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I’ve seen war and beyond the horror lies a shared humanity

March 5, 2024

By Dr Helen Durham AO Published on March 5, 2024 Pre-existing inequalities are exacerbated during times of war and turbulence. People who were struggling before the awful impact of violence can become even more vulnerable as situations deteriorate. It also means it is even more important to listen carefully to the needs, ideas and solutions of communities that have found ways to cope during past conflicts. Watch: Dr Helen Durham talks about the importance of translating international law into on-the-ground applications.

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People with experience of mental health conditions should be paid to help others

March 5, 2024

By Professor Bernadette McSherry Published on March 5, 2024 For anyone diagnosed with physical illnesses, like cancer, it’s common for services and organisations to provide peer-support programs. Programs like these acknowledge the need for people to learn how to navigate all of the services and information from those who’ve already experienced the illness themselves. They can also provide important therapeutic connections. The growth of the ‘lived experience’ workforce gives us an opportunity to help people living with mental health conditions.

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A hearing aid could extend your brain function by years

March 4, 2024

By Professor Julia Sarant Published on March 4, 2024 Hearing loss is a common part of aging. According to the World Health Organization, almost 60 per cent of moderate, or disabling, hearing loss is experienced by adults aged over 60 years. Another part of aging is cognitive decline – our brain ages just like the rest of our body. Cognitive aging is not a disease – it is a normal, lifelong process that begins in our twenties.

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From ‘honey laundering’ to fake free-range: food fraud costs billions

March 1, 2024

By Associate Professor Senaka Ranadheera Published on March 1, 2024 After enjoying what seemed to be a lovely meal, what if you were told the prawns you’d just eaten were injected with an unknown gel to make them look plumper and weigh more? Or the expensive wine you drank with it was diluted with fruit juice? For many of us, this seems unbelievable, especially in Australia, but it’s happening all over the world.

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Scientists and government agencies are targeting mosquitoes with bacteria

February 29, 2024

By Professor Ary Hoffmann Published on February 29, 2024 Dengue fever is one of the most common tropical diseases in the world, affecting several million people every year. It is transmitted by mosquitoes, particularly a species known as Aedes aegypti, the yellow fever mosquito. Dengue is a painful disease that kills thousands of people each year. Picture: Getty ImagesIf you’ve ever contracted dengue, you’ll know that patients are often bedridden for weeks with swollen glands, muscle and joint pain, extreme fatigue and abdominal pain.

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