Strategy to safeguard the rights of older South Australians: action plan 2015-2021

This Action Plan is a key outcome of Strategy to Safeguard the Rights of Older South Australians 2014-2021. To quote the South Australian Charter of the Rights and Freedoms of Older People ‘Older people have the right to be treated with dignity and humanity and to be free to exercise personal self-determination.’ These adult entitlements should not be dependent upon health and personal circumstances, but are to be enjoyed, lifelong. The South Australian Government has a positive view of growing older in our state. Prosperity Through Longevity: South Australia’s Ageing Plan, Our Vision 2014-2019 celebrates our state’s diversity as it sets out the benefits of longevity and the value of intergenerational cooperation. Ageing also carries challenges. The abuse of older people by someone they know and trust is known as elder abuse. Many people are unsure what elder abuse is and whether it happens in their community. Unfortunately, it is found in every society and recognised as a problem around the world

Public Say Food Regulatory Policies to Improve Health in Western Australia Are Important: Population Survey Results

Objective: To investigate the level of support among Western Australian adults for food control policies to improve diet, reduce obesity and protect the environment. Methods: Attitudes towards government food control policies on food labelling, food advertising, and the supply of environmentally friendly food data were pooled from two Nutrition Monitoring Survey Series telephone surveys of 2,147 adults aged 18–64 years collected in 2009 and 2012. Descriptive and logistic regression analyses were conducted using survey module of STATA 12.Results: The majority of adults believe it is important that government regulates food policy options under consideration: nutrition information on food labels (97% versus 2% who think it is not important);health rating on food labels (95% versus 3%); food advertising (83% versus 11%); and the supply of environmentally friendly food (86% versus 9%).Conclusions: Community perception is that government control or regulation of food labelling, food advertising and the supply of environmentally friendly food is important. Implications: Curbing excess weight gain and related disease burden is a public health priority. Australian governments are considering food regulatory interventions to assist the public to improve their dietary intake. These findings should provide reassurance to government officials considering these regulatory measures

Footing the bill: the introduction of Medicare Benefits Schedule rebates for podiatry services in Australia

The introduction of Medicare Benefits Schedule items for allied health professionals in 2004 was a pivotal event in the public funding of non-medical primary care services. This commentary seeks to provide supplementary discussion of the article by Menz (Utilisation of podiatry services in Australia under the Medicare Enhanced Primary Care program, 2004-2008 Journal of Foot and Ankle Research 2009, 2:30), by placing these findings within the context of the podiatry profession, clinical decision making and the broader health workforce and government policy

Models of Primary Health Care Psychotherapy and Counselling

This literature review was commissioned by the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing to inform the development of the Access to Allied Health Services component of the Better Outcomes in Mental Health Care Initiative.This review looks at psychotherapy and counselling services in primary health care provided by persons from the Allied Health Professions. The report makes a number of recommendations regarding location of the service, fundholding and employment, practitioner support, reporting and confidentiality.Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing Better Outcomes in Mental Health Care Initiative

The epidemiology workforce: are we planning for the future?

Epidemiology has a central role in public health practice, education and research, and is arguably the only discipline unique to public health. A strong perception exists among epidemiologists in Australia that there is a substantial shortage in epidemiological capacity within the health workforce and health research, and that there are few graduates with sufficient high-level epidemiological training to fill the educational and leadership roles that will be essential to building this capacity. It was this concern that led the Australasian Epidemiological Association (AEA)--the peak professional body for epidemiologists in Australia and New Zealand--to convene a working group in 2007 to assess and address these concerns. This article summarises the key training challenges and opportunities discussed within this group, and the larger organisation, with the intention of stimulating greater public debate of these issues

State of Australian cities 2014-2015: progress in Australian regions

Provides insight into the vital role that Australian cities play in the growth of the countries economy and tracks the overall progress made in Australia\u27s major centres. Summary Since 2010, the State of Australian Cities reports have examined the progress being made in our major cities. These reports have provided insight into the vital role that Australian cities play in the growth of our economy and have tracked the overall progress made in Australia\u27s major centres. The State of Australian Cities 2014–2015 once again looks at the drivers behind some of the public policy issues facing the country today and into the future. Australia is a highly urbanised country. The populations of Australia\u27s major cities are at record levels, as is the number of people employed. It is in our cities that the overwhelming majority of jobs are located and where the most new jobs are being created. The economic output of our major cities has grown and their national importance remains extremely high. However, alongside that growth there is more demand on transport systems in Australia than ever before. This report examines population growth, economic growth and the increased traffic flows through our ports and airports and on our roads and rail lines. Issues of space and the potential conflicts of the usability of cities with the utility and long term capacity of freight hubs, ports and airports and the movement of goods and people in cities is a challenge for policy makers. This report provides the evidence base for policy makers at all levels of government to consider those challenges now and into the future

General Practitioners' peer support needs in managing consumer's mental health problems: A literature review and needs analysis.

This literature review was commissioned by the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing to inform the development of the Access to Allied Health Services component of the Better Outcomes in Mental Health Care Initiative.Looks at current arrangements for peer support/supervision in Australia in a number of professions which undertake psychotherapy. .A number of different models and issues are examined. The need for peer support/supervision for GPs undertaking psychotherapy is also assessed and an argument is made for its necessity.Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing Better Outcomes in Mental Health Care Initiative

Research Pulse. Volume 2, No. 2, June 2007

Neuroscience: Researching the nervous system in health and disease. Messages from the Dean. Paul Arbon. Major new research funds. Paul Bennett. Synchrotron science in 21st century medicine and medical research. Queen's Birthday Honours. PRISM news spectrum. Driving the research dollar further. Water research in the Department of Environmental Health. Veterans' health. New Hepatitis B vaccine trial. Award winning postgraduate research at Flinders. Have your say

Access to health services by Australians with disability 2012

This bulletin examines the level of access to a range of health services by Australians with disability living in the community (excluding people living in institutions), and the experiences these people face in accessing health services. Abstract In 2012, 17% of people with disability who needed to see a GP delayed or did not go because of the cost; 20% who needed to see a medical specialist did not go mainly due to the cost; and 67% who needed to see a dentist delayed seeing or did not go because of the cost. Compared with people with disability living in Major cities, people with disability living in Outer regional and Remote areas had lower use rates of services provided by GPs, medical specialists and dentists as well as coordinated care provided by different types of health professionals. They were more likely to visit a hospital emergency department for health issues that could potentially be dealt with by non-hospital services, and to face barriers to accessing health services