Time for Telstra, Optus et al to face th
Time for Telstra, Optus et al to face the music over appalling customer service – TIO supports ACMA’s inquiry into telcos http://ht.ly/1F1hO
Archive for April, 2010
April 30, 2010
tony serve
Australian social policy news, research, jobs, videos APO Weekly Briefing – 29 April 2010
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New commentary
Where are teachers in the national partnership?
28 April, 2010 | The teaching profession should be a full and genuine partner in the National Partnership on Improving Teacher Quality, argues Lawrence Ingvarson of the Australian Council for Educational Research
From operating theatre to political theatre
23 April, 2010 | The virtues of governmental diversity got lost in the debate about Kevin Rudd’s hospital policy, writes Graeme Orr in Inside Story
Rise of Tasmania’s ‘Green devils’
27 April, 2010 | Australian politics will benefit when the Greens are better integrated into the system rather than frozen out, argues John Warhurst in Eureka Street
Coalition staring at an electoral abyss
29 April, 2010 | The rise of Gen Y changes the maths, and Abbott needs to change with it, argues John Watson in The Age
New research
Creative Economy
A place for culture: Developing a local culture offer for all children and young people
Department for Culture, Media and Sport, UK
22 April, 2010 | This UK report sets out a vision that all children, no matter where they live or what their background, should have the opportunity to enjoy high-quality cultural experiences in and out of school.
Investigating chilling effects: news media and public speech in Malaysia, Singapore and Australia
Andrew T. Kenyon | International Journal of Communication
27 April, 2010 | While news is constrained in Malaysia and Singapore, it seems that online media can be less limited. Rather than the Internet itself being decisive, however, it is the extent of civil society and political opposition that appear more significant.
Economics
Aviation white paper: an overview
Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) | Australian Bureau of Statistics
23 April, 2010 | This document examines some of the features of the aviation white paper; the most comprehensive statement of the Government’s aviation policy.
Advancing Australia’s ‘human capital agenda’
Gary Banks | Productivity Commission
29 April, 2010 |
Gary Banks, Chairman, Productivity Commission, gave the fourth Ian Little Lecture in Melbourne on 13 April 2010.
Valuing the future: the social discount rate in cost-benefit analysis
Productivity Commission
29 April, 2010 | A key element of the cost-benefit analysis framework is the use of a discount rate to compare costs and benefits received at different points in time. Yet there is little agreement about the appropriate discount rate
Australian conference of economists 2009 papers
Australian conference of economists 2009
29 April, 2010 | Full papers from ACE09, held at the University of Adelaide, 28-30 September 2009, are available to download.
Education
Tafe funding and the education targets
Michael Long | Australian Education Union
29 April, 2010 | This paper discusses recent trends in public funding for VET and TAFE and the implications for future funding of government targets to improve the skills of the Australian population.
2010 Horizon report
New Media Consortium
22 April, 2010 | This report identifies mobile computing, open content, electronic books, simple augmented reality, gesture-based computing and visual data analysis as the emerging technologies likely to have considerable impact on teaching, learning, and creative expression within higher education.
The on track survey 2009: the destinations of school leavers in Victoria
Sheldon Rothman | Department of Education and Early Childhood Development
29 April, 2010 | This report, produced annually since 2003, provides a comprehensive picture of what happens to young people after they leave school.
Environment & Planning
Review of the administration of the Home Insulation Program
Allan Hawke | Department of Climate Change
29 April, 2010 | This report examines the program’s governance, design and administration, risk management processes, audit and compliance mechanisms and capacity issues.
Do biofuel subsidies reduce greenhouse gas emissions?
R. Quentin Grafton, Tom Kompas | Crawford School of Economics & Government
29 April, 2010 | Conventional wisdom suggests that subsidising biofuel production will reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This paper shows that in many cases, and for a wide range of parameter values, this is not true.
Turning water into carbon: carbon sequestration vs. water flow in the Murray–Darling Basin
John Quiggin, David Adamson, Peggy Schrobback | Risk & Sustainable Management Group
29 April, 2010 | Large scale forest plantations in the Murray-Darling Basin may be embraced as a carbon sequestration mechanism under a Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme. This paper looks at their impact.
The brave new world of carbon trading
New Political Economy Vol. 15, No. 2
29 April, 2010 | Emissions trading has the potential to have undesirable financial, ethical and psychological impacts and to crowd out voluntary actions according to this journal article.
Understanding the formation of attitudes to nuclear power in Australia
ATSE
23 April, 2010 | Australia currently lacks a mechanism to gather evidence on the formation of public attitudes to the introduction of new technologies, particularly the formation of attitudes to nuclear energy technology.
Crisis accommodation program 2008-09
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare | Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
23 April, 2010 | This report presents data for the 2008-09 Commonwealth State Housing Agreement (CSHA) Crisis Accommodation Program (CAP) data collection.
Health
Dementia and the take-up of residential respite care
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
29 April, 2010 | This bulletin presents take-up rates and factors that affect the take-up of residential respite care and investigates whether dementia, carer availability and English speaking background affect the take-up of residential respite care.
Health system expenditure on disease and injury in Australia, 2004-05
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
29 April, 2010 | This report provides a systematic analysis of health system expenditures associated with specific disease and injury groups in Australia and discusses the changes in expenditure by disease between 2000-01 and 2004-05.
Indigenous
Building Indigenous social capital in an online world
Susan Bandias | PLATFORM: Journal of Media and Communication
23 April, 2010 | This paper examines the the role of ICT in facilitating the social capital of Indigenous communities.
Aboriginal Languages, cultures and reclamation in Victorian schools
Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority
22 April, 2010 | This booklet provides standards P–10 and protocols for Aboriginal Languages as part of the Victorian Essential Learning Standards.
Indigenous education 2010
Helen Hughes, Mark Hughes | Centre for Independent Studies
29 April, 2010 | Without changes to education policies, 40% of Indigenous students will continue to fail to meet national minimum standards.
International
Australian defence policy assessment 2010
Rod Lyon, Andrew Davies, Mark Thomson | Australian Strategic Policy Institute
23 April, 2010 | In three separate essays, this report analyses Australian declaratory policy, the force structure that emerges from the paper, and defence finances.
The role of the five power defence arrangements in the Southeast Asian security architecture
Ralf Emmers | S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies
23 April, 2010 | This paper discusses the evolving Southeast Asian security architecture by focusing on the role of a “mini-lateral” defence coalition from the Singaporean and Malaysian points of view.
Justice
Recorded crime: Offenders 2008-09
Australian Bureau of Statistics | Australian Bureau of Statistics
23 April, 2010 | This publication presents statistics and profiles of alleged offenders proceeded against by police during the period 1 July 2008 to 30 June 2009, for all states and territories.
Money laundering and terrorism financing risks posed by alternative remittance in Australia
David Rees | Australian Institute of Criminology
23 April, 2010 | This report provides a review of the operation of alternative remittance systems in Australia and examines the risks they pose for illegal movement of the proceeds of crime.
Enhanced regulation of alternative remittance dealers
Attorney General’s Department
29 April, 2010 | Remittance dealers facilitate the transfer of funds within and between countries, often outside the formal financial and banking system.This discussion paper looks at options for future regulation.
Emerging issues in domestic/family violence research
Lorana Bartels | Australian Institute of Criminology
23 April, 2010 | This paper presents an overview of Australian domestic and family violence research, with an emphasis on research in the context of sexual orientation.
Politics
Australians’ use and satisfaction with e-government services 2009
29 April, 2010 | In this fifth annual study of Australians’ use and satisfaction with e-government services, the internet is established as the way most people last contacted government.
Social Policy
The prevalence of child abuse and neglect
Leah Bromfield, Suzanne Vassallo | National Child Protection Clearinghouse
22 April, 2010 | The purpose of this Resource Sheet is to summarise the state of our knowledge about the prevalence of child abuse and neglect.
Regulation and growth of the not-for-profit housing sector: discussion paper
Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs
29 April, 2010 | This paper addresses the role of regulation in protecting the interests of tenants, funders and housing providers and the need to strengthen the provision of Indigenous community housing.
Communication patterns within social networks: a case study of Australian women
Orit Ben-Harush | PLATFORM: Journal of Media and Communication
23 April, 2010 | Based on the perception that ‘individual bonds to one another is the essence of society’, this paper examines contemporary networks of friends: friendworks, of adult women in an Australian sea change community.
Out of the maze: a better social security system for people of working age
Australian Council of Social Service
29 April, 2010 | This report proposes major reform of the system of social security payments for people of working age (18 to 64 years), including Newstart Allowance, Disability Support Pension and Parenting Payment.
Perinatal Deaths, Australia, 2008
Australian Bureau of Statistics |
23 April, 2010 | This publication presents statistics on the number of perinatal deaths, by state or territory, sex and cause of death classified to the World Health Organisation’s International Classification of Diseases (ICD).
New audio
Anzac memories
29 April, 2010 | Anzac Memories explores the threads and fissures between the lived experience of those ex-servicemen, and the story of war embodied in the Anzac legend. Oral historian Alistair Thomson discusses the creation of the Anzac legend
The new Middle East
29 April, 2010 | Anthony Bubalo critically examines what has changed and what is changing in the world’s most economically and strategically vital region.
Young people and privacy
24 April, 2010 | Social media like Facebook and Twitter mean you can live your life as an open book. This conversation covers generational changes in notions of privacy.
New video
Australia’s cross dressing past
23 April, 2010 | Take a look at how cross dressing features in Australia’s past in this fascinating talk at the State Library of New South Wales. Dress historian Margot Riley has combed the library vaults and uncovered photographs and artefacts chronicling colourful tales of cross dressing men and women throughout history. Find out how in the 1800s, Miss Ellen Tremaye became Mr Edward de Lacy Evans, took a wife and lived on the Bendigo goldfields for more than 20 years before being discovered. This story and more, in this unique show and tell.
Why feminism matters
23 April, 2010 | With a way to go on the equal pay and opportunity fronts, how do women today define the word feminism, and do they relate to it?
New submissions
7th Health Libraries Inc Conference
17 June, 2010 | The 7th Health Libraries Inc Conference will be held on Friday, 22October 2010 at the RACV City Club, 501 Bourke Street, Melbourne andwill bring together librarians, library technicians and informationprofessionals from all sectors Now is an exciting time for librarians and information professionals
M/C Journal ‘waste’ Issue
25 June, 2010 | M/C Journal is looking for new contributors Founded in 1998, M/C is a crossover journal between the popular and the academic, and a blind- and peer-reviewed journal
New events
Brotherhood of St Laurence lunchtime research seminar – Climate Change and Social Justice: the importance of building a fast and equitable pathway to a safe climate future
| LOCATION: | Brotherhood of St Laurence, 67 Brunswick St, Fitzroy, Fr Tucker’s room |
| ORGANISED BY: | Professor John Wiseman, McCaughey Centre, Melbourne School of Population Health, University of Melbourne |
29 April, 2010 | This seminar will address the question, to what extent are current Australian community sector climate change arguments, policies and strategies an adequate response to the threat of catastrophic climate change? The presentation will begin with an overview of recent evidence on the social impacts of global and Australian climate change trends with a particular focus on impacts on disadvantaged and vulnerable populations. This evidence suggests that while a wide range of adaptation strategies are essential, there are clear and finite limits to the capacity of any society to adapt
Metadata 2010
| LOCATION: | University House, Australian National University |
26 May, 2010 | Metadata 2010 is the third conference to be held in Australia following the very successful International Metadata Forum, held in Sydney in May 2008, and "Sharing Data, Sharing Ideas" held at the Australian Bureau of Statistics in May 2009. This third forum will be held at University House, Australian National University, Canberra, on Wednesday 26th and Thursday 27th May, 2010.
New course
Social Inclusion Policy and Practice – intensive subject specialist Certificate in Social Policy (Social Inclusion)
23 April, 2010 | How does a social inclusion framework affect social policy and practice? This subject will enable students to consider the latest developments in the field in a way that is theoretically informed and advances of ‘best practice’.
Social Inclusion Policy and Practice – intensive subject specialist Certificate in Social Policy (Social Inclusion)
23 April, 2010 | How is this way of thinking about poverty and disadvantage influencing policies and practices? This subject will enable students to consider the latest developments in the field in a way that is theoretically informed and advances of ‘best practice’.
New notices
Caring for Older Australians Public inquiry
29 April, 2010 |
The Productivity Commission invites interested parties to register their interest in an inquiry into Australia’s aged care arrangements.
Education and Training Workforce Commissioned study
29 April, 2010 | On 22 April 2010, the Productivity Commission received a terms of reference from the Australian Government asking it to undertake a commissioned study of the education and training workforce.
New websites
Sydney PEN
24 April, 2010 | Sydney PEN, an affiliate of International PEN, is an association of Australian writers and readers, publishers and human rights activists.
Pro Bono Australia News – Henry Review warning for Not for Profits
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probono | W: www.probonoaustralia.com.au
Contact Us | Find a Job | VolunteerMatch | Events | Find a Not for Profit Organisation
Time for Telstra, Optus and others to face the music over appalling customer service – Media Release: TIO suppor ts ACMA’s inquiry into telecommunications industry
Media Release
30 April 2010
TIO supports ACMA’s inquiry into telecommunications industry
The Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman has pledged its support for the Australian Communications and Media Authority inquiry into customer service in the telecommunications industry.
The Acting Ombudsman Simon Cleary has written to the ACMA Chairman Chris Chapman, saying the TIO looked forward to working with and contributing to the inquiry, which was announced last week.
Mr Cleary said for some time the TIO had been concerned at the high number of complaints relating to simple customer service or complaint-handling issues.
“Those concerns led to our public connect.resolve campaign, launched in late 2008, which sought to highlight customer experiences in this area, and to encourage industry to refocus on customers and their experiences,’’ he said.
The connect.resolve campaign reflected an overall stabilisation of complaint numbers after almost 18 months of sustained growth. And an update report, released earlier this month, showed that in the six months immediately after the campaign, overall complaints declined by 7%. Seven of the 10 service providers highlighted in the report improved their performance.
Mr Cleary said the results were encouraging, but customer service and complaint handling continued to make up a third of TIO complaint issues.
“While these types of complaints fell at a similar rate to our overall complaint numbers, we are yet to see a significant reduction in these simple but fundamental issues,’’ he said.
For further information, please phone the TIO’s Communications Manager, John DuBois, on (03) 8600 8378 or 0417 559287. The connect.resolve update can be accessed at http://www.tio.com.au/Members/connect-resolve/ConnectResolveUpdateReport.pdf
T
Australian Indigenous Rock Art still under threat, come to 100in100 Presentation this Sunday 2nd May / Burrup (Murujuga) Heritage Tour 2010
FARA NEWSLETTER – 29/04/2010: Attend 100 in 100 presentation evening
Friends of Australian Rock Art Inc. |
Friends of Australian Rock Art Inc.
C/- Conservation Council of WA Inc.
City West Lotteries House
2 Delhi Street
West Perth WA 6005
contact
www.standupfortheburrup.com
www.100in100days.com.au
Join Frank Bruno in helping end #mentalh
Join Frank Bruno in helping end #mentalhealth prejudice Time to Change http://ht.ly/1F0Q5 #endstigma # stigma
Australian plan to boost spying powers h
Australian plan to boost spying powers http://ht.ly/1DHiS #spooks
SMH Journo’s heartfelt words for 2 rema
SMH Journo’s heartfelt words for 2 remarkable women, gone from here, Teresa and Michelle http://ow.ly/1DqFF
Join me on 6pr.com.au Perth radio 6PR (882am) 8-12pm Perth time – talkback and interviews;GetUp bringing Camp Obama for activists to Perth, Dr Harry Phillips on an astounding week in politics, Dr Charmaine Saunders on sex-addiction
Join me on 6pr.com.au Perth radio 6PR (882am) 8-12pm Perth time -
talkback and interviews;
GetUp bringing Camp Obama for activists to Perth,*
Dr Harry Phillips on an astounding week in politics,
Dr Charmaine Saunders on sex-addiction,
Toodyay’s Moondyne Joe festival click here for info
The Heart Foundations walk through the wetlands of Walliabrup
A preview of the Sunday Times
phone +61 8 822 11 882 ( we can call you back if you’re outside Perth) or follow me on twitter http://twitter.com/perthtones
*GetUp is bringing Camp Obama to Perth – a chance for activists to find out how to use new tools to campaign more effectively.
Visit GetUp by clicking here
ViaGoogleReader Father Invents System to
ViaGoogleReader Father Invents System to Help Autistic Son Communicate [Lifechanger] http://ow.ly/17a40C
Father Invents System to Help Autistic S
Father Invents System to Help Autistic Son Communicate [Lifechanger] http://ow.ly/179Y8s
BBC News – Whaling plan draws anger from
BBC News – Whaling plan draws anger from green groups http://ow.ly/1C4Qe #seashepherd
Austrtalia is Undermining Nuclear nonproliferation:Greens focus on uranium sales to Russia
Undermining nonproliferation: uranium sales to Russia
The Federal Government’s decision to allow uranium exports to Russia will harm Australia’s credentials as a leading international voice against the spread of nuclear weapons, according to the Australian Greens.
Russia maintains the world’s largest stockpile of nuclear weapons, is a key part of the Iranian nuclear programme and has not been visited by IAEA inspectors since 2001.
“The spread of weapons grade material is the dark underbelly of the uranium mining industry," said Greens Senator Scott Ludlam, spokesperson on nuclear issues.
“The very real security and nonproliferation concerns of uranium deals with Russia were spelled out forensically by the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties (JSCOT) in 2008. The Government has blindly dismissed these warnings.
"Once again the mining industry has been allowed to cut across Australia’s broader foreign policy objectives and security interests.
“This is the worst possible decision at a time when nations are working to rid the world of nuclear weapons,” Senator Ludlam said.
Media Contact: Fernando de Freitas
Fernando de Freitas
Media Advisor
Office of Scott Ludlam & Rachel Siewert
Australian Greens Senators for Western Australia
Suite S1.36 Parliament House, Canberra ACT
P: 02 6277 3467 | M: 0417 174 302
Fernando.defreitas
Katyusha lands in Aqaba – Israel News, Y
Katyusha lands in Aqaba – Israel News, Ynetnews http://ow.ly/1BDdZ Aqaba & Eilat are close as perth/freo one Jordan one Israel
@KevinRuddPM – Have you seen what I’ve seen?
Kevin Rudd: Have you seen what I’ve seen?
Update: In the past few days, we secured funding to help 20,000 young Australians who experience mental ill health. Now we have the opportunity to use our combined power, and our momentum, to make an urgent intervention into a refugee debate that is fast spiralling out of control.
Dear tony,
A life of constant fear and violence. Your own brother kidnapped and held ransom. A father makes a heart-wrenching decision to save his son and a young teenager makes a dangerous journey with only one goal: to live.
Most of us can’t imagine such a life, but this is Riz Wakil’s story. He’s one of a small number of men, women and children who come to Australia seeking our help. Isolated in detention centres, they’ve been kept out of sight and off our conscience; their voices never heard, their stories never shared.
Now Riz has come forward to share his story in a powerful video, and it is up to us to help him get it on TV screens across the country.
www.getup.org.au/campaign/TheHumanFace
Last week Kevin Rudd stopped processing refugees from Afghanistan and Sri Lanka. This week he re-opened Curtin detention centre – a place former detainees, like Riz, remember as “hell” and members of the Howard government have called the “worst in Australia.” 1
With Rudd and Abbott reading from the same playbook, the PM seems to think there’s no resistance to his outrageous policies – and the Government is considering more of the same. If the Coalition won’t be the voice of opposition, we must.
Please help share Riz’s story, and chip in to air it on TV screens across the nation:
www.getup.org.au/campaign/TheHumanFace
With the Prime Minister and the Opposition both playing political games with refugees, it can feel like we have no chance of turning this around. But we can – and we have before.
In 2006, GetUp members helped stop the practice of locking up children in detention. GetUp members aired videos featuring personal stories, mobilised over 100,000 Australians against the bill, and sky-wrote our “vote no” message above Parliament House. Against all odds, Senators defied their political parties, and with our message still fading in the sky above, John Howard withdrew the legislation.
With confidence that we’re right, and knowledge that we are many, we can do it again. It starts with this video: a reminder that this isn’t about numbers but about people – people like Riz and his family. Please help share his story:
www.getup.org.au/campaign/TheHumanFace
The truth is, we live in a nation where the Australian people do decide who comes to this country and the manner in which they come. The only question is whether that decision is tempered with humanity and compassion. With your help, we can and will turn this debate around.
Thanks for being a part of this movement,
The GetUp TeamPS. In another step backwards for human rights, the Rudd government yesterday declined to adopt a Human Rights Act, leaving Australia as the only western democracy in the world that has failed to formally protect it’s citizens’ rights. If the Government won’t be the leading voice on human rights, then it falls to us. Watch this video message from Riz – an Afghan refugee, small business owner, father, and proud Australian – and help stand up for compassion and humanity.
— Sources —
Australian Greens take mental health reform initiatives to government after disgraceful neglect by Kevin Rudd in Health package
Greens take mental health reform initiatives to government
The Australian Greens are disappointed mental health has been neglected from the Federal Government’s reform agenda and will be taking their mental health reform plan to health minister Nicola Roxon next week.
“We share the view of many experts expressing alarm about the omission and we’ll be urging the Government to pick up our sensible community-based integrated mental health plan,” said Australian Greens health spokesperson Senator Rachel Siewert.
“The Greens have said we want to work constructively with the Government to ensure the best possible outcome for the community.
“We have developed mental health initiatives which will address many of the key concerns raised by mental health experts, and look forward to productive discussions with the minister in the coming weeks.
“Experts like Professor Ian Hickie from Sydney University’s Brain and Mind Research institute agree we are the only party with a credible mental health plan. It’s time for the Commonwealth to take a good look at it if it is serious about reforming Australia’s troubled health system,” Senator Siewert said.
The Greens plan includes:
· $100m per year incentives at the primary care level to target needy, vulnerable and long-term clientele working within community and NGO sector
· $145m per year for early intervention mental health programs including Headspace and early psychosis prevention services
· $100m per year for alternatives to emergency department treatment, such as multi-disciplinary community-based sub-acute service that supports ‘stepped’ prevention and recovery care
Media Contact: Fernando de Freitas
Fernando de Freitas
Media Advisor
Office of Scott Ludlam & Rachel Siewert
Australian Greens Senators for Western Australia
Suite S1.36 Parliament House, Canberra ACT
P: 02 6277 3467 |
Fernando.defreitas
www.GreensMPs.org.au
Excellent article on AFL, sport and heroes – ABC News: When doing right goes wrong
This thoughtful piece is right on the money – well done Luke Walladge and well done ABC for publishing
Luke Walladge is a freelance writer and Geelong fan based in Perth and Melbourne.
When doing right goes wrong
Jim Stynes was a magnificent footballer; a tireless worker, a great ruckman and a brave servant for his Melbourne Demons. Off the field he’s universally respected for his charity work and his dedication to an often struggling club. If anyone has a bad word to say about Jim they’ve never said it o…
JIM STYNES AT THE 150 HEROES FUNCTION Image via Wikipedia
To read the full story on your mobile please use this link
http://m.abc.net.au/browse?page=11144&articleid=2879976&cat=Justin
To read the full story on a PC or Mac please use this link
http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/stories/s2879976.htm
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Journalism as social networking: The Aus
Journalism as social networking: The Australian youdecide project & the 2007 federal election | Australian Policy Online http://ow.ly/1BwQk
Mental Health FAIL for Australian PM -ABC News: Rudd accused of shortchanging mental health
Rudd accused of shortchanging mental health
One of Australia’s leading mental health experts says he is “dumbfounded” at the “token” amount of money handed out to the sector in the Commonwealth’s national health overhaul.Professor Ian Hickie of the Brain and Mind Research Institute at Sydney University has demanded Prime Minister Kevin Rud…
To read the full story on your mobile please use this link
http://m.abc.net.au/browse?page=11144&articleid=2879669&cat=Justin
To read the full story on a PC or Mac please use this link
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/04/22/2879669.htm
Australian Mental Health takes a baby step in the right direction – thanks to those who used GetUp to contact your state/territory leader – It’s working
Well done! Yesterday your actions helped improve the lives of 20,000 young Australians.
You are among tens of thousands of GetUp members who have joined the campaign for mental health reform – and your actions helped secure $116 million for community mental health in the Government’s health care announcement. It’s not enough, but it’s a start — and it means 20,000 more young Australians will receive the help they desperately need.
Even more importantly, the Government committed to a national overhaul of mental health services and more funding to come. Federal Health Minister, Nicola Roxon, acknowledged that there’s "much more to do" and in the days and weeks to come, we will hold her to that.
Our campaign will continue to put mental health on the national agenda until patients and their loved ones receive all the support and resoruces they need. But for today, it is important to reflect on what GetUp members have achieved.
Here’s a snapshot of what GetUp members have done in the lead up to yesterday’s announcement:
- a huge petition calling for mental health reform and investment in youth mental health services that will be presented to the Prime Minister by Australian of the Year, Prof. Patrick McGorry;
- over $85,000 raised for a TV ad that aired on national news and will continue to run for weeks to come;
- over 12,000 faxes flooding the offices of Premiers and Chief Ministers this weekend in the lead up to COAG; and
- the biggest twitter petition in Australia, which Premiers Bligh (QLD) and Keneally (NSW) personally responded to whilst in Canberra at the COAG talks, ensuring your voices were heard inside the negotiations.
Our campaign is only just beginning. Mental ill health is the leading killer of Australians under 45 and the leading cause of disability for all Australians. There are huge gaps in our services, and millions of Australians still suffer each year.
Experts in the mental health sector, including Australian of the Year Prof. McGorry, Prof. Ian Hickey and many others, have done an incredible job pushing for mental health reform. With their expertise and the continuing passion of tens of thousands of GetUp members, we’ll keep up the campaign to reform mental health care in Australia.
Click here for a summary of yesterday’s announcements, and to share your thoughts about the next steps in our campaign:
www.getup.org.au/blogs/view.php?id=1936
When we work together we can hold our leaders to account and achieve real change.
Thanks and congratulations,
The GetUp Team
Mainstream and new media for activists,
Mainstream and new media for activists, nonprofits & advocates – 2 short video, lotsa links http://ow.ly/1B0YM (no psswd now ) pls rt #mhsm
Can Social Networks Save The World? Aman
Can Social Networks Save The World?
Amanda Lin Costa http://ow.ly/1AQA7
#mhsm #activism #advocacy #twitter
Encouraging news – Lawmakers are recognising reality -ABC News: New push to tackle youth suicide
New push to tackle youth suicide
The Federal Government says disturbing new figures have pushed it to rethink its approach to preventing youth suicide.
Youth suicide in Australia reached a peak in the mid to late 1990s. It led to the Federal Government setting up a national strategy to reduce the alarming trend. According to most…
To read the full story on your mobile please use this link
http://m.abc.net.au/browse?page=11144&articleid=2878116&cat=Justin
To read the full story on a PC or Mac please use this link
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/04/20/2878116.htm
Important news for activists, advocates and old hippie geeks :) “Camp Obama” coming to Perth via getup.org.au
Via the team at GetUp
- Image via Wikipedia
The Obama campaign was one of the most successful on-the-ground campaigns in history. Millions of volunteers took the campaign to their neighbours and friends. Their secret? ‘Camp Obama’.
At ‘Camp Obama’ volunteers around the United States learnt how to integrate powerful stories with strategy and skills. Meeting each other at a million points of hope and energy, these stories transformed a political campaign into a popular movement. Now we’re bringing this powerful training to Perth.
We’ve already seen in the lead-up to the federal election that we’re back to politics as usual: sound bites, spin doctors and media pundits ignoring real people and their stories. This is the opportunity to learn the secret weapon of the Obama campaign so we can work together to make a massive impact this election.
Yes, I’m interested in attending the Community Organising Workshop.
Where: Venue TBA – somewhere in Central Perth
When: 15th and 16th of May
Registration cut off: 10th of May
Cost: $20 (this is to cover costs and includes lunch)
Spaces are limited — don’t miss out!Click here to read the draft agenda and apply for the Community Organising Workshop
When you arrive on Saturday morning you’ll be greeted by an enthusiastic group of highly caffeinated facilitators. You’ll mingle with members of various organisations, like the Conservation Council of WA and the Union Climate Connectors. You might even be surprised to find one of your neighbours there.
And there will be a moment that day–when the room falls silent and your breath catches in your throat, as a story captures you completely. Often it’s the quiet person in the room that manages to blow everyone away. Last year, in Adelaide it was a story about the struggle to speak out against homophobia from within the church. In Sydney, an engineer who gained the courage, and learnt the skills, to talk with his coal-mining company colleagues about new directions.
With the looming federal election just months away, the skills, strategies and stories you’ll learn to tell will give you a powerful voice on issues from climate change to refugees. Click here if you’re interested in coming along, and we’ll give you a call to talk about the workshop:
Click here to find out more and apply for the Community Organising Workshop
The spin doctors, attack ads and focus group tested sound bites are waiting in the wings. Media pundits have their eyes on the political horse race, ignoring the people affected by the policies they squabble over. In this campaign, we will tell the stories of these people. Together we will provide the passion, humanity and energy so absent in the practiced smiles and hollow lines of our politicians.
Hope to see you,
Sara, for the GetUp team
PS – Can’t make the workshop but still want to be involved in the election campaign? Click here.
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Change.org update – Earth Day Anniversary; Legalizing Racial Profiling; Toilets vs. Cell Phones
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Dodgy diagnosis & greedy or incompetent
Dodgy diagnosis & greedy or incompetent medicos -The Mass Production of Mental Illness and What To Do About It http://ow.ly/1AxTl #mhsm
Glenn Close: Mental Illness: The Stigma
Glenn Close: Mental Illness: The Stigma of Silence http://ow.ly/1Axxt #stigma #endstigma pls RT this, especially to your lawmakers, media
Indie #Music radio, your chance to be he
Indie #Music radio, your chance to be heard – AWM Records http://ow.ly/1Awdq Wed. morning Perth time, Tue 5.30 pm CST from the USA
ViaGoogleReader Brain Plasticity http://
ViaGoogleReader Brain Plasticity http://ow.ly/176LSu
Brain Plasticity http://ow.ly/176F64
Brain Plasticity http://ow.ly/176F64
