Health policy in Asia and the Pacific: navigating local needs and global challenges

Abstract: Asia and the Pacific is undergoing a remarkable economic transformation, which is occurring at an exceptional pace. There is clear evidence of an equally rapid epidemiological transition in the region. This article sets out the policy challenges of building healthy societies in the context of rapid economic change. The region’s location at the cross roads of contemporary globalisation, resulting in intensified population mobility, large-scale trade and investment, and pressures to take collective action on shared problems, adds to the complexity of this task. The article argues that health is integral to building stable and sustainable societies, and that there are opportunities to develop more holistic approaches that bring together hitherto separate policy spheres

Project report. A subtropical urban community, investigating medium to high density residential typologies by Design Charrette

The Centre for Subtropical Design at QUT, in partnership with the Queensland Government and Brisbane City Council, conducts research focused on 'best practice' outcomes for higher density urban living environments in the subtropics through the study of typical urban residential typologies, and urban design. The aim of the research is to inform and illustrate best practice subtropical design principles to policy makers and development industry professionals to stimulate climate-responsive outcomes. The Centre for Subtropical Design recently sought project-specific funding from the Queensland Department of Infrastructure and Planning (DIP) to investigate residential typologies for sustainable subtropical urban communities, based on transit orientated development principles and outcomes for areas around public transport nodes. A development site within the Fitzgibbon Urban Development Area, and close to a rail and bsu transport corridor, provided a case study location for this project. Four design-led multi-disciplinary creative teams participated in a Design Charrette and have produced concept drawings and propositions on a range of options, or prototypes. Analysis of selected prototypes has been undertaken to determine their environmental, economic and social performance. This Project Report discusses the scope of the project funded by DIP in terms of activities undertaken to date, and deliverables achieved. A subsequent Research Report will discuss the detailed findings of the analysis

Authentic Corporate Social Responsibility Based on Authentic Empowerment: An Exemplary Business Leadership Case

Authors Dillon, Back, and Manz examine the underpinnings of genuine or authentic Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), noting the direct nexus between stakeholder empowerment and the socially-responsible actions of authentic leaders. Such an empowering leadership approach– involving structural, psychological, developmental, and financial components – is particularly exemplified by a family-owned (Back) wine and cheese company (Fairview Trust), situate in South Africa

Understanding and addressing the stigma of mental illness with ethnic minority communities

Higher income societies have moved from institutional to community-based care for people experiencing mental illness. However, stigma and discrimination persists and undermines help-seeking, recovery and life chances. Mental illness prevalence is higher amongst communities that face multiple prejudices and disadvantages within society, including black and minority ethnic communities who may experience migration trauma, racism, acculturation and adverse social circumstances. This study examines beliefs, stigma and the effectiveness of existing national mental health campaigns with Pakistani, Indian and Chinese heritage communities in Scotland, UK, using community based participatory research. Community organisers were trained and supported to co-facilitate focus groups with eighty seven people using a range of languages. Whilst diversity within and between communities was apparent, important trends emerged. People with mental illness experience high levels of stigma from communities. Families experience significant associated stigma. This shame combines with culturally inappropriate services to reduce help seeking from mental health services, friends and families. Existing anti-stigma campaigns have failed to reach or engage with communities due to a combination of practical issues such as the use of inappropriate language, imagery and media, but also due to assuming western medical concepts of illness. Participants suggested a new model for national campaigns placing greater emphasis upon community development, cultural events, positive contact and dialogue with families, faith leaders and youth groups. National anti-stigma programmes must develop more effective partnerships with communities or risk magnifying existing inequalities

The Role of Local Government in Crime Prevention: An Overview

In Australia local government has played a key role in pro-active crime reduction, with it since 1980s partnering with different organisations at both state and local levels to address causes of offending. Crime prevention policies developed by state and federal governments have relied heavily on local government to resource and implement local partnerships and crime prevention plans. Policies implemented in Victoria, NSW and Queensland have relied upon some level of local government participatio

Drivers constraints and the future of off-site manufacture in Australia.

Much has been written on Off-site Manufacture (OSM) in construction, particularly regarding the perceived benefits and barriers to implementation. However, very little understanding of the state of OSM in the Australian construction industry exists. A ‘scoping study' has recently been undertaken to determine the ‘state-of-the-art’ of OSM in Australia. This involved several industry workshops, interviews and case studies across four major states of Australia. The study surveyed a range of suppliers across the construction supply-chain, incorporating the civil, commercial and housing segments of the market. This revealed that skills shortages and lack of adequate OSM knowledge are generally the greatest issues facing OSM in Australia. The drivers and constraints that emerged from the research were, in large measure, consistent with those found in the US and UK, although some Australian anomalies are evident, such as the geographical disparity of markets. A comparative analysis with similar studies in the UK and US is reported, illustrating both the drivers and constraints confronting the industry in Australia. OSM uptake into the future is however dependent on many factors, not least of which is a better understanding of the construction process and its associated costs

Green pricing in the Asia Pacific: an idea whose time has come?

This article discusses the potential benefits of an enhanced use of externality pricing schemes in the Asia Pacific. Prices on emissions and congestion could ameliorate the negative effects of underpriced resource use, be pro-poor and improve fiscal capacities. The main implementation challenges are political and institutional. Lessons are drawn from recent experiences in environmental taxation and the removal of fossil fuel subsidies

Energy Bridge Builder: Finland – Namibia Cooperation in Energy Business

This study is a result of a project initiated by the author in response to a looming electric power crisis in Namibia. Namibia has traditionally imported over half (at times up to 60%) of the electricity consumed in the country from neighbouring countries through Southern African Power Pool agreements. However, the exporting countries are facing power shortages as local demand continues to grow. It is against this backdrop that Namibia has embarked on a mission to become self-sufficient in power production. The objective of the study is to promote business collaboration between energy companies and public sector in Finland and energy companies and public sector in Namibia. The objective is achieved by assessing the availability of renewable energy resources in Namibia, identifying major actors, investor networks, energy needs, and barriers to entry into the Namibian energy industry. The primary aim of the research is to build a networking platform for energy stakeholders from the two countries and ultimately create business relationships. As a result, the study proposes entry modes into Namibia for Finnish companies. The secondary aim is to promote education and research cooperation between the University of Vaasa and the Namibia University of Science and Technology. The empirical data was collected through a survey distributed to Namibian energy stakeholders. The study revealed that the country is rich in renewable energy resources and has an established government-supported energy market. The study concluded that there are numerous business opportunities for Finnish energy companies in Namibia, and the best entry strategy into this young market is through strategic partnerships with local companies. Moreover, Namibian companies and the public sector are willing and able to contribute financially and strategically to partnerships with Finnish companies.fi=Opinnäytetyö kokotekstinä PDF-muodossa.|en=Thesis fulltext in PDF format.|sv=Lärdomsprov tillgängligt som fulltext i PDF-format