Health

High levels of alcohol-related harm are a salient feature of many rural communities in Australia. General practitioners (GPs) are uniquely placed to identify and treat patients with harmful alcohol use in remote settings, yet corresponding opportunities for education in effective brief psychological interventions for harmful alcohol use are limit ....

NSW is the most culturally diverse state in Australia. According to ABS statistic, within NSW, 23.8% of the population were born overseas, with 16.8% of the population born in a non-primary English speaking country, a 7.9% increase between the 2001 to 2006 Census. NSW is also the largest settlement location in Australia, receiving approximately 4 ....

Although Australian rural women appear to be coping well despite a lack of services, harsh environmental conditions and overall rural health disadvantage, there is little research into the factors that promote good health among them. The aim of this article is to document and analyse current understandings about how rural Australia ....

Despite prolonged droughts over the last decade across rural South Australia the majority of farmers continue to farm. This research asks the questions, 'what helps them to 'get by'?', and 'does this mean that they are resilient?'. In this study, resilience implies a strengths-based approach to mental health and wellbeing whilst ot ....

The author outlines the differences that exist in the health status of Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, aiming to provide a clear picture of differences in health status now, and over time. Next he presents data on use of health services by Aboriginal Australians, showing quite marked differences from use by non- Aborigin ....

To investigate the association between unintentional injury and mental health in Australian rural communities. This study supports the hypothesis that pre-existing depression is associated with unintentional injury in a rural sample and indicates the important role of prior depression in management of injury, given the high rate of injury in rur ....

This paper outlines the processes and results of a participatory action research study undertaken to identify issues that may impact on strategies to foster nurse leadership in rural hospitals. Five Directors of Nursing from rural regions of Victoria, Australia participated. The group activities involved discussion and analysis of previous resear ....

Vaccination coverage data provide evidence of successful program delivery and highlight some areas for improvement. For universally funded vaccines in children, coverage is similar in Indigenous and non- Indigenous children by 24 months of age. However, delayed vaccination is more common in Indigenous children, with 6%-8% fewer chi ....

It is estimated that about 2000 people die as a result of venous thromboembolism (VTE) each year, with a further 30 000 being hospitalized. Prophylaxis significantly reduces VTE morbidity and mortality, and thus represents a real long-term health-care benefit. The aim of this study was twofold: (i) to assess the current level of compliance to VTE ....

In July 2001 the Rural Doctors Association of Australia (RDAA) was commissioned by the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing to investigate viable economic and organisational models of rural and remote general practice. The Project was overseen by a management committee appointed by the RDAA. Monash University School of Rural Health (Bend ....

To determine if the addition of a video link to the existing phone connection, enabling patients admitted for mental and behavioural disorders to be seen by a centrally located psychiatrist or mental health clinician, would change the probability of these patients being transferred to the central mental health unit. The ability for the psychiatr ....

A large proportion of people with a mental health disorder do not access health services, which suggests a large unmet need for mental health services, the author argues. She discusses the establishment of the Mental Health Council of Australia, its principles of consumer and carer participation, the National Community Development ....

The 2006 project reported on here focused on the ways in which communities find things that, at the local level, provide support to people with a mental illness. In understanding this, the project explored how communities are resilient and how resilience can be further developed, focusing on regional and rural communities and analy ....

The Wheatbelt Regional Plan is a five year strategic outlook for the Wheatbelt region that aims to inform decision makers about appropriate policy for the area and provide a focus for investment. The plan has been developed through extensive consultation as well as desk top research to ensure that the actions and strategies identified are based ....