Australia’s Children and Youth
Putting children in the centre of our society acknowledges that all aspects of our future capacity depends upon us having the majority of our children and youth able to participate to their full potential
Data for health
As a child health researcher and advocate, there are many situations which make me anxious in Australia in 2014. Child abuse and neglect is apparently rising, as are substance abuse and mental health problems in both young people and their parents (probably linked) and the resulting irreversible fetal alcohol group of disorders
Child Health
The health and wellbeing of children and youth are any country’s most crucial future concern (Stanley, Prior, & Richardson, 2005). Measuring health (or ill-health as we usually do!) and wellbeing (or ill-being!) gives us an indication of the success of our society in providing those environments (physical, social, emotional, cultural and economic) that are positive for healthy child development
Courage or just plain sensible? Some courageous ideas to prevent today’s wicked problems for our children as yet unborn
As we move from the devastation of the COVID-19 pandemic into a ‘post-Covid’ world, it gives us an incredible opportunity to move to a more equitable and sustainable world, one that is courageous in making decisions to address climate change. A world that is healthier for our children and for those ‘not yet born’
Australian Government Action in the 1980s
Twenty years ago in 1989, Environment Minister Graham Richardson took a proposal to Cabinet for a 20% reduction in greenhouse emissions by 2005. He was unsuccessful, but two years later Cabinet agreed to a similar proposal, on condition it would not affect the economy. The Opposition Liberal Party after 1987 had a strong climate change policy under Shadow Environment Minister Chris Puplick, and took that policy to subsequent elections
Watching Aid and Advocacy
Activists often look to colourful actions to draw attention to issues, and delivering a birthday cake must surely fall into this category. However, AID/WATCH, the small, non-government organisation (NGO) that monitors the quality of overseas aid, never expected that their ironic 60th birthday cake delivered to the World Bank asking it to retire would be described by the Australian Tax Office (ATO) as unacceptable political activity and used against them
The future of genetics
It took over 10 years and US$3 billion to sequence the first human genome. Next generation sequencing (NGS) technolo- gies have made it possible to replicate this feat in a matter of days and at a fraction of the cost, and have led to an explosion in our understanding of the genetic determinants of health. Genomic testing is set to transform healthcare, from disease diagnosis to personalised risk assessments, tailored treatments and preventative interventions. Where are we going to be in 2050, and what challenges lie ahead?
Mitochondrial disease – insight from a cell biologist!
As an undergraduate student, I encountered an unexpected love; a love for cell biology and a compartment found within the confines of each of our cells, the mitochondrion. For cell biologists like myself, the term ‘mitochondria’ can evoke a feeling of enquiry and a reminder of the joy we experienced when learning about these marvellous cellular compartments. But for many, their first encounter with the term ‘mitochondria’ comes with a feeling of confusion and despair, often associated with their diagnosis, or that of a loved one with a mitochondrial disease
Place, Culture and Landscape After the Christchurch Earthquake
Place, culture and landscape all provide continuity to our lives. Continuity of biophysical settings, of people and activities, of values and memories; in short, our sense of who we are. Yet communities become most aware of the importance of such continuity only when it is threatened — whether incrementally, for example, through globalisation; deliberately, through redevelopment; or dramatically, through natural disaster or conflict
Use it or lose it: The benefits of physical activity
What is this ‘physical activity’ thing people keep talking about? Simply put, physical activity is movement of the body (this may be your upper or lower body or both) which expends energy. It is important to remember that physical activity does not just mean exercise!