Edited by the Institute for Social Research, Swinburne University of Technology

New Research

The Brotherhood's social barometer: living the second fifty years

09 March 2010The fourth Social Barometer examines the extent of disadvantage among older Australians through indicators of people’s capabilities covering eight key dimensions of life, including employment, income, health, housing, safety and social participation.

Issues consultation paper: Food Labelling Law and Policy Review

08 March 2010Various reviews of the food regulation system suggest that food labelling has been an ongoing issue of concern for the food industry, consumers and government. This paper summarises issues raised in the current review of labelling.

The problem of osteoporotic hip fracture in Australia

05 March 2010Every day in 2006-07, more than 40 Australians broke their hip. But the incidence rate is on the decline.

Framework for measuring wellbeing: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, 2010

05 March 2010This publication describes a framework to map statistical information about Indigenous people, in the context of the interrelationships with their social and physical environments.

The "medicine in Australia: balancing employment and life (MABEL)" longitudinal survey

05 March 2010This study investigates workforce participation patterns and their determinants using a longitudinal survey of Australian doctors.

Review of health technology assessment in Australia

03 March 2010This report recommends improvements in the way new health technologies, procedures and services are assessed for public and private funding in Australia.  
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Disability

Medication use for arthritis and osteoporosis

Medication use for arthritis and osteoporosis

26 February 2010This report provides information on what medicines Australians are using to manage their musculoskeletal problems, how much these medicines cost them and trends in the prescription of newer medicines.

The role of vocational education and training in the labour market outcomes of people with disabilities

19 February 2010This report finds that for people who are not working, completing a VET qualification increases the chance of employment and more so for people with a disability.

What would it take? Employer perspectives on employing people with a disability

15 February 2010While employers are positive about employing people with a disability, they lack confidence in dealing with specific disability employment issues.

Mental health

The health and psychological effects of "ecstasy" (MDMA) use

15 March 2010This monograph considers a number of possible consequences of ecstasy use and identifies the research needed to more definitively answer questions about whether ecstasy has adverse effects on health of type reviewed.

Living on the edge: social and emotional wellbeing risk and protective factors for serious psychological distress among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

04 March 2010This paper has been prepared to generate discussion around the determinants of Indigenous social and emotional wellbeing.

Commentary

Responding more effectively to chronic pain

17 March 2010The National Pain Summit took up the challenge of improving the way the system deals with pain, writes Maiy Azize

Danger in new trade agreement with the US

17 March 2010Why would any Australian government want another trade deal with the US, ask Ruth Townsend and Thomas Faunce in On Line Opinion

Risky referendums

09 March 2010Referendums promised by Kevin Rudd and Tony Abbott are fraught with political risk, writes Norman Abjorensen in Inside Story
More...

Audio

The right to property and the right to health

Listen to audio
04 March 2010Is it morally permissible to impose strong patent protections where doing so prices important new medicines out of the reach of many poor people?

Working together for a better health care system

Listen to audio
20 November 2009Research findings and government reports indicate Australia's primary health care workforce is facing significant challenges and is lagging behind in its use of teamwork approaches.

Drugs and alcohol

Video

Bess Nungarrayi Price on the NT Intervention

Listen to audio
15 February 2010Bess Nungarrayi Price, a Walpiri woman from Yuendemu in the N.T. discusses the issues facing her community and explains why she thinks policies such as enforced income management are needed and welcome.

Is capitalism good for our health?

Listen to audio
31 August 2009In this talk at the Adelaide Festival of Ideas, health researcher and WHO Commissioner Professor Fran Baum discusses the determining factors of our mental and physical health, particularly wealth and equality within societies.

Wellbeing

Beyond corporate responsibility: the 'spiritual turn' and the rise of conscious business

15 March 2010This paper asks whether the Corporate Responsibility movement can transform business practices enough to assist society address key human and environmental sustainability challenges.

Websites

Community Indicators Victoria

29 October 2009This site uses local community wellbeing indicators to improve citizen engagement, community planning and policy making.

Ethics Advisory Service

11 September 2009The Ethics Advisory Service is designed for Australian Public Service (APS) employees who want advice on ethical issues in the workplace and on how to make sound decisions around these issues.

Croakey: the Crikey health blog

25 August 2009The Croakey blog is a forum for debate and discussion about health issues and policy.

Most viewed: This week

1
Child mortality target: analysis and recommendations
2
Responding more effectively to chronic pain
3
The health and psychological effects of "ecstasy" (MDMA) use
4
Framework for measuring wellbeing: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, 2010
5
National Prison Book Program - sending books to Australian prisoners

Jobs

Events

Seminar
Memory, Trauma and Reconciliation in post-War Bosnia and Herzegovina
23 Mar 2010 - 6:00pm
Melbourne
Conference
Arts-Activated Conference
25 Mar 2010 - 26 Mar 2010
Sydney
Conference
Arts Activated Conference 2010
25 Mar 2010 - 26 Mar 2010
Sydney

Books

The Australian Long Story

The Australian Long Story

  • Editor: Mandy Sayer
  • Penguin Australia
In this collection, acclaimed writer Mandy Sayer brings together nine of the best Australian examples of the long story - tales that combine the intensity of the short story with the complexity of a novel.

Australasian Journal of ArtsHealth

  • ArtsHealth Centre for Research and Practice, University of Newcastle
The Australasian Journal of ArtsHealth (AJAH) is a new, international, blind-peer-reviewed electronic journal providing an outlet for researchers and practitioners working in the broad areas arts and health.

Noticeboard

Lifestyles, consumption and environmental impact: National Household Consumption Survey
23 June 2009

The National Household Consumption Survey is open to all Australian residents until 30 June 2009.

Policy Guides

Arts for all: opening doors to people with a disability

This guide provides practical and long-term ways for artists and arts organisations to enhance their access, market their events to the disabled community and build new audiences.

15-02-10

Topics

APO