Showing posts with label Health. Show all posts

Saturday, 5 September 2015

Anti-vaccination campaigners. Do they have a Taliban mentality?

I am tired of the unreasonable trendiness of the anti-vaccination campaigners who think that if they and their children live a healthy lifestyle then a disease like polio, which can be avoided by vaccination, will not affect them.

These unreasonable people do not, in the main, acknowledge that they are beneficiaries of "herd immunity" or what is now referred to as "community immunity". They are on a level with the clerics in the north-wesgtern tribal areas of Pakistan where there are strong links to the Taliban which organisation has worked, and worked violently, to keep vaccinators out of the areas that they control.

Would the trendy anti-vaccination campaigners ever go as far as depriving communities of vaccination against polio and other highly infectious diseases that maim and/or kill? It is not beyond the realm of possibility - if they were assured they had the numbers.

What also irks is that they show a disdainful ignorance for the history of polio, particularly of those people still alive who contracted polio in the 1950s - those who have been crippled since childhood; those who have lived long enough to be affected by post-polio symptoms and illness.

For those who are anti-vaccination, I suggest watching the movie below. It portrays what happens to one family who find themselves in the middle of an outbreak of diphteria.

Post-polio Australia

Thursday, 16 October 2014

Sanitation and hygiene - not just a health issue but an issue about women's inequallity #Blogaction14, #Inequality, #Oct16, #Ballarat

We, in supposedly comfortable Australia,

often forget that what we regard as "the basics"

are not always available everywhere.

Sanitation is not only a matter of health and hygiene,

it is also a women's issue of great importance.

Some women on this planet, because of culture and poverty,

can only "go"under cover of darkness to a communal dump.

Sanitation is an issue in Australia too -

for many Aboriginal communities in remote Australia.

Please update your knowledge at the links below.

Please consider.

Water and sanitation are human rights for women and girls

Women, safe water and sanitation

...and the situation in Australia?

Sanitation in Australian Aboriginal communities

Indigenous Plumbing & Sanitation Foundation

This post is being cross posted at Advocacy for Blog Action Day 2014

Tuesday, 7 October 2014

Green Left Weekly Activist Calendar - 2014-10-10


	Green Left Weekly Activist Calendar

	October 10, 2014

Public meeting: Stopping the East West Link

Thursday, October 9, 7pm. Join Moreland Community against the East West Link (MCAT) for a public meeting on the campaign. Speakers: Andrew Herrington (author of East West Link blog and former advisor to the Brumby government); Sue Bolton (a co-convenor of MCAT, Socialist Alliance Councillor for Moreland); Mike Naismith (Tunnel Picket), Lambros Tapinos (mayor of Moreland). 7pm. Coburg Court House, 1A Main St, Coburg. Organised by MCAT. For more info contact Riki 0400 877 819, Michael 0417 354 169 or Sue 0413 377 978.Save

Film screening: The Runner

Friday, October 10, 6pm. The story of Western Sahara athlete Salah Hmatou Ameidan who became a symbol of the resistance of his country under Moroccan occupation since 1975. 97 mins. 6pm (for 6:30pm start). New Council Chambers, Trades Hall, Lygon St, Carlton South. $15 solidarity, $12 full, $8 concession. Presented by Australia Western Sahara Association. For info visit AWSA.

Public meeting: Housing is a human right

Thursday, October 16, 6:30pm. Speakers: Donna Bennett (Hope St Youth & Family Services); Fiona Ross (Friends of Public Housing); Sean Brockelhurst (Socialist Alliance); MC: Sue Bolton (Socialist Alliance councillor for Moreland). 6:30pm. Old Court House, 1A Main St, Coburg (near Bell St). Presented by Socialist Alliance. For more info ph 9639 8622 or 0413 377 978. (PLEASE NOTE: This is the correct date.)

This is the regular Melbourne activist calendar compiled by Green Left Weekly. Emailed to subscribers each Wednesday fortnight, it is a one-stop listing of the main left and progressive events in Melbourne and Geelong.

Since it began in early 1991, Green Left Weekly has offered an indispensable alternative to the lies of the big-business media and has helped build the various movements for social change. To subscribe toGreen Left Weekly, visit our secure online website for rates and payment or call our national hotline on 1800 634 206.

You can also contact us at the Resistance Centre, 5th floor, 407 Swanston St, City; ph 9639 8622. In Geelong we are at the Activist Centre, Trades Hall, 127 Myers St (opening hours: Mon 2-4:30pm, Fri 10am-4:30pm); ph 5222 6900.

New email address? Not already receiving this calendar regularly? Want to subscribe someone else? Let us know at Greenleft Melbourne.

Thursday, October 9

Public meeting: Stopping the East West Link. Join Moreland Community against the East West Link (MCAT) for a public meeting on the campaign. Speakers: Andrew Herrington (author of East West Link blog and former advisor to the Brumby government); Sue Bolton (a co-convenor of MCAT, Socialist Alliance Councillor for Moreland); Mike Naismith (Tunnel Picket), Lambros Tapinos (mayor or Moreland). 7pm. Coburg Court House, 1A Main St, Coburg. Organised by MCAT. For more info contact Riki 0400 877 819, Michael 0417 354 169 or Sue 0413 377 978.

Friday, October 10

Film screening: The Runner. The story of Western Sahara athlete Salah Hmatou Ameidan who became a symbol of the resistance of his country under Moroccan occupation since 1975. 97 mins. 6pm (for 6:30pm start). New Council Chambers, Trades Hall, Lygon St, Carlton South. $15 solidarity, $12 full, $8 concession. Presented by Australia Western Sahara Association. For info visit AWSA.

Concert: Murru: 10 Songs of Freedom for John Pat. A musical tribute to John Pat, a young Yindjibarndi man who died in custody 30 years ago, sparking a royal commission and shining a spotlight on the increasing rates of Indigenous incarceration in our country. Featuring: Big hART, Archie Roach, Lucky Oceans, Emma Donovan, John Bennett and more. 7:30pm. Federation Square, cnr Swanston & Flinders Sts, City. For more info visit Melbourne Festival.

Saturday, October 11

Rally: Support reproductive rights. Every year bigots take to the streets, led by Liberal MP Bernie Finn. to protest against our hard-won right to access abortion. These bigots want to see abortion outlawed, a move which would undoubtedly see women die. They want to silence and shame us for exercising our right to choose what happens to our own bodies. 1pm. State Parliament, Spring St, City.

Rally: Protest the first anniversary of 'Operation Sovereign Borders'. No tow-backs! No offshore or onshore detention! Process asylum claims for permanent visas! Scrap 'Operation Sovereign Borders'! 2pm. State Library, City. Organised by the Refugee Action Collective.

Film screening: Nobody's Child: Waiting to go home. The inspiring and moving story of five survivors of the Stolen Generations who grew up in children's homes in the Whitehorse area. Jack, Helen, John, Karen and Sharon share memories of the places they, as removed Aboriginal children, called home, of friendships forged as well as the challenges they face as adults. (52 min). 3pm. Yarran Dheran Info Centre, Mitcham (Mel 49 B6). For info ph 9719 7661 or 0409 519 829.

Fundraiser: Dinner for Lex Wotton speaking tour. This three-course dinner will cater for varied tastes including meat eaters, vegetarians, vegans, and gluten free. The event will feature a special performance by Ezekiel Ox, entertainer, singer/song writer and founding member of Musicians Against Police Violence. $40 solidarity, $25 waged, $15 unwaged. Bookings essential; to book email Sean Pickard. 7pm. Solidarity Salon, 580 Sydney Rd, Brunswick. Organised by Indigenous Social Justice Association.

Wednesday, October 15

2014 transport election: We demand our say! Pro-public transport groups discuss plans for action in the lead-up the state election and beyond. 6pm. Multicultural Hub, Elizabeth St, City.

Public meeting: Climate change: Risks & opportunities. Speakers: Rob Gell (Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society & former TV presenter); David Karoly (University of Melbourne climate scientist), Kirsty Albion (Australian Youth Climate Coalition, via video); Jennifer Lauber Patterson (Yarra Energy/Frontier Carbon). 7:30pm. Brighton Secondary College, 120 Marriage Road, Brighton East. RSVP:Eventbrite. Gold coin donation at the door. Presented by Bayside Climate Change Action Group and Brighton Secondary College Facebook event

Thursday, October 16

Rally: Say no to $100,000 degrees. October 16 marks the first day of the senate inquiry into the Abbott government's budget. Students and young people are some of the worst hit by the budget and we have been protesting all year to stop its passage. 1pm. Bowen Lane, RMIT University (just behind Swanston St). Organised by National Union of Students.

Rally & stop work: Keep Community Health healthy. Your local Community Health Centre plays an essential role in Victoria’s healthcare system, taking the pressure of the over-worked hospital system. The centres urgently need an injection of funding to continue to provide essential services to communities across the state. Support your local Community Health professionals in their campaign to keep Community Health Centers healthy. 1:30pm. Parliament House, Spring St, City.

Public meeting: Housing is a human right. Speakers: Donna Bennett (Hope St Youth & Family Services); Fiona Ross (Friends of Public Housing); Sean Brockelhurst (Socialist Alliance); MC: Sue Bolton (Socialist Alliance councillor for Moreland). 6:30pm. Old Court House, 1A Main St, Coburg (near Bell St). Presented by Socialist Alliance. For more info ph 9639 8622 or 0413 377 978. (PLEASE NOTE: This is the correct date.)

Friday, October 17

Concert: Outright. Melb LP launch, Free World, Old Love, Vicious Cycle, Aggressor. Celebrating the release of their new socially conscious LP Avalanche, Outright are heading out on tour and sharing the party with some special friends. Come and be a part of something real and inclusive, something meaningful, and most importantly, fun. 8pm. Bendigo Hotel, 125 Johnston St, Collingwood.

Saturday, October 18

New International Bookshop one-day fair. 10am-4pm. NIBS, 54 Victoria St, Carlton. All books $1or $2 + bulk bargains.

Rally: Reclaim the night 2014. 7pm. Protest violence and harassment against women. Brunswick Town Hall, Sydney Rd, Brunswick. All welcome.

Sunday, October 19

Rally: Stop Abbott's attacks on Muslims. No to the anti-terror laws, no to attacks on civil liberties. 1pm.State Library City.

Rally: Free Cannabis Victoria 420 Picnic. Bring your glass, your goodies, munchies, friends and most importantly a smile! Meet like minded people and get even more like minded. 2-6pm. Flagstaff Gardens, 309-311 William St, City.

Monday, October 20

Forum: The new era of climate activism. Speakers: David Spratt (author & climate activist), Paul Gilding (author), Mark Wakeham (Environment Victoria). 6:30pm. RMIT University, Building 80, Theatre 80.02.007, 445 Swanston St, City. Entry free. Please register your attendance online at Breakthrough. Presented by Environment Victoria and Sustainable Living Foundation.

Public meeting: Invasion to federation, Indigenous peoples, convicts & empire. Speakers: Henry Reynolds, Anna Clark (co-author History Wars). Panel discussion follows featuring Clare Land & Tony Moore. 7:30pm. Unitarian Peace Memorial Church, 110 Grey St, East Melbourne. Presented by the ANZAC Centenary Peace Coalition. To book visit Peace Forum.

Wednesday, October 22

Protest: Fluro Fightback. Rally to fight against casualisation and insecure work. 8:30am. Southern Cross Station, City. Organised by NUW.

Forum: A night with the Pacific Climate Warriors. Australia's fossil fuels are destroying the Pacific.RMIT Cinema, Level 1, Room 002, 445 Swanston St, City. For more info visit Pacific Warriors.

Thursday, October 23

Rally: National Day of Support for Ms Dhu and to Stop Aboriginal Deaths in Custody. Julieka Dhu was a 22-year-old Yamatji Woman who died in police custody in WA on August 4 this year. 12:30pm. Old GPO, cnr Bourke & Elizabeth Sts, City. Organised by Indigenous Social Justice Association and First Nations Liberation.

Saturday, October 25

Rally: Walk Together. A celebration of diversity to present a picture to our leaders and media of the Australia that is possible, an Australia that recognises in its public debate, media conversation and legislation that we are all common people with common dreams, equally deserving of freedom, fairness, opportunity to contribute, welcome and belonging. 1pm. State Library, 328 Swanston St, City. The walk will end at Treasury Gardens.

Friday, October 31

Concert: Les Thomas. Performance by the Melbourne singer-songwriter and activist who follows in the same tradition as Joe Hill and Woody Guthrie. His songs are pointed and passionate, addressing matters both personal and political. 8pm. Some Velvet Morning, 123 Queens Parade, Clifton Hill. For more info visit Les Thomas Music.

Saturday, November 8

Rally: Equal Love Marriage Equality. 1pm. State Library, 328 Swanston St, City.

Saturday, November 15

Rally: Stop the East-West Link! Rip up the contracts! Invest in public transport! 1pm. Flinders St Station, City.

December 2 - 13, 2014

2014 Australian solidarity tour to Venezuela will be a unique an opportunity to observe first-hand, learn about and be inspired by a grassroots movement that is transforming not only Venezuela, but all of Latin America, and is challenging the greed and destructiveness of global capitalism by showing that a better world is possible. The registration deadline is October 3, 2014. For more info visit Venezuela Solidarity.

Thursday, October 9

BENDIGO Rally: Save jobs at La Trobe Uni. A group of La Trobe University students in Bendigo will hold a protest next week to express their concern for impending staff cuts. Protest organiser Natasha Joyce said she hoped about 100 students from different departments would attend the demonstration. 11am. La Trobe University, Bendigo campus. For more info see Bendigo Advertiser.

Saturday, October 25

GEELONG Rally: Walk Together. A celebration of diversity to present a picture to our leaders and media of the Australia that is possible, an Australia that recognises in its public debate, media conversation and legislation that we are all common people with common dreams, equally deserving of freedom, fairness, opportunity to contribute, welcome and belonging. 1pm. The Pulse, 68-70 Little Ryrie St, Geelong. Walk to Johnstone Park, 28 Gheringhap St.

Wednesday, October 29

GEELONG Trivia night: Socialist Alliance Election campaign fundraiser. Support Sarah Hathway for Geelong! 6:30pm. Downstairs, Trades Hall, 127 Myers St, Geelong. For more info ph 5222 6900.

Saturday, November 1

ALBURY Rally: Rainbow Pride Day. A peaceful walk down Dean Street showing off your rainbow colours, a gathering in QEII Square featuring speakers, music, performers and stalls and a BBQ. Dean Street, Albury.

Australian West Papua Association (AWPA). Struggles against the Indonesian occupation of West Papua and against environmental destruction and resource theft. For info 9510 2193 or email AWPA.

Friends of the Earth's Anti-Nuclear & Clean Energy (ACE) collective. Meets every second Tuesday. FoE office, 312 Smith St, Collingwood. For meeting times & more info email Zin.

Indigenous Social Justice Association. The Indigenous Social Justice Association was established in January 2005 campaigns to permanently stop Aboriginal deaths in custody. During 2013, ISJA will meet the first Thursday of every month. For more info visit ISJA.

Quit Coal: No New Coal Power for Victoria. A Melbourne-based collective which campaigns against expansion of the coal industry in Victoria. We believe this is important because building new coal infrastructure locks in decades of dirty, old technology, when we should be moving towards clean, renewable energy. Quit Coal meets each Wednesday at 6pm, at FOE, 312 Smith St, Collingwood. For more info visit Quit Coal or email us.

Refugee Action Collective. Established in 2000, RAC is a democratic, grassroots activist collective, representing a broad cross section of the community. It aims to mobilise opposition to Australia's inhuman refugee policies. For more info ph 0413 377 978 or visit RAC.

Stop the East-West Link:

Moreland Campaign Against the East-West Tunnel (MCAT) meets on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month at the Temple Park Senior Citizens Centre, Hodgson St, Brunswick. For information contact Sue Bolton 0413 377 978; Michael Petit 0417 354 169; Riki Lane 0400 877 819 or go to Facebook.
Yarra Campaign for Action on Transport (YCAT). For information on the campaign against the East-West Tunnel (pickets, meetings, info) visit YCAT.

Timor Sea Justice Campaign. For info visit TSJC, email Tom Clarke or ph 0422 545 763.

Christianity, Islam and Atheism: Reflections on religion, society and politics

Indian-born and Catholic-educated, author Michael Cooke migrated to Australia in his teens. He moved away from religion and towards the political left. In this stimulating new work he focuses on issues where religion intersects with the secular society. He engages variously with the Catholic George Pell and the Muslim Waleed Aly. He also takes issue with Richard Dawkins and the so-called ‘New Athesists’. 124pp, $15.

Available from Resistance Bookshop, Level 5, 407 Swanston St, City or online from Resistance Books.

Monday, 30 December 2013

ABBOTT'S NASTY MEDICARE CO-PAYMENT SURROUNDED BY NASTY PEOPLE AND ARGUMENT AND THEN THERE'S THE MURDOCH ROLE

Picture of Rupert Murdoch and Tony Abbott from here

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has been in office less than four months and there are now press reports of a crucial change to the pillar of Australian health delivery, Medicare. As I write, Terry Barnes is speaking on ABC 24. Barnes was a health adviser to Tony Abbott when he was Minister for Health in the government of John Howard.

Interpolation: I am very critical of Abbott and his government but I believe in giving credit where credit is due. I was very grateful to Abbott as Minister for Health. Through my life, I had always taken care of my teeth. I am getting older and had not been able to afford visits to dentists. As well, I was suffering a number of chronic illnesses. Health not top notch. Now, dentists - historically - have avoided any form of medicare as if it was the plague. Under Abbott, a number of Medicare numbers became available to allied health professionals so that areas such as dentistry, psychology, podiatry and so on opened up and people could be bulk billed for a limited number of visits or, in the case of dentistry, a limited amount of money in a particular time period. There were two qualifiers - three chronic diseases and a care plan from your medical practice. Initially, there were no dentists available anywhere near me making it impossible to take advantage of Abbott's new scheme. Gradually, however, dentists began to come on board. I found a dentist and over time received two or three bundles of credit. For me it was like winning a lottery. The scheme was closed down under Labor amid accusations of the scheme being rorted by well-off people getting cosmetic surgery. I can't speak about that but Labor never did mention the boon to aged pensioners like myself in poor health without the ability to get desperately needed dental work. Surely, if there was rorting by the rich a means test would have rectified the problem. When the scheme was finally closed in November 2011, Labor put nothing - yes, nothing - in its place. They made a huge fanfare and promised to fund more 'chairs' for public dentistry but that is not due to start in 2014. I'll be keeping a watching brief on that ... particularly now that there is a new government which does not have to take responsibility for a policy announced but not implemented by Labor. My betting is that there will be little, probably no, dentistry available. The major difference between the Abbott program and Labor's proposal is that eligible people could book in with a private dentist like any other patient. No waiting list as there had been in public facilities.

Now that I have done the niceties with a tip of my forelock to Abbott, back to the matter at hand.

Barnes's recommendation is part of a commissioned private proposal presented to the National Commission of Audit. I have not got exact confirmation but I believe that the Barnes report was commissioned by the Australian Centre for Health Research. [For the Terms of Reference of the NCA, please see the document embedded below. It can be read here on line or down-loaded from this post.] The term "commissioned private proposal" I interpret as code for saying that this is a Liberal Party generated proposal, more than likely with Abbott's consent, put together by an adviser to the Minister for Health (namely Abbott) in the previous Liberal-National Party Government. The National Commission of Audit is not a new concept. The same thing occurred when John Howard Government came to power.

The Commissioners for the Abbott Government's National Commission of Audit are:

Tony Shepherd, Chair

Dr Peter Boxall AO

Mr Tony Cole AO

Mr Robert Fisher AM

The Hon Amanda Vanstone

It seems to me that the personnel of the National Commission of Audit are there for a combination of bureaucratic expertise and political and business gate-keeping. The NCA is certainly not informed by either policy or economic vision.

Back to Terry Barnes and his appearance on ABC 24.

One of the problems that could be brought about by imposition of the $5 co-payment - people opting for an Emergency Department visit instead of a visit to the GP - is easily dealt with according to Barnes. No probs, says Barnes. State Governments could introduce a co-payment on Emergency Department visits in State Hospitals! In short, there will be gate-keeping either at your General Practice or at the Emergency Department of your local hospital.

There will be sufficient concessions introduced to induce you not to complain. Pensioners and concession card holders will be exempt from the co-payment. Families will be provided with 12 free bulk-billed visits annually.

Barnes think that the co-payment, even the co-payment at Emergency Departments, is not a big deal. He compares it, blithely, to no more than the price of a burger and chips. Silly me. I thought we were trying to encourage a healthy diet away from burger and chips. Not all poor families frequent Maccas or its competitors. They care for their budget and they care for their health. I don't believe that Barnes, those who commissioned his report, and those who will receive it have a clue about ordinary families let alone poor families. None of those on the Commission of Audit have taken young families to the GP recently ... so how do they have a clue?

Lastly, why has this been spread first all across the Murdoch Press? Melbourne's Herald Sun is full of praise for the proposal. This then is propaganda.

Why did Abbott not announce this at the election? Fearful of the polls?

Why did Abbott not have a national conversation about this post-election? Fearful.

Clearly the Abbott government is determined to implement this policy while maintaining its distance as the conversation goes on somewhere else ... anywhere else but having the conversation take place between the nation, himself and his Ministers, Peter Dutton and Fiona Nash. No. This policy is to be introduced by sleight of hand ... or by some amount of apparent coercion by the Commission of Audit.

We will be told over and again

> how this has to happen.

> how a price signal has to be sent.

> how it is a small and reasonable amount.

> how it will not prevent people seeing a doctor

ad infinitum, ad nauseam.

Please continue to follow

the introduction of a dishonest policy,

by dishonest people in support of a dishonest government.

Monday, 19 August 2013

Unfinished business: Koori women and the justice system - a report from the Victorian Equal Opportunity & Human Rights Commission

Picture from here

Unfinished business: Koori women and the justice system

is being launched to-day by Jill Gallagher, AO,

CEO oft the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health.

More Koori women are going to prison in Victoria than ever before, with Koori women now comprising the fastest growing segment of the Victorian prison population, yet appropriate diversionary options have yet to be established to prevent this rise.

A new report, Unfinished business, launched today by the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission, brings together stories of Koori women from their first contact with the justice system, through imprisonment and after release and makes recommendations about how to address inequity in the system. Twice as many Koori women are now in prison compared to five years ago.

Acting Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commissioner Chris Humphreys said that Unfinished business shows that despite more than 20 years of national and Victorian government policies attempting to respond to the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in prison, there are no culturally appropriate diversionary options in Victoria for Koori women to address the rising incarceration rates.

Unfinished business identified that most Koori women prisoners share a similar profile: they are generally young mothers who have grown up experiencing family violence, sexual abuse and intergenerational trauma. Homelessness before and after prison is also common.

"We know that eight out of ten Koori women in Victorian prisons are mothers. Their incarceration has significant, harmful impacts upon their children. Unless we act now, the number of Koori women at risk of entering prison is likely to grow markedly in the coming years – perpetuating the existing cycle of intergenerational disadvantage and inequality and at great cost to the Victorian community," Mr Humphreys said.

"The Commission is calling for an investment in cultural and gender specific diversionary programs for Koori women – because we know it works. These programs exist for Koori men and non-Koories, but are lacking for Koori women, which offends the right to equality before the law," Mr Humphreys said.

"This report clearly highlights the pressing need for appropriate diversionary options for Koori women, including appropriate residential options. We know that having a safe place that recognises Koori women's cultural needs is vital to reversing the trend of increasing imprisonment. The current lack of pre (and post) sentence residential options is a significant barrier to Koori women staying out of jail."

Mr Humphreys said that if we are going to be serious about tackling the increasing incarceration of Koori women we also need to take into account their unique circumstances.

"Unfinished business shows that Koori women often lack the social support afforded to the general population, while being at higher risk of family violence, mental or cognitive impairments, homelessness and poverty. All of these factors drive contact with the criminal justice system.

"The increasing rate of Koori women entering prison comes at an enormous social and economic cost: to the women involved, to their children, to their communities and to the Victorian public.

"It has been very well understood for some time that Koori women face unique challenges in the justice system but despite this, there has not been sufficient focus on prevention and diversion for this group when compared to men," Mr Humphreys said.

"With this report, the Commission is calling for a new approach to keeping Koori women out of prison, and one that recognises that imposing programs designed for men and for non-Koori women on Koori women are missing the mark," Mr Humphreys said.

"This research also looks at the ongoing impact of a mother's imprisonment on her children, family and community, which has largely been absent from the policy discussion," Mr Humphreys said.

"The time is now right to fix a system that is broken by investing in gender and culturally appropriate diversionary services for Koori women," Mr Humphreys said.

Wednesday, 19 June 2013

Older adults, volunteering and health. Down, down, the blood pressure's down when you volunteer.

Are you an Elder yet? If you are in your senior years, I highly commend Ronni Bennett's blog, Time Goes By, to you. I was so taken with this post of Ronni's that I have to snitch it to ensure that Networkers get a look at it.

~~~~~~~~~~

Picture from here

Tuesday, 18 June 2013

Volunteering Linked to Reduced Risk of Hypertension

”New research from Carnegie Mellon University shows that older adults who volunteer for at least 200 hours per year decrease their risk of hypertension, or high blood pressure, by 40 percent.

Hypertension is estimated to affect 65 million Americans. It leads to cardiovascular disease which is the number one killer in the United States. So this is fascinating news for elders who are physically able to contribute.

As reported at ScienceDaily, 1,164 adults age 51 to 91 from across the United States were interviewed in 2006 and 2010. All participants registered normal blood pressure levels in the first interview and each time, volunteering along with social and psychological factors were measured. (Emphasis is mine)

”...showed that those who reported at least 200 hours [per year] of volunteer work during the initial interview were 40 percent less likely to develop hypertension than those who did not volunteer when evaluated four years later.

“The specific type of volunteer activity was not a factor - only the amount of time spent volunteering led to increased protection from hypertension."

Isn't that the most terrific thing? Just helping others goes a long way to reducing the risk of high blood pressure. And the amount of time isn't much. There are approximately 250 business days per year which is equal to 2,000 hours. So only one-tenth of the time we spent employed, on average, is effective.

Certainly, regular TGB readers know how I bash on from time to time about how blogging – writing or reading – helps reduce isolation and loneliness at a time in life when we no longer have the camaraderie of the workplace and some other means of social interaction. That appears to also be true for volunteering.

The lead author of this research, Rodlescia S. Sneed, a Ph.D. candidate in psychology in [Carnegie Mellon's] Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Science suggests that this is what is at work in the reduced hypertension risk with volunteering:

"As people get older, social transitions like retirement, bereavement and the departure of children from the home often leave older adults with fewer natural opportunities for social interaction. Participating in volunteer activities may provide older adults with social connections that they might not have otherwise.”

Exercise is good for reducing blood pressure. So is maintaining a reasonable body weight, they tell us, along with eating a healthy diet and cutting back on sodium intake.

Now we know that something as fulfilling as helping out others can give a big boost to our health. It's something anyone can do - even if you cannot get out and about easily, there is plenty of need for people who can contribute via telephone and computer.

In reporting on this research WebMD warns to keep in mind that the study "found an association between time spent volunteering and blood pressure levels, it did not prove a cause-and-effect relationship.”

Okay. But there is at least one other study that seems to agree. Earlier this year, EverydayHealth reported on similar results with volunteer adolescents:

”After ten weeks, researchers found that the students who volunteered had decreased cholesterol, BMI, and inflammation when compared to those who did not get the opportunity to volunteer.

"'The volunteers who reported the greatest increases in empathy, altruistic behaviour and mental health were the ones who also saw the greatest improvements in their cardiovascular health,' study author Hannah Schreier, PhD, said in a press release.”

This news – for young and old - seems to me to be the sort that if you'd ever given it serious thought, you might have deduced it for yourself. It feels intuitively right, don't you think, that doing things that make you feel good, especially while helping others, would be a health-giving activity?

Monday, 3 June 2013

Olga Havnen delivers the 2013 Lowitja O'Dongohue Oration: Healing the Fault Lines: uniting politicians, bureaucrats and NGOs for improved outcomes in Aboriginal Health.

Thank you to WGAR for alerting Miss Eagle to this.

A little known positive aspect of the Northern Territory Intervention was a significant increase in resources to Aboriginal Comprehensive Primary Health Care.

This, along with parallel initiatives under Closing the Gap, gave some hope that the decades long demands from our sector for substantial extra resources in primary health care was at last being heard.

However, while we have been making some advances in the Northern Territory, we face the potential for a “race to the bottom” in Aboriginal health where the interests of politicians, bureaucrats and NGOs potentially outweigh the evidence of Aboriginal community control.

Prominent Aboriginal Territorian and the current CEO of Danila Dilba Health Service Olga Havnen argues that the “fault lines” between these groups and the Aboriginal Community Controlled Health sector must unite to make a real difference.

~~~~~~~

Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory

Monday, 20 May 2013

Climate change and health - scoping impacts & adaptation options - Alice Springs - 3 June

Tuesday, 14 May 2013

What Aboriginal Australians in the Northern Territory want : Rebuilding from the ground up - an alternative to the NT Intervention

REBUILDING FROM THE GROUND UP

AN ALTERNATIVE TO

THE NORTHERN TERRITORY INTERVENTION

Wednesday, 20 March 2013

Close the Gap Day - Thursday 20 March 2013 : Rachel Siewert

Rachel Siewerts's Adjournment Address in the Senate yesterday to mark Close the Gap Day - Thursday 21 March 2013.

Picture from here

Rachel Siewert (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thursday, 21 March—in other words, the day after tomorrow—is National Close the Gap Day. I would like to acknowledge all of those who have supported and participated in this event, which will happen around the country. However, the evidence is clear that there are still significant differences in health, education, employment and social outcomes between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanderpeople and other Australians. National Close the Gap Day is an important opportunity to promote awareness of these issues and take collaborative action towards improving the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. I note also that Close the Gap Day is a community owned initiative, whereas Closing the Gap is the government's program for addressing these issues. It may sound pedantic, but it is important to point out the difference between the two.

The Shadow report 2013: on Australian governments' progress towards closing the gap in life expectancy between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians (see below to read and/or download the report) outlines some progress in some areas, such as Indigenous child health. Although there has been some progress, unfortunately there is some plateauing in mortality rates in children under the age of five. There has been some progress in reducing the rates of smoking during pregnancy and increased attendance at antenatal care, at least once during a mother's first trimester. Early data indicates that the tackling Indigenous smoking and Indigenous Chronic Disease package initiatives are showing signs of being beneficial for adult health and life expectancy in the Indigenous population, which is very promising.

However, National Close the Gap Day serves as a reminder that there is still a very long way to go to close the gap between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and other Australians. Most Australian jurisdictions will not meet the Council of Australian Governments' target to achieve equality in life expectancy of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in Australia by 2030. There has been an increasing trend of babies of low birth weight born to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mothers. We know low birth weight is associated with later health problems, as well as a greater risk of mortality before the age of five. Funding cuts such as those reported in some states, such as New South Wales and Queensland, will have a potential detrimental effect on any efforts working towards closing the gap. There is also a need for further funding for the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan, which is funded until June this year, but as yet there has been no commitment of funds for the next five-year plan. This is absolutely essential.

One of the issues I have mentioned in this place before, and I believe it is absolutely essential if we are going to close the gap in Aboriginal health expectancy and life outcomes, is to ensure that we deal with otitis media, an ear infection characterised by fluid build-up in the middle ear. Unfortunately, if it is left untreated it results in hearing loss. A lot of work is going on in how to deal with combatting otitis media. I very strongly support that work and the funding for that work, but unfortunately this disease strikes so many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, particularly when they are babies. Babies as young as three months old can get otitis media. In some communities, up to 90 per cent of babies are affected by otitis media. So not only do we need to put in the effort to treat and eradicate this disease; we need to put in the funding resources to address the issues of hearing loss and hearing impairment for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.

If a child starting their first day at school cannot hear because of hearing impairment, they will not be able to participate in class. Evidence shows that, if children are alienated from day one in the classroom, they will not engage in schooling and will be unable to meet education standards. We also know that hearing loss has been associated with a number of people in juvenile detention and in adult prisons. The evidence is there that this problem can have a devastating impact on communities. So as well as funding the health plan we need to put renewed emphasis on early literacy and also on programs to address hearing loss.

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