News

‘The more you tell a story, the stronger the story becomes’

By Published on July 9, 2024 The benefits of music are something many of us understand intuitively. The fact that music can improve health, wellbeing and community has become increasingly well documented in recent years. What is perhaps less well known outside of First Nations communities, is how music and songs can help transmit and preserve cultural knowledge. One of the Most Significant Change story displays shared in the community in September 2023.

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Daily decisions can reduce the carbon footprint of our health sector

By Associate Professor Forbes McGain Published on July 9, 2024 Healthcare is one of Australia’s heaviest polluters, contributing around seven percent to our national carbon emissions. At the same time its one of our most essential sectors. The enduring challenge we have is maintaining quality, while improving sustainability. Previous slideNext slideElderly people will increasingly re-engage with the hospital systems for support with health and independence. Picture: Getty Images.Across the life-course we'll almost inevitably spend some time in hospital.

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Access to e-cigarettes will improve Australia’s health

By Professor Tony Blakely Published on July 8, 2024 Here in Australia, it’s currently illegal to buy e-cigarettes that contain nicotine without a prescription. That’s not the case in countries like the UK, USA, Canada or New Zealand. And there’s a lot of debate about the issue. Whether or not Australian adults should be able to access nicotine-containing e-cigarettes in the same way they buy tobacco cigarettes was considered by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) in 2008, 2011 and again in 2017.

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Corporations are putting profits above the safety of women. And it's evil

By Ms Hui Chia Published on July 5, 2024 The Ethicon (a subsidiary of Johnson and Johnson) pelvic mesh lawsuit is a now-notorious example of corporate wrongdoing. The surgical mesh was implanted in the vagina to repair prolapses, often caused by childbirth. For thousands of women worldwide, the mesh implants caused debilitating complications including chronic pain, bleeding, recurrent infections, painful sex, incontinence and nerve damage. The transvaginal mesh caused debilitating complications in thousands of women.

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Is Melbourne really a 24-hour city if public transport stops?

By Anna Edwards Published on July 4, 2024 Melbourne cannot afford to lag behind its global peers. Other major cities have successfully implemented comprehensive night-time transport systems that cater to both the entertainment crowd and essential workers. For instance, cities like New York and London have extensive 24-hour public transport networks that serve as models for Melbourne’s ambitions. Ensuring safe and reliable transport for night-time workers and continuing to fill the gaps in the network are essential for the success of Melbourne’s 24-hour city vision.

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