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The article looks at several implications for nurses of integrating information technology (IT) in health care in Australia. A study conducted by the Australian Nursing Federation (ANF) and the University of Southern Queensland (USQ) has revealed that workload, inadequate technical support and lack of training are major barriers to use of IT in practice. Meanwhile, it is said that the ANF and Queensland University of Technology will be conducting a project to develop informatics competency standards for nurses in the country. INSET: Using technology in practice.

The article reports on the "Australia: The Healthiest Country by 2020" discussion paper. The paper warns the life expectancy of children in Australia today could be cut by two years if current levels of obesity continue. The discussion paper reports around 32% of the nation's illness is caused by tobacco, obesity, harmful and high use of alcohol, physical inactivity, poor diet and associated risk factors of high blood pressure and high blood cholesterol.

Discusses the measures in Australia that would reduce the burden of paperwork in aged care. Implication of unnecessary documentation in residential aged care; Reaction of the Australian Nursing Federation (ANF) Federal Secretary Jill Iliffe on the move; Actions that the ANF also supports.

The article reports on mental health services in Australia. A survey conducted by Relationships Australia found that anxiety rates regarding the financial impact of the global economic crisis rose from 18% in 2006 to 40% in 2008. Clare Martin, chief executive officer of the Australian Council of Social Services, states that the mentally ill are an excluded group. The U.S. government instituted the $1.2 billion Homelessness White Paper which aims to cut homelessness in half by 2020. INSETS: Queensland mental health nurse ambassador;Consumer-based care.

The article discusses a paper which was released in 2010 by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care and which was titled "Patient-Centred Care: Improving Quality and Safety by Focusing Care on Patients and Consumers." In the article the author offers her opinions on the paper, on patient-centered care and on the Australian Nursing Federation's response to the paper.

This article reports on the attention being given by the Australian Nurses Federation on nursing in rural and remote Australia through its involvement in the development of a series of nursing policy papers for the National Rural Health Alliance. It is hoped these papers will form the basis for some of the council's annual lobbying activity in Canberra in late October.

Provides information on "The Development of the Role for Nurses in General Practice" discussion paper developed by the Australian Divisions of General Practice (ADGP) regarding the role of nurses. Expansion of the role of nurses on chronic disease management and health education urged by ADGP; Issues on the service enhancement for practice nurses included in the discussion paper; Opposition from the Australian Medical Association regarding the initiative of ADGP.

Focuses on the Stan Alchin Award for best clinical paper presented to nursing student Beth Matarasso at the annual Australian and New Zealand College of Mental Health Nursing conference in Adelaide, South Australia in September 2000. Coverage of Matarasso's paper; How Matarasso's paper exemplified the assertive voice of nursing.

Presents information on Australia's national nursing workforce summit held in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, on September 20-21, 1999. Issues discussed during the summit; Insights into the summit's discussion paper `Rethinking Nursing'; Key issues raised by Australian Nursing Federation Federal Secretary Jill Iliffe; Problems besetting the nursing workforce in Australia.

The article reports on a draft Psychiatric Intensive Care Consultation paper which was released in 2012 by Great Britain's National Health Service and discusses research on a recovery model of care in the Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit which is being conducted by Gold Coast and Logan Mental Health Services and Griffith University.

A letter to the editor is presented which comments on the March 2012 article "There's a lot of hot air about wind farms" and gives information about renewable energy sources being used in South Australia to supply electricity, noting the 2011 Draft Energy White Paper advances the debate for energy conservation.

The article reports on the Australian launch of a movement for global mental health to mark World Mental Health day. The movement has identified five priority actions for mental health worldwide covering global advocacy, systems of development such as specific care packages, research promotion, capacity building and monitoring of progress of countries to scale up mental health care. International medical journal "The Lancet" has launched the movement one year on from its series of mental heath papers published in 2007.

The article reports that Australian Federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon has expressed her determination to see nurses acknowledged and working to their full scope of practice in the health system by putting an end to the prejudices they faced. She added that an international paper has called for primary care to be nurse led. She believes that barriers in attitude and workforce structure had prevented the full utilisation of the nursing profession.

An introduction to articles published within the issue, including a feature which explores midwifery in Australia and another paper which argues for a greater role for midwives and access to Medicare and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

The article reports on a discussion paper released by Australian Federal Minister for Immigration and Citizenship Senator Chris Evans for feedback on proposed measures to be introduced in a Bill to amend the Migration Act (1958) in September 2008. New laws will be introduced to help prevent the exploitation of skilled foreign workers on temporary resident 457 visas and ensure the wages and conditions of Australian workers are not undercut.

The article discusses the experiences of author Catie Bortolot attending the Australia Nurse Practitioner Association Conference in February 2007. A number of interesting papers were presented at the conference and Bortolot was able to provide a poster presentation on the relationship between depression and sexual assault. She was also grateful to the Royal Women's Hospital for supporting her attendance at the forum and providing the opportunity to broaden her knowledge and commitment to women's health.

Presents information on health workforce projects in Australia in 2005. Members of the project team of the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council's (ANMC) project to develop national competency standards for midwives; Goal of the Australian Health Workforce Advisory Committee perioperative workforce project; Schedule for the distribution of a draft paper for the ANMC enrolled nursing project.

Provides information on the aged care-related report created by the Australian federal government as of April 2004. Overview of the report; Cost of the recommendations mentioned in the report; Views of Australian Nursing Federation Federal Secretary Jill Iliffe regarding the issue; Overview of the discussion paper concerning aged care released by the National Aged Care Alliance in March 2004.

Focuses on the Window on Women online data service from the Australian Federal Government's Informed Choices for Women project. Types of information available from the service; Sources of data; Papers that could be accessed from the site.

Focuses on the guidelines released by the Australian Sports Commission for pregnant women playing sport. Information provided by the paper.

Presents an extract from a paper presented at the National Conference on Health and Homelessness in August 1997, in Australia.

Provides information on the second edition of consensus standard in the tampons manufacturing in Australia. Requirements in marketing and packaging; System of absorbency labeling applicable to all tampon brands.