The Preventative Health Journal - Australia & New Zealand

Members sought for Preventive Health Advisory Council | News

Individuals with expertise in preventive health are invited to express their interest in joining a new national advisory council to tackle chronic disease.

Diet linked to dementia risk | Features

People who eat lots of nuts, fish, poultry, salad dressing, tomatoes and green vegetables, while avoiding high levels of fatty dairy products, red meats and butter, appear to be less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease, US scientists have shown.

Preventative approach to wound management | News

The Australian Wound Management Association (AWMA) has elected Associate Professor Bill McGuiness, as its new President at their National Conference in Perth.

Prevention back on the health reform agenda | News

Prevention is back in the spotlight with the announcement by the Minister for Health and Aging, Nicola Roxon, that twelve local government areas have been selected to pilot community based approaches to tackling obesity under the $72m Healthy Communities program, according to the Australian Chronic Disease Prevention Alliance.

A smokefree future | News

An ambitious new strategy in the UK aims to halve the number of smokers from 21 to 10 per cent of the population by 2020, Secretary of State for Health Andy Burnham has announced.

Cutting hospital deaths by preventing blood clots | News

Australians at risk of potentially fatal blood clots will benefit from NHMRC’s new Australian Guideline for the Prevention of Venous Thromboembolism (VTE).

States have much to gain from health reform plan | News

State governments will have healthier communities, requiring fewer hospitalisations, which will result in lower costs for state and territory budgets if the Australian government’s proposed reform agenda gets their support, says Australian General Practice Network (AGPN) Chair Dr Emil Djakic.

Australia’s First Preventative Health Agency | News

Australia’s first ever Preventive Health Agency will soon be established following the passage of important legislation in the House of Representatives.

Patient focused primary care the way of the future | News

Australian divisions of general practice could easily transition into primary health care organisations as proposed by the National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission, says Australian General Practice Network (AGPN) Chair Dr Emil Djakic.

Government accused of failing on preventative health taskforce report | News

Health Minister Nicola Roxon has failed to make public the Government’s Preventative Health Taskforce report on the effects of obesity, tobacco and excessive consumption of alcohol despite the Senate yesterday, ordering for the report to be tabled by midday on Friday.

Detecting diseases early | News

A state-of-the-art radiopharmaceutical production facility, which will aid in early diagnosis of life threatening disease, has been opened by Senator Kim Carr, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research in Sydney.

Smoking cravings are down | News

As millions of dollars continue to be spent on anti-smoking advertising, an Australian study has been the first to identify that anti-smoking advertisements reduce tobacco cravings in smokers but are not enough to make them quit

Boost for hearing problems | News

State-of-the art laboratories opened recently in Melbourne by Innovation Minister, Senator Kim Carr, will enhance Australia’s on-going world-leading research into preventing and treating hearing loss.

Preventative health to benefit from Alcopops revenue | News

As a result of the revenue from the Government’s alcopops measure, the Rudd Government is investing $872 million in preventative health - including initiatives focusing on alcohol abuse, healthy eating and physical activity and breastfeeding initiatives.

The Preventative Health Taskforce will revolutionise healthcare | Features

Check out our exclusive interview with Rob Moodie, the chair of the Australian Preventative Health Taskforce, about Kevin Rudd’s bold ambition to make Australia the most healthiest nation in the world by 2020.

Spirituality research must inform health policy and practice | News

Aboriginal health programs must incorporate spirituality if they are to have any sustainable impact on the current state of Indigenous health according to a report launched recently in Queensland’s largest Aboriginal community of Yarrabah which investigates the relationship between spirituality, religion and health.

Queenslanders let down by lack of health policies | News

AMA Queensland has expressed disappointment at the lack of focus on health issues throughout the State Election campaign in releasing its Report Card on 2009 State Election health policies.

Radical change to Australia’s health system is long overdue | News

Countless people will continue to suffer and die needlessly unless Australia makes radical changes to its health system, Australian General Practice Network CEO David Butt has said.

Health is the best stimulus | News

The 2009-10 Budget is an opportunity to use health and medical research as a national stimulus, creating highly-skilled jobs and the knowledge we need to respond to health challenges.

Parents need more holistic maternity care | News

Women and men believe the dominant model of maternity care in Australia is contributing to negative impacts on physical, emotional and social health, according to research published in the Australian Health Review.

Strong support for preventative health approach in NZ | News

The Public Health Association (PHA) from New Zealand has welcomed the preventative health approach set out by the NZ Green Party.

More action needed on preventative health in Oz | News

AMA (Australian Medical Association) President Dr Rosanna Capolingua said the Preventative Health Taskforce discussion paper launched recently is a welcome contribution, worthy of broad community attention.

Research is the key to preventative health | Features

“Better preventative health is the best way to stop the cost of healthcare from ballooning, whilst improving our quality of life and ensuring an effective and productive workplace at the same time,” says Peter Willis, the deputy chairman of Research Australia.

Can aspirins help with heart disease? | Features

In response to the American Medical Association’s new health policy to increase education among physicians on the importance of appropriate aspirin counselling for the prevention of heart attack and stroke, the American College of Preventive Medicine (ACPM) and Partnership for Prevention (Partnership) has redoubled their commitment to stem the incidence of heart attacks and strokes in America.

Preventing Alzheimer’s disease | Videos

Ola Selnes, professor of neurology at The John Hopkins University School of Medicine discusses how although Alzheimer’s is not curable, and probably won’t be for some time, it is possible to reduce the risk with daily walks and other regular cardiovascular exercise.

The full presentation is available here.