PHRP in the news
Why are Indigenous smoking rates high? Colonialism, that’s why
Discriminatory practices dating back to Australia’s colonial history are at least partly to blame for a comparatively high smoking rate among Indigenous populations, according to a team of academic researchers at the Australian National University. In a paper being published today in Public Health Research & Practice, Canberra-based researchers have found while Australia as a […]
As capabilities boom, a careful look at cancer screening
Technological advances are heralding a new era of personalised medicine in the detection and treatment of cancer, but what does this mean for screening? An important new themed edition of the Public Health Research & Practice journal examines the benefits, harms and controversies in Australia’s cancer screening programs, with a series of papers that are […]
Mental health in Australia needs reform, not just more money: Ian Hickie
The mental health sector is plagued with ineffective programs that should lose funding, according to a leading expert. Ian Hickie, a commissioner on the National Mental Health Commission, said services suffered from poor co-ordination and did not address the needs of users and their families. “Increased funding for expanded mental health services is crucial, but […]
Digital drivers flipping the script on mental health
Mental health has been identified by the government as one of its ‘four pillars’ in health, and advocates are hoping for a boost in tomorrow night’s Federal Budget. Mental Health Commissioner Jackie Crowe argues that the digital revolution has ushered in a new era for mental health, breaking down stigma and empowering patients to demand […]
Call for stepped-care approach to mental health
As part of the federal government’s mental-health reform agenda, PHNs have been asked to develop and implement a “stepped-care approach” to mental-health service delivery. This asks doctors to tailor interventions based on whether patients have mild, moderate and severe mental illness. “In primary care, general practitioners … will need to assign individuals to these broad […]
Mental health network implementation to change or crumble
An advocate for mental health services, says Australia’s mental health network needs to change from within or face years of missed opportunity. Professor Ian Hickey is also a mental health commissioner and says that for too long, competing governments, companies and professionals have pointed the finger at problems, rather than working together to fix them. […]
How public health officials can make the truth heard in a ‘post-fact’ world
As reports of fake news ― real or perceived ― and “alternative facts” become more common, so does Americans’ distrust in public officials and institutions. Respondents to an Edelman survey conducted last year, for example, said they would consider the view of a “person like me” twice as credible as that of a government leader. […]
Secondments open door to enhanced knowledge translation
Making better use of evidence in policymaking is a preoccupation of many in the public service and of many researchers. Although it is well understood that good policy and effective programs should be guided by evidence, this is not always a simple task. For those of us in academia, ‘evidence’ is defined as the findings […]
How to cut through when talking to anti-vaxxers and anti-fluoriders
Dismissing people’s worries as baseless, whether that’s about the safety of mobile phones or fluoridated drinking water, is one of the least effective ways of communicating public health risks. Yet it is common for people to “reassure” like this, both at home and in professional roles as experts, officials or corporate managers. Another poor but […]
Scientists fear spread of Zika through foreign mosquitoes
Scientists are warning that Australia could be at risk of an outbreak of the Zika virus or the further spread of dengue fever if exotic mosquitoes that can carry these diseases are allowed to spread here. They’re particularly worried that travellers could bring in the Asian Tiger Mosquito … Read the full story on abc.net.au
