Anthony Brown

Our new paper depicts the positive impacts of cash transfers on level of coping among young adults during the COVID pandemic were limited to those with a pre-existing mental disorder who received JobKeeper payment in Australia. Happy reading! #socialprotection #cashtransfer #welfare #JobKeeper #JobSeeker #COVID #mentalhealth #coping #adolescents #youth #publichealth #healthsystems

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The Australian Citizen Science Association are writing a discussion paper which aims to identify and strengthen linkages between citizen science and university research to benefit society. In particular, we want to explore how to improve citizen science outcomes and applications, by supporting connections between citizen science programs and early-to-mid-career researchers in Australia. We are interested in hearing from everyone - including people who have been involved in citizen science, professional researchers and the general public. As well as collecting data from the public, we are seeking to co-create the discussion paper with multiple stakeholders, and involvement and co-authorship is open to anyone who is able to volunteer their time. Your responses to this form will help shape the second stage of the discussion paper: https://lnkd.in/gTckqR3u #emcr #citizenscience

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Science for All are working with the Australian Citizen Science Association to write a discussion paper which aims to explore how to improve citizen science and make it more inclusive and accessible - Anyone can get involved - learn more here and complete the survey: https://lnkd.in/g8s3VfW4 #citizenscience

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If you’re looking for a summary and analysis of the proposed changes to the NDIS, hopefully you’ll find our Explainer helpful

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Exciting news – our ARC Linkage application got funded: “Social prescribing: Linking Australian social, health and community sectors”. Research team includes Candice Oster Ashleigh Powell Claire Hutchinson Sahar Faghidno, a collaboration between Flinders University Centre for Social Impact and Flinders Caring Futures Institute. We are looking forward to collaborating with our industry partners: Department of Human Services SA, Adelaide PHN, City of Onkaparinga, City of Marion, Semantic Consulting, and AnglicareSA (in partnership with MarionLIFE Community Services, Uniting Communities and Baptist Care (SA) Inc). The project aims to: 1) Identify key elements that enable place-based social prescribing in Australia, and use these to co-design a technology-enabled social prescribing model.  2)Implement the new social prescribing model in two high-needs communities.  3)Evaluate the model’s implementation, effectiveness, and social return on investment. https://lnkd.in/gmXkVUr6

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I’m very happy to see this report from our partners at The Australian Network for Quality Digital Education, Leslie Loble AM and Dr Kelly Stephens out in the world. The report highlights the critical need for a systemic response in government policy, #edtech development and use, and non-profit and school practice to ensure that AI-based edtech improves educational equity. Ping Doug Taylor, Wendy Field, Karen Murphy, Richard Wilson, Matthew Deeble, Matthew Esterman 🧔🏻, Paul Kelsey, Zane Kung-Faust

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Dr Maurice King (1927-2024), BODHI's public health advisor since 1991, passed away in August 2024. My tribute to him can be read at https://lnkd.in/gky7gM3U. The BMJ (formerly the British Medical Journal) has commissioned an obituary of Maurice. In addition, they plan to publish a themed issue to commemorate his life; especially the ideas of "benign uproar", "demographic entrapment" and the "Hardinian taboo". As the idea of "overshoot" (popularised by William Catton in 1980) is revived - e.g. "overshoot" of 1.5 deg C - it is also time to recognise the world is in perilous overshoot of its human cargo, with its enormous needs and the egregious greed of a tiny minority. Donald Trump was re-elected, in large part, due to the sustained and on-going vilification of people living in the US who have either entered that country without a visa, or else who over-stayed their visa. I would argue that many of these people have done so, due to a form of "overshoot" in their original nation, e.g. Honduras or Venezuela. They either wanted to escape, or don't want to go home (or both). Unfortunately, neither the incoming Trump administration, nor the outgoing Biden administration, seem able or to have been able to properly analyse what I call the four vectors of migration: "push", "pull", "glue" and "fend". The 2nd Trump administration will focus on "fend" (deterrence, including deportation) but there also needs to be much greater attention to the enhancement of "glue" (the factors that create an acceptable living standard in one's land of birth). I (and Maurice - and also the late economists Herman Daly and Joan Robinson) argue that a fundamental reason for this flawed analysis was to exploit poor populations, especially in the global South, including to depress wages in the South, enabling a higher consumption of both raw and transformed materials extracted from or manufactured in the South (e.g. tantalum from the DRC, or garments from Dhaka). Maurice further argued that the taboo on these ideas was enforced by an "unholy" coalition of neoliberal govts., the Vatican and some in the feminist movement. These ideas are also discussed, at length, in Chapters 9 and 10 of the "Climate Change and Global Health" (the 2nd edition, published 2024).

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A huge thank you to the Commissioner for Children and Young People SA who is sponsoring our 20th Anniversary HDA Research Afternoon & Oration event (16 October).   Helen Connolly, South Australia’s Commissioner for Children and Young People, is calling on the State government to provide leadership in relation to children and young people’s health by providing an overarching vision and plan that focuses specifically on the underlying determinants of their health. Our future depends on investing in healthy children, families, and communities. This must start with an overarching vision that can ensure policy and decision making prioritises investment in children and young people. The Commissioner wants decision makers to set a clear vision for South Australian children and young people’s health. One that will enable a joined-up approach that is focused specifically on reducing health inequities by improving the conditions in which all South Australian children and young people live.   A range of policies, datasets and services cover different aspects of children’s and young people’s health in South Australia, provide part of the picture of how children and young people are faring. But without an overarching vision and plan, there is no way we can hope to have oversight of or to measure effectively any improvements in the health of SA children and young people at the population level.   The siloed and fragmented nature of SA health services means we are currently operating a system with competing agendas and priority areas, and where policy design is commonly separated from policy implementation. Providing an overarching vision for children and young people’s health is the right place to start.   Download the Commissioner’s Policy Position here: Why we need an overarching vision for children and young people’s health in South Australia - https://lnkd.in/gncnuwfN

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Check out Samantha Connor's analysis following today's announcement of provider registration: "The Illusion of Safety Through Registration The government's push for mandatory registration is predicated on the false assumption that registration inherently leads to better quality care and increased safety for participants. However, the reality is far more complex. Registration is often reduced to a box-ticking exercise that fails to address the root causes of neglect and abuse in the disability sector. Moreover, the cost of registration – a staggering $12,000 AUD – creates a significant barrier for smaller providers and individual practitioners. This financial burden is likely to force many quality providers out of the market, particularly those offering specialised or niche services that are essential for many participants. The Exodus of Support Coordinators Since the announcement of mandatory registration, over sixty support coordinators have already left the market. This exodus is alarming and highlights the immediate, real-world consequences of the government's policy. Support coordinators play a vital role in helping participants navigate the complex NDIS landscape and access appropriate services. Their departure not only reduces the pool of available expertise but also places additional stress on an already strained system. The Loss of Choice and Control The NDIS was founded on the principles of choice and control for participants. The push for mandatory registration directly contradicts these foundational values. By potentially forcing smaller, more specialised providers out of the market, participants are left with fewer options to meet their unique needs. This is particularly concerning for those in rural and remote areas, where service options are already limited. The Hidden Agenda: Big Providers and Block Funding Critics argue that the drive for mandatory registration is less about participant safety and more about satisfying the demands of large service providers and unions. These entities often advocate for a return to block funding models, which would give them greater financial security but at the cost of participant choice and market innovation. Block funding, where providers receive set amounts to deliver services to groups of participants, harks back to pre-NDIS models. This approach often results in standardised, one-size-fits-all services that fail to meet the diverse and individual needs of participants. It prioritises provider convenience over participant outcomes and directly contradicts the rights based ethos of the NDIS. The Reality of Thin Markets The Thin Market Trials Evaluation highlighted the unique challenges faced in rural and remote areas, where service providers are often scarce. Mandatory registration could exacerbate these issues, potentially leaving some areas with no services at all..."

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Future health positive stats has to be based on holistic models that can integrate all elements that impact our wellbeing. Central to this is timely access to health in the Home and Community sector enabled by a quality, fairly paid workforce who can offer care when crisis hits to allow robust recovery or stabilisation.

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From: NDIS Looking for new and updated information about changes to the NDIS? We’ve made finding what you need to know easier. New and updated information is now available under the ‘new’ section at the top of our FAQs about legislation webpage. See what's new: https://buff.ly/4fMyuRd

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As planning continues to set course on the five year project to address Whose Care is Left Behind? in community based service innovations, I am reflecting on the important role that growing community action nodes can play to address structural inequalities. These action nodes, grown from the ground up, are intended to support participatory ecosystem strengthening and flourishing around 25 community based sites which range from being in early stages of implementation, to being peer led, to mature First Nations led ecosystems like Children's Ground. The vision is that the action nodes will form a strong nexus (connected parts) to support future transitions in the care and communities system as a strategy. In thinking about how deep seated structural inequalities are, I had a read through the Australian Human Rights Commission Multicultural Perspectives for the Anti-Racism Framework which you can find here: https://lnkd.in/gzXfxk7J The message in this document mirrors that for addressing structural inequalities, which is, that anti-racism strategies require a wider lens to focus on the systemic and intersectionality of experiences and not just the interpersonal. It also means expanding understandings of what participation is in work, economy, community, education and health which currently largely reflect dominant Western framings over wider worldviews. Structural inequalities are deeply rooted in the fabric of social institutions, education structures, laws, economy and health. They result in systemic discrimination that impacts everyday in people's lives. While I certainly have worked myself into privileged spaces in my current world, I don't forget the structural inequalities experienced when I lived in housing commission as a young person, nor do I forget how strong a community we had around us -- despite the outside perceptions looking in. I cannot wait to see what the strengths within communities will lead to in this project. This project is funded by a MRFF Million Minds Mission Targeted Research Call (2024-2029) to develop multilevel collective strategies to address structural inequalities with priority populations.

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🌟 Have Your Say: Mandatory Registration for Supported Independent Living (SIL) and Support Coordination 🌟 The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission is seeking your input on proposed changes to improve the quality and safety of Supported Independent Living (SIL) and support coordination services. 🔑 Key Highlights: Mandatory Registration: All SIL and support coordination providers will be required to register with the NDIS Commission, ensuring stronger safeguards and consistent support standards. Transition Period: Providers will have time to align with these new requirements, while participants continue to receive uninterrupted supports. 📢 Why Participate? Your feedback will shape how these changes are implemented, ensuring they address the needs of NDIS participants, providers, and the broader community. 📅 How to Get Involved: Complete the survey: https://lnkd.in/gVaE_sp8 Submit written feedback: [email protected] 💬 Share your thoughts by March 2025

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Confident Conversations about Race and Racism The National Centre for Cultural Competence has released its latest MOOC: Confident Conversations about Race and Racism. Racism remains one of the greatest scourges on society, here in Australia and globally. Yet, many of us are not confident in our abilities to recognise, understand, and take appropriate action against racism. This course will help guide us to a better understanding of these complex issues and importantly provide a way to navigate through to take an anti-racist stance. Come yarn with a wide range of individuals with diverse lived experiences and theoretical understanding as we unpack race and racism across 5 different modules: 1️⃣ What is race? 2️⃣ What is racism? 3️⃣ Being anti-racist 4️⃣ What gets in the way 5️⃣ Having confident conversations The modules are divided into 45-minute to 2-hour modules and are self-paced to fit your busy schedule. Find the MOOC on Coursera or check out the link! https://lnkd.in/gkR3DKps

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Important roles at the forefront of policy on health and climate change

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It's been a devastating, exhausting month for survivors of violence and those working to address it.   The deaths of far too many women have broken our hearts and galvanised so many - communities, organisations, advocates, governments - to do everything we can to prevent violence against women.   People have taken to the streets of their cities and towns to say: enough is enough. A national cabinet has been convened, experts including victim survivors are coming together to talk solutions.   To drive down rates of violence urgently and into the future we need a diverse range of solutions to be actioned and we need to drive cultural and institutional change. We must make sure that when someone seeks crisis support or legal advice, they can access it.   When a woman and her children need emergency and longer term housing, it should be available. When a man needs to talk to someone about his behaviour, he should be able to access that professional guidance.  We need to ensure tailored and dedicated support for children and young people.   We need to hold industries that maintain harmful gender norms and promote violent or discriminatory behaviour - to account.   At the same time, we need to make sure that everyone is supported to learn about healthy relationships, consent and the warning signs of violence. That every single one of us is receiving the right messages, supports and information that we need to identify and prevent violence. Above all when we go to solutions, we need to make sure they do not inadvertently cause harm or exclude marginalised communities.   This is a moment for action, for supporting the work on the ground and for working together in coalition to stop violence against women and gender-based violence and to make sure no one is left behind.   Read our full statement here: https://lnkd.in/gn_W8zC3

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Today is the UN International Day of Older Persons #UNIDOP. At National Ageing Research Institute we conduct research to improve health outcomes & aged care practice, & guide policy for positive ageing. Our vision is a world where older people are respected, healthy & included. Find out more about our work here: nari.net.au

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Australia has a lot of old and inefficient homes, and research by myself and co-authors Emma Aisbett and Christa Shen found that home energy efficiency shapes the way people respond to time-varying electricity tariffs used to nudge demand timing. We also found that people in low energy efficiency homes without gas - relying on electricity for heating - were the ones who curtailed their overall electricity use when on time of use rates. These findings emphasise that we need to pay careful attention to the possible interactions between different policies and structures shaping energy use, and to develop robust monitoring of wellbeing outcomes. Full article available here Open Access: https://lnkd.in/g_kbkaki https://lnkd.in/gkBDnkYg

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I am not anti-National or anti- NZ First and ACT used to have a clear logic underlying its politics, but the total rejection by this coalition government of an evidence-based approach (demonstrated by yet another Minister) leading to decisions that are only reasonable or rational in the context of a paradigm that any agreements you make in order to attain power are morally just, regardless of the consequences, is not something with which i am comfortable and should be of concern to any professional. But given its rejection of evidence and the views of its expert advisors at least it is transparent as to where the buck stops. https://lnkd.in/g7ATw9CR

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