private acute and community health. Results: Only 60% of nurses had been with their current employer more than five years. In contrast 90% had been nursing for five years or more and most (80%) expected to remain in nursing for at least another five years. Breaks from nursing were common and part-time positions in the private and aged care sectors offered flexibility. Conclusion: The study demonstrated a mobile nursing workforce in Queensland although data on tenure and future time in nursing suggested that retention in the industry was high. Concern is expressed for replacement of an aging nursing population

Heroin Treatment - New Alternative : proceedings of a seminar held on 1 November 1991, Ian Wark Theatre, Backer House, Canberra

The meeting today grows out of a study conducted jointly by the National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health and the Australian Institute of Criminology in the early part of this year. That study was prompted by an invitation from the Chairman of the ACT Legislative Assembly’s Select Committee on HIV, Illegal Drugs and Prostitution - Mr Michael Moore - who invited us to examine the feasibility of a trial of the controlled availability of opioids in the ACT. Dr Gabriele Bammer, who directed that investigation, will be setting the scene for us by describing its conclusions at the outset of the day’s discussions. We hope that from that baseline we can move forward in the course of the day to explore the implications of those conclusions and to discuss whether or not it is appropriate to extend the feasibility study to the next stage. So our objective today is to explore the medical, health, social and law enforcement implications of evaluating, in the ACT, new approaches to the treatment of heroin dependent individuals. Drug policy is a highly political issue, any action to change the way we manage drug dependent people in the ACT has political implications for the ACT and for other parts of Australia as well. So I am delighted that we have representatives from drug and law enforcement agencies from most states of Australia here today and that many of the people who will frame attitudes to the proposed ACT trial will have an opportunity to discuss these issues in an open and uninhibited way.The meeting has been assisted by a grant from the ACT Government

Family carers' perspectives of managing activities of daily living and use of mHealth applications in dementia care: A qualitative study

Calleja, P ORCiD: 0000-0001-5674-1404Aim: To examine the needs, barriers and challenges experienced by family carers of people with dementia concerning the management of their care recipients' functional disabilities, and their experiences and opinions of using mobile health (mHealth) applications in health information seeking. Background: Functional disability is a significant problem among people with dementia and management can be challenging for family carers. Evidence suggests that mHealth applications can support knowledge needs of patients and families. Design: A qualitative descriptive exploratory study. Methodology: In-depth interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of family carers using a semi-structured interview guide. An inductive thematic analysis method was used. The COREQ reporting guideline was followed. Results: Five spousal and five child carers participated in this study. Four key themes were identified: (a) Challenges faced that contribute to psychological distress and burden; (b) Essential role of support systems in dementia care; (c) Information and educational needs of family carers, and (d) Experiences and attitudes of mHealth applications as an educational and supportive resource. Conclusion: Providing functional care is demanding, challenging and stressful, and leads to carer burden. The complexity of dementia is a barrier in the organisation of functional care and access to a support network is vital to care provision. The information needs of family carers can potentially be addressed through an mHealth application. Relevance to clinical practice: This study provides important information on family carers' needs, and the barriers and challenges related to functional care for people with dementia. Findings from this study can assist nurses and other health professionals in the planning of educational and supportive programs for family carers. Furthermore, the use of mHealth applications could positively contribute to the delivery of these programs. © 2019 John Wiley & Sons Lt