Federal Government announces a “shake up” of private health insurance
The Turnbull government has announced a major health insurance form package today (Friday, October 13, 2017), which it is touting as the biggest shake-up to the private health insurance sector in 15 years. As part of the reforms, private health insurers will offer customers the choice of paying higher excesses for private hospital insurance, as…
Just one hour of exercise each week can help prevent depression
A study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry on October 3, 2017 revealed even small amounts of exercise can protect against clinical depression. The Exercise and the Prevention of Depression study led by the Black Dog Institute, utilised data from the Health Study of Nord-Trøndelag County (HUNT study) –one of the most comprehensive population-based…
Reid brothers complete herculean global ride in sister’s honour to raise funds for mental illness
Queensland brothers, Dylan and Lawson Reid have completed a 938 day-long, 100,000 kilometre global motorbike trek today (October 10, 2017), finishing at QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane. The sole purpose of their extraordinary ride was to raise much-needed funds to support further research into clinical depression – an insidious illness to which they lost…
World Mental Health Day 2017 – considering Mental Health in The Workplace
The World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH) World Mental Health Day, observed October 10, aims to raise global awareness of mental health issues in order to encourage people and organisations to support mental health. This year’s theme is Mental Health in the Workplace. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), workplace experience contributes heavily to overall mental…
Aussie Doctors ordering too many unnecessary X-rays for kids
The Royal Australian College of Physicians is urging doctors to reconsider ordering unnecessary and potentially harmful X-rays for children. The 2017 NPS MedicineWise ‘Choosing Wisely Australia Campaign’, an initiative that brings the community together to improve the quality of healthcare through considering tests, treatments, and procedures where evidence shows they provide no benefit or, in some…
Ice or heat?
It’s the million-dollar question and it’s a hot topic for debate amongst many practitioners. If we have had a sprain, strain, bruise, pull or tear – and we want to reduce the pain – do we use heat or ice? The answer to this question comes down to what tissue is actually injured. Is it…
Go MAD & paint your world blue on Mesothelioma Awareness Day
September 26, 2017 marks the 13th annual Mesothelioma Awareness Day (MAD). Founded in 2004 by the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation, MAD aims to raise both awareness of, and funds for mesothelioma – an aggressive form of cancer that affects the lining of the lungs, heart and abdomen – to help identify ways to treat the…
Leading pharmacy editor shares best practice tips & tricks with Team VIVA! at agency’s annual off-site meeting
On Monday, September 11, 2017, we (VIVA! Communications) staged our annual workshop at Doltone House, Jones Bay Wharf, Pyrmont to reflect on our many achievements over the past year, chew the fat on our business goals, and define our objectives and strategies moving forward. Chaired by VIVA! Communications’ Managing Director, Paul Jans, our off-site meeting…
Tailoring medicines through DNA sequencing – the future of medicine
It sounds like the stuff of science fiction, but scientists and health researchers believe genetic testing should lead to the personalisation of medicine to an individual’s DNA – a practice that will be the norm within 15 years. Breakthroughs in DNA sequencing have already led to the development of cancer vaccines for melanoma skin cancer,…
Women’s Health Week 2017 – different life stages critical to understanding women’s health
To mark Women’s Health Week (September 4-8, 2017), the Jean Hailes Foundation has released data from its Women’s Health Survey, 2017. According to the organisation, their 2017 women’s health survey, the third annual survey they have released to better understand the health information needs and behaviours of Aussie women, had the following three main aims:…