Dr Feelgood endorses new guide for parents

As a mother, doctor and sexual health advocate for the past 20 years, Dr Sally Cockburn, aka ‘Dr Feelgood’, understands how confusing children’s sexual behaviour can be.

The media communicator today threw her support behind Family Planning Queensland’s revolutionary new book for parents, Is This Normal? Understanding your child’s sexual behaviour.

“This practical book is a must-read for every parent and professional who works with children,” Dr Cockburn said. “A tool of this nature is long overdue and I fully endorse this book as an essential guide for all parents and carers.

“While topics such as masturbation may sound outrageous to parents of young children, it is a behaviour that they should be aware of and know how to respond to appropriately.”

Dr Cockburn is a GP and health advocate – with a twist – while she practices part time in suburban Melbourne she is also known around Australia as ‘Dr Feelgood’, a high profile media presenter who champions sensitive issues and demystifies medicine.

Her 20 year media career spans every television network and Australia’s top radio networks. She currently can be seen on channel 7’s Morning Show with Larry and Kylie,  and heard hosting her own Sunday Night talk back radio program Talking Health on Melbourne’s radio 3AW. She is a recipient of the radio industry’s award for best documentary and an MBF award for excellence in health journalist.

Behind the scenes, Sally is passionate about patient and community issues and is active in health policy and education at many levels. Sally is a Lifetime Australia Day Ambassador for Victoria. In March 2010 Sally was inducted into the Victorian Women’s honour roll for harnessing the media to improve health communications.

She has just retired from the Chair of Family Planning Victoria and the board of Vichealth, the world leading health promotion organisation.

Sally is patron or ambassador for many community organisations and sits on the Victorian Government’s Mental Health Reform Council.

For more information about Family Planning Queensland, or to order a copy of Is This Normal? Understanding your child’s sexual behaviours (RRP $14.90) visit www.fpq.com.au or call 07 3250 0240.

 

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Child sexual behaviours – Is this normal?

Family Planning Queensland’s revolutionary book, Is This Normal? Understanding your child’s sexual behaviour, is shedding light on child sexual behaviours and helping parents guide healthy sexual development.

“My 13-year-old son spends a lot of time in his bedroom with the door shut.” “My teenager is texting revealing photos of herself to her boyfriend.” “My son, 8, masturbates at school, often exposing himself to others.” Is this normal?

Family Planning Queensland’s revolutionary book, Is This Normal? Understanding your child’s sexual behaviour, released today is shedding light on child sexual behaviours and helping parents guide healthy sexual development.

According to child sexual abuse prevention expert for Family Planning Queensland (FPQ) and co-author of Is this normal? Understanding your child’s sexual behaviour, Ms Holly Brennan OAM, sexuality is integral to a person’s life, from birth to death.

“Parents often feel overwhelmed by their children’s sexual behaviours and feelings, so understanding what’s considered normal can ease some of the worries of parenting, while helping to protect their children from harm.

“Most child sexual behaviours are perfectly normal, healthy and nothing to worry about. What’s most important is that your child knows that they can talk to you about their body and relationships and recognise that sexuality is a part of everyday life,” Ms Brennan said.

For more information about Family Planning Queensland, or to order a copy of Is This Normal? Understanding your child’s sexual behaviours (RRP $14.90) visit www.fpq.com.au or call 07 3250 0240.

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Understanding children’s sexual behaviour

“Most child sexual behaviours are perfectly normal, healthy and nothing to worry about." Co-author Holly Brennan

 

A revolutionary book – to be launched on Tuesday, February 7, 2012 – is set to shed light on child sexual behaviours and help parents and carers guide healthy sexual development.

Published by Family Planning Queensland (FPQ), the book is a practical, must-read for every parent and professional working with children.
Read the rest of Understanding children’s sexual behaviour »

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New health news website embracing digital age

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Team VIVA! welcomes the introduction of a new daily, breaking news and opinion website focused on Australia’s health system.

Health Reporter, backed by a team of experienced journalists and health industry professionals, stemmed from the belief by its owners that Australia’s health system is important and large enough to have its own daily online news site producing original news content and opinion.

Ex News Limited journalist and long-time health industry PR executive, Michael Riley is heading the new venture, together with Jamie and Lori Silver, directors of digital media and advertising agency Pixel Light.

“Our long term goal is to break news, provide challenging and thought provoking opinion pieces and help set the health news agenda rather than follow it,” Mr Riley told the PR Report.

Mr Riley said research conducted by the Health Reporter team indicated there were a number of issues, stories and opinions that could be reported more adequately in the media than presently being done and there were important stories and issues that warranted further coverage and/or follow up.

Health Reporter will provide all content for free and Mr Riley said the response from the health industry had been exceptionally positive.

VIVA! Principal Kirsten Bruce said Health Reporter was a great example of health communicators embracing the digital age.

“In these modern times of smart phones and social media, readers – particularly Gen Y – are relying increasingly on the internet for news.

“By providing news specifically on the health industry and ‘thought-provoking opinion pieces’, Health Reporter is set to complement existing health industry titles, such as Australian Doctor, Medical Observer and Pharma in Focus,” Ms Bruce said.

“We look forward to working with the Health Reporter team to better educate their audience on important breakthroughs in the health industry.”

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How to keep your New Year’s resolutions

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If statistics are anything to go by, the majority of people reading this will have resolved to live better in 2012, whether getting fitter, quitting smoking, cutting back on alcohol, or spending more time with family and friends.

However statistically, three-quarters of people would have given up already. According to a British survey, just nine days into the exciting (and possibly apocalyptic) 2012, was when willpower waned. Sadly that rugged determination felt on January 1, fuelled by one-too-many glasses of champagne the night before, is quickly lost among the unopened emails and seemingly-endless to-do list once back at work.

Fortunately, Team VIVA! is here to help you reboot your resolutions. We’ve gathered the top 5 tips for keeping your resolutions:

  1. Aim low
  2. Don’t overload yourself
  3. Tell everyone you know
  4. Reward yourself
  5. Don’t let the small stumbles bring you down.

Here’s what Team VIVA! are resolving:

Kirsten, Principal

  • To play tennis and do a pilates class once a week.
  • To spend more quality time with my beautiful little girls, Zahra, 3 and Bianka, 1 who are growing up incredibly fast.
  • To enjoy our beautiful new working environment, complete with kookaburras, rabbits, harbour views and nudists along the Mosman peninsula!

Denise, Account Manager

  • To get my daily dose of vitamin D during work hours while enjoying our stunning harbour views.
  • To make more time for hobbies such as Bikram yoga, life drawing, scuba diving and even camping!

Kirsty, Account Executive

  • To do everything on the ‘top 100 things to-do in Sydney’ list.
  • To eat breakfast more regularly.

Mahsa, Account Associate

  • To start a herb garden, and keep it alive for at least 30 days into the New Year.
  • To quit my gym and get outdoors instead to keep fit and healthy.

 

Still lacking motivation? The Department of Health and Ageing has developed a free 12-week planner to help people make changes towards a healthier lifestyle or check out Body & Soul’s top 50 health and fitness apps.

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