This post offers an overview of health-related news from the Budget and a wrap of reaction. Here are links to: • Health and Ageing Budget statements • A table giving a quick overview of health spends and cuts • Ministerial press releases • Closing the Gap press release • The Treasurer’s speech ***
READ MOREAs our future heats up, how well prepared is the health sector?
Australia’s health sector is worryingly under-prepared to respond to the consequences of a projected increase in extreme weather events, such as heatwaves. That is the thrust of a handful of health-related submissions to the current Senate inquiry, Recent trends in and preparedness for extreme weather events. The inquiry by the Senate Standing Committees on Environment [...]
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Recommended reading for your summer holidays, from Croakey contributors
“Not to be too grand about it, but a book ought to alter the reader’s life, add to the reader’s life, in some fundamental way. You have a compact with the reader that if he gives you the time then something will be better for him. His understanding will increase, an emotional satisfaction will ensue, a cathartic experience will [...]
READ MOREAs the costs of skin cancer treatment soar, it may be time for another instalment of Sid the Seagull
Is it time to resurrect Sid the Seagull and skin cancer prevention campaigns? That’s the suggestion from Dr Melissa Stoneham, in her latest report from the JournalWatch service of The Public Health Advocacy Institute WA. *** Slip Slop Slap…do we need this iconic campaign to re-emerge? Melissa Stoneham writes: Remember Sid the Seagull? The life-size sun safe seagull who [...]
READ MORERecent posts from the Parliamentary Library
The Parliamentary Library has recently published a number of posts on their blog, FlagPost, that might be of interest to Croakey readers. Short extracts and hyperlinks have been included below. Thanks to the Parliamentary Library for allowing cross-posting. Competitive constraints in private health insurance raised – but broader debate needed by Amanda Biggs Competition in [...]
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Unpicking some of the ongoing debate around breast cancer screening
When the histories of modern medicine are written, surely the case of screening mammography will be one of the more fascinating chapters. The story of its enthusiastic promotion and uptake, followed by a steadily mounting and widening chorus of concern about how the benefits and harms stack up up, can be explored through so many [...]
READ MOREAfter all the years of health reform effort and expense, what has been achieved?
An Australian academic was recently asked by an overseas colleague to nominate major health policy or system innovations that have had a positive impact on health care access, quality, outcomes, and/or costs in Australia. The academic, who wishes to remain anonymous, struggled to come up with any suggestions – and explains why below. The academic [...]
READ MOREAs an erotic clip is used to promote Pap testing, how can health organisations strike the right balance on social media?
For those who like to cast public health as the breeding ground of moralistic puritans, check out this rather erotic clip from PapScreen Victoria, promoting Pap tests. While I might wish the clip gave viewers some measure of risk (seeing as we are told “you only have to have sex once to risk cervical cancer”, [...]
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Generation Y, and what they bring to – and expect from – public health
What can Generation Y bring to the work of public health? And how can workplaces and colleagues make the most of their talents? Thanks to the Public Health Advocacy Institute of WA for organising for us to hear direct from some of the people themselves. *** Generation Y and Public Health – a match made [...]
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What does it take to improve mental health? Some insights from three voices of experience
At the recent national TheMHS conference in Cairns, the director of the Hunter Institute of Mental Health, Trevor Hazell, received the “Award for Exceptional Contribution to Mental Health Services in Australia or New Zealand”. Hazell, who initially trained in social work, has worked at the Institute for 15 years, and shares some of the lessons [...]
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