Search

We aimed to explore experiences of government-led actions on the social determinants of food insecurity during Australia’s COVID-19 pandemic response (which included novel, yet temporary, social protection measures to support Australians facing hardship during state-wide lockdowns). During November–December 2020, we conducted in-depth interviews with 24 Victorians who received government income support (prior to COVID-19) and the temporary COVID-19 specific payments. Interviews were guided by a theoretical understanding of the social determinants of health and health inequities, which we aligned to the social policy context. Data were audio-recorded, transcribed, inductively coded, categorised and thematically analysed. Our sample included mostly women (n = 19) and single parents (n = 13). Interviews reflected four key themes. Firstly, participants described ‘battles all around them' (i.e., competing financial, health and social stressors) that were not alleviated by temporary social policy changes and made healthy eating difficult to prioritise during the pandemic. Secondly, housing, income, job, and education priorities rendered food a lower and more flexible financial priority – even with 18 participants receiving temporary income increases from COVID-19 Supplements. Thirdly, given that food remained a lower and more flexible financial priority, families continued to purchase the cheapest and most affordable options (typically less healthful, more markedly price discounted). Finally, participants perceived the dominant public and policy rhetoric around income support policies and healthy eating to be inaccurate and shaming – often misrepresenting their lived experiences, both prior to and during COVID-19. Participants reported entrenched struggles with being able to afford basic living costs in a dignified manner during COVID-19, despite temporary social protection policy changes. To reduce inequities in population diets, a pre-requisite to health, all stakeholders must recognise an ongoing responsibility for adopting long-term food and social policies that genuinely improve lived experiences of food insecurity and poverty.

ABSTRACTThis article explored prior research to understand how race and ethnicity impact community college students’ developmental education course placement, and the lasting stigma associated with developmental course placement through the student academic journey. Further, the experiences of students of color in the developmental course classroom will be examined toward a better understanding of the mission challenge community colleges face in providing student access and equity through the current developmental education models.

Objective: To report the prevalence of healthy weight and related behaviours among Victorian Aboriginal and non‐Aboriginal children and explore associations between these factors and health‐related quality of life (HRQoL). Methods: Analysis of cross‐sectional data from two cluster randomised controlled trials using logistic and linear mixed models. The sample included Aboriginal (n=303) and non‐Aboriginal (n=3,026) children aged 8–13 years. Results: More than two‐thirds of Aboriginal children met guidelines for fruit (75.9%), sweetened drinks (66.7%), sleep (73.1%), screen time (67.7%) and objectively measured physical activity (83.6%); and 79.1% reported consuming take‐away foods less than once per week. Aboriginal children were more likely to meet vegetable consumption guidelines (OR=1.42, 95%CI: 1.05, 1.93), but less likely to have a healthy weight (OR=0.66, 95%CI: 0.52, 0.85) than non‐Aboriginal children. Mean HRQoL scores were significantly higher among non‐Aboriginal children and both Aboriginal and non‐Aboriginal children meeting health guidelines. Conclusions: Most Aboriginal children in this study met guidelines for fruit, physical activity, screen time and sleep, and those meeting these guidelines had significantly higher HRQoL. Implications for public health: Promoting nutrition, physical activity and sleep is likely to benefit all children. Aboriginal community‐controlled organisations can use these data to design culturally‐specific programs that may improve disparities in healthy weight and HRQoL.

To test the hypothesis that a culturally tailored sugar‐sweetened beverage (SSB) campaign designed specifically for the Victorian Aboriginal community will not only be valuable for Aboriginal Victorians but will also have cross‐over benefits for non‐Aboriginal Victorians.

Do not think that the social determinants of health equity are old hat. In reality, Australia is very far away from addressing the societal level drivers of health inequity. There is little progressive policy that touches on the conditions of daily life that matter for health, and action to redress inequities in power, money and resources is almost non‐existent.In this chapter we ask you to pause this reality and come on a fantastic journey where we envisage how COVID‐19 was a great disruptor and accelerator of positive progressive action. We offer glimmers of what life could be like if there was committed and real policy action on the social determinants of health equity. It is vital that the health sector assists in convening the multisectoral stakeholders necessary to turn this fantasy into reality. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have long maintained that culture (ie, practising, maintaining and reclaiming it) is vital to good health and wellbeing. However, this knowledge and understanding has been dismissed or described as anecdotal or intangible by Western research methods and science. As a result, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture is a poorly acknowledged determinant of health and wellbeing, despite its significant role in shaping individuals, communities and societies.By extension, the cultural determinants of health have been poorly defined until recently. However, an increasing amount of scientific evidence supports what Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have always said — that strong culture plays a significant and positive role in improved health and wellbeing.Owing to known gaps in knowledge, we aim to define the cultural determinants of health and describe their relationship with the social determinants of health, to provide a full understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander wellbeing. We provide examples of evidence on cultural determinants of health and links to improved Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and wellbeing.We also discuss future research directions that will enable a deeper understanding of the cultural determinants of health for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Good city planning is essential for protecting and improving human and planetary health. Until recently, however, collaboration between city planners and the public health sector has languished.We review the evidence on the health benefits of good city planning and propose an agenda for public health advocacy relating to health-promoting city planning for all by 2030.Over the next 10 years, there is an urgent need for public health leaders to collaborate with city planners — to advocate for evidence-informed policy, and to evaluate the health effects of city planning efforts. Importantly, we need integrated planning across and between all levels of government and sectors, to create healthy, liveable and sustainable cities for all. Human health is inextricably linked to the health of the natural environment. In this chapter, we focus on ecological determinants of health, including the urgent and critical threats to the natural environment, and opportunities for health promotion arising from the human health co-benefits of actions to protect the health of the planet.We characterise ecological determinants in the Anthropocene and provide a sobering snapshot of planetary health science, particularly the momentous climate change health impacts in Australia. We highlight Australia’s position as a major fossil fuel producer and exporter, and a country lacking cohesive and timely emissions reduction policy.We offer a roadmap for action, with four priority directions, and point to a scaffold of guiding approaches — planetary health, Indigenous people’s knowledge systems, ecological economics, health co-benefits and climate-resilient development. Our situation requires a paradigm shift, and this demands a recalibration of health promotion education, research and practice in Australia over the coming decade. Our vision for 2030 is an Australian economy that promotes optimal human and planetary health for current and future generations. To achieve this, current patterns of corporate practice and consumption of harmful commodities and services need to change.In this chapter, we suggest ways forward for Australia, focusing on pragmatic actions that can be taken now to redress the power imbalances between corporations and Australian governments and citizens.We begin by exploring how the terms of health policy making must change to protect it from conflicted commercial interests. We also examine how marketing unhealthy products and services can be more effectively regulated, and how healthier business practices can be incentivised.Finally, we make recommendations on how various public health stakeholders can hold corporations to account, to ensure that people come before profits in a healthy and prosperous future Australia. We live in an age of rapid and exponential technological change. Extraordinary digital advancements and the fusion of technologies, such as artificial intelligence, robotics, the Internet of Things and quantum computing constitute what is often referred to as the digital revolution or the Fourth Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0).Reflections on the future of public health and health promotion require thorough consideration of the role of digital technologies and the systems they influence. Just how the digital revolution will unfold is unknown, but it is clear that advancements and integrations of technologies will fundamentally influence our health and wellbeing in the future.The public health response must be proactive, involving many stakeholders, and thoughtfully considered to ensure equitable and ethical applications and use. Coronavirus disease 2019 has caused many people and communities to take stock on Australia’s direction in relation to health, community, jobs, environmental sustainability, income and wealth.A desire for change is in the air. This chapter imagines how changes in the way we govern our lives and what we value as a society could solve many of the issues Australia is facing — most pressingly, the climate crisis and growing economic and health inequities.We present an imagined future for 2030 where governance structures are designed to ensure transparent and fair behaviour from those in power and to increase the involvement of citizens in these decisions, including a constitutional voice for Indigenous peoples.We imagine that these changes were made by measuring social progress in new ways, ensuring taxation for public good, enshrining human rights (including to health) in legislation, and protecting and encouraging an independent media. Measures to overcome the climate crisis were adopted and democratic processes introduced in the provision of housing, education and community development.

The commercial determinants of health are an emerging area of inquiry; however, a comprehensive understanding of commercial activities impacting Indigenous peoples remains elusive. In 2021, an Australian parliamentary inquiry was initiated to examine how the corporate sector can better engage with Indigenous consumers. This study examined the commercial determinants of Indigenous health and social wellbeing by analysing submissions to the Inquiry. Twenty-five submissions were analysed: seven from Indigenous actors, five supplementary submissions, and the Inquiry’s interim report. Findings revealed exclusion of Indigenous leadership from the commercial sector, supply of harmful products, misleading branding, and predatory lending. This meant increased stress and reduced access to essential services for Indigenous consumers, despite affirmative corporate social responsibility strategies towards Indigenous peoples. Government policy should prioritise ongoing collaboration with Indigenous peoples in the development of regulatory mechanisms to mitigate the negative impact of commercial practices on health and social wellbeing.

To examine the strategies employed by opponents of the Queensland Government’s policy to restrict unhealthy food and alcohol advertising on publicly owned assets and identify which of the opposing arguments appeared to influence the policy outcomes.

Objective: To synthesise the evidence for effectiveness of initiatives aimed at improving food retail environments and consumer dietary behaviour in rural, regional and remote populations in Australia and comparable countries, and to discuss the implications for future food environment initiatives for rural, regional and remote areas of Australia. Study design: Rapid review of articles published between January 2000 and May 2020. Data sources: We searched MEDLINE (EBSCOhost), Health and Society Database (Informit) and Rural and Remote Health Database (Informit), and included studies undertaken in rural food environment settings in Australia and other countries. Data synthesis: Twenty‐one articles met the inclusion criteria, including five conducted in Australia. Four of the Australian studies were conducted in very remote populations and in grocery stores, and one was conducted in regional Australia. All of the overseas studies were conducted in rural North America. All of them revealed a positive influence on food environment or consumer behaviour, and all were conducted in disadvantaged, rural communities. Positive outcomes were consistently revealed by studies of initiatives that focused on promotion and awareness of healthy foods and included co‐design to generate community ownership and branding. Conclusion: Initiatives aimed at improving rural food retail environments were effective and, when implemented in different rural settings, may encourage improvements in population diets. The paucity of studies over the past 20 years in Australia shows a need for more research into effective food retail environment initiatives, modelled on examples from overseas, with studies needed across all levels of remoteness in Australia. Several retail initiatives that were undertaken in rural North America could be replicated in rural Australia and could underpin future research. Objective: To explore and evaluate health and social care interventions delivered to rural and remote communities experiencing natural disasters in Australia and other high income countries. Study design: We used systematic rapid review methods. First we identified a test set of citations and generated a frequency table of Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) to index articles. Then we used combinations of MeSH terms and keywords to search the MEDLINE (Ovid) database, and screened the titles and abstracts of the retrieved references. Data sources: We identified 1438 articles via database searches, and a further 62 articles via hand searching of key journals and reference lists. We also found four relevant grey literature resources. After removing duplicates and undertaking two stages of screening, we included 28 studies in a synthesis of qualitative evidence. Data synthesis: Four of us read and assessed the full text articles. We then conducted a thematic analysis using the three phases of the natural disaster response cycle. Conclusion: There is a lack of robust evaluation of programs and interventions supporting the health and wellbeing of people in rural communities affected by natural disasters. To address the cumulative and long term impacts, evidence suggests that continuous support of people’s health and wellbeing is needed. By using a lens of rural adversity, the complexity of the lived experience of natural disasters by rural residents can be better understood and can inform development of new models of community‐based and integrated care services. Objective: To investigate the impact of bushfire events on the wellbeing of children living in rural and remote Australia. Study design: Literature review completed using rapid realist review methods, and taking into consideration the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses) statement for systematic reviews. Data sources: We sourced data from six databases: EBSCOhost (Education), EBSCOhost (Health), EBSCOhost (Psychology), Informit, MEDLINE and PsycINFO. We developed search terms to identify articles that could address the research question based on the inclusion criteria of peer reviewed full text journal articles published in English between 1983 and 2020. We initially identified 60 studies and, following closer review, extracted data from eight studies that met the inclusion criteria. Data synthesis: Children exposed to bushfires may be at increased risk of poorer wellbeing outcomes. Findings suggest that the impact of bushfire exposure may not be apparent in the short term but may become more pronounced later in life. Children particularly at risk are those from more vulnerable backgrounds who may have compounding factors that limit their ability to overcome bushfire trauma. Conclusion: We identified the short, medium and long term impacts of bushfire exposure on the wellbeing of children in Australia. We did not identify any evidence‐based interventions for supporting outcomes for this population. Given the likely increase in bushfire events in Australia, research into effective interventions should be a priority. Objective: Maldistribution of the health workforce between rural, remote and metropolitan communities contributes to longstanding health inequalities. Many developed countries have implemented policies to encourage health care professionals to work in rural and remote communities. This scoping review is an international synthesis of those policies, examining their effectiveness at recruiting and retaining nursing, dental and allied health professionals in rural communities. Study design: Using scoping review methods, we included primary research — published between 1 September 2009 and 30 June 2020 — that reported an evaluation of existing policy initiatives to address workforce maldistribution in high income countries with a land mass greater than 100 000 km2. Data sources: We searched MEDLINE, Ovid Embase, Ovid Emcare, Informit, Scopus, and Web of Science. We screened 5169 articles for inclusion by title and abstract, of which we included 297 for full text screening. We then extracted data on 51 studies that had been conducted in Australia, the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and Norway. Data synthesis: We grouped the studies based on World Health Organization recommendations on recruitment and retention of health care workers: education strategies (n= 27), regulatory change (n= 11), financial incentives (n= 6), personal and professional support (n= 4), and approaches with multiple components (n= 3). Conclusion: Considerable work has occurred to address workforce maldistribution at a local level, underpinned by good practice guidelines, but rarely at scale or with explicit links to coherent overarching policy. To achieve policy aspirations, multiple synergistic evidence‐based initiatives are needed, and implementation must be accompanied by well designed longitudinal evaluations that assess the effectiveness of policy objectives. Objective: Many data sources are used in Australia to inform health workforce planning, but their characteristics in terms of relevance, accessibility and accuracy are uncertain. We aimed to identify and appraise publicly available data sources used to describe the Australian health workforce. Study design: We conducted a scoping review in which we searched bibliographic databases, websites and grey literature. Two reviewers independently undertook title and abstract screening and full text screening using Covidence software. We then assessed the relevance, accessibility and accuracy of data sources using a customised appraisal tool. Data sources: We searched for potential workforce data sources in nine databases (MEDLINE, Embase, Ovid Emcare, Scopus, Web of Science, Informit, the JBI Evidence‐based Practice Database, PsycINFO and the Cochrane Library) and the grey literature, and examined several pre‐defined websites. Data synthesis: During the screening process we identified 6955 abstracts and examined 48 websites, from which we identified 12 publicly available data sources — eight primary and four secondary data sources. The primary data sources were generally of modest quality, with low scores in terms of reference period, accessibility and missing data. No single primary data source scored well across all domains of the appraisal tool. Conclusion: We identified several limitations of data sources used to describe the Australian health workforce. Establishment of a high quality, longitudinal, linked database that can inform all aspects of health workforce development is urgently needed, particularly for rural health workforce and services planning. Objective: To describe interventions, barriers and enablers associated with opioid tapering for patients with chronic non‐cancer pain in rural primary care settings. Study design: Rapid realist review registered on the international register of systematic reviews (PROSPERO) and conducted in accordance with RAMESES standards. Data sources: English language, peer‐reviewed articles reporting qualitative, quantitative and mixed method studies, published between January 2016 and July 2020, and accessed via MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL Complete, PsycINFO, Informit or the Cochrane Library during June and July 2020. Grey literature relating to prescribing, deprescribing or tapering of opioids in chronic non‐cancer pain, published between January 2016 and July 2020, was identified by searching national and international government, health service and peek organisation websites using Google Scholar. Data synthesis: Our analysis of reported approaches to tapering conducted across rural and non‐rural contexts showed that tapering opioids is complex and challenging, and identified several barriers and enablers. Successful outcomes in rural areas appear likely through therapeutic relationships, coordination and support, by using modalities and models of care that are appropriate in rural settings and by paying attention to harm minimisation. Conclusion: Rural primary care providers do not have access to resources available in metropolitan centres for dealing with patients who have chronic non‐cancer pain and are taking opioid medications. They often operate alone or in small group practices, without peer support and access to multidisciplinary and specialist teams. Opioid tapering approaches described in the literature include regulation, multimodal and multidisciplinary approaches, primary care provider support, guidelines, and patient‐centred strategies. There is little research to inform tapering in rural contexts. Our review provides a synthesis of the current evidence in the form of a conceptual model. This preliminary model could inform the development of a model of care for use in implementation research, which could test a variety of mechanisms for supporting decision making, reducing primary care providers’ concerns about potential harms arising from opioid tapering, and improving patient outcomes.

To examine the extent and nature of coverage of nutrition in the Koori Mail.

There is a small community in rural Iowa that is so dedicated to bringing the best and most economical health care to its population that it is paving the path [...]

The reach and impact of the LiveLighterand Aboriginal sugar‐sweetened beverage (SSB) advertisements among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults. The Aboriginal SSBadvertisement launched online in January 2015 and aired on NITVin October/November 2015 as part of the Government‐funded LiveLightercampaign. The advertisement was developed in Victoria and featured members of the Victorian Aboriginal community. Another LiveLighter advertisement targeting the general population was broadcast over the same period. Online surveys were completed by 150 Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander adults in November/December 2015. Around half of respondents reported seeing either the Aboriginal (47%) or the LiveLighter (56%) SSBadvertisement, and the proportion was significantly greater in Victoria (Aboriginal: 60%, LiveLighter: 66%) than other states/territories (Aboriginal: 29%, LiveLighter: 43%). Compared to the LiveLighter advertisement, the Aboriginal campaign was seen to be more believable, to be more relevant and to have an important message for the Aboriginal community (P< 0.001). Participants from Victoria were significantly more likely to identify the sugar content of regular soft drink, compared with those from other states/territories (68% vs 40%, P< 0.001). Sixty per cent of participants who had seen the Aboriginal SSBadvertisement reported they drank less SSBs compared with 48% of those not exposed, though the difference was not statistically significant (P> 0.05). Results suggest the Aboriginal advertisement resonated with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and impacted knowledge about the sugar content of SSBs, particularly in Victoria where the campaign originated. This study highlights the importance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander‐led health promotion campaigns and tailoring health messages to the local Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community.

Objective:To examine the extent and nature of coverage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander nutrition issues in major Australian newspapers over two decades. Methods: Content and framing analysis of Australian newspaper articles published between 1996 and 2015 that included the terms ‘Aboriginal or Indigenous’ and ‘nutrition or diet’ in the headline and/or lead paragraph. Analysis focused on the nature of coverage, trends over time, stakeholder representation and how coverage related to policy. Results: A total of 79 articles were included. Coverage of nutrition fluctuated over time, with peaks in 1998 and 2008. The majority of articles focused on remote Aboriginal communities. Both individual and structural representations of nutrition were used and dietary quality and food insecurity were the most commonly reported nutrition issues. Few articles employed positive representations of Aboriginal peoples. Six policy functions of articles were identified: highlighting problems; reporting government announcements; promoting programs; advocating solutions; critiquing government; and defending policy. Conclusion: The coverage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander nutrition in newspapers does not reflect the diversity and strengths of Australia’s First Peoples. Implications for public health: This study highlights the role of the media in policy advocacy; however, advocates should ensure that they do not perpetuate negative representations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

This paper describes urban Indigenous Australian experiences of a peer mentor program (PMP) aiming to reduce non-communicable disease (NCD) risks and discusses its implications for future policy and practice. Much of the inequitable mortality for Indigenous Australians is related to NCD incidence. Using a qualitative approach the study reported here explored 21 people's experiences as peer mentors in an NCD risk reduction PMP, which took place between 2009 and 2011. Four key themes were identified, including community networks, collective wellbeing, skills development and problem solving, and sustainability. The PMP allowed for inclusiveness of individual strengths, diversity and cultural knowledge. Formal networks provided sustainability and information while peer informal networks provided increased participation, knowledge dissemination, practice of health-promoting skills and provision of support. Inclusion of collective cultural elements, such as connections to Elders, families, children and Country were particularly important for the peer mentors in this study.

The study examined effective ways to build the capacity of health organisations and professionals in the public health sector to reduce Aboriginal chronic disease risk factors. It investigated the capacity-building strategies of the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO) nutrition team in the facilitation of the statewide implementation of the Victorian Aboriginal Nutrition and Physical Activity Strategy 2009–2014 (VANPAS). Using a qualitative design, the study analysed the VACCHO program from 2009–2014 across five domains of capacity development: workforce, resources, organisations, partnerships and leadership. Data were sourced from archival program documents and 62 semi-structured participant interviews. Diverse Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal professional, organisation representatives and community participants engaged in the implementation of the VANPAS. The VACCHO team used the VANPAS to solidify participant buy-in, strengthen workforce effectiveness, increase health promotion and resource appropriateness, improve organisational policy and build an evidence-base through collaborative dialogue using action-reflection principles. A credible, high-profile Aboriginal community led and evidence-based statewide program and a commitment to dialogue through action-reflection provided a meaningful basis for both Aboriginal community and mainstream organisational engagement. Upon this foundation, the VACCHO team built a coherent sectoral system with increased capacity to enhance the nutrition of Aboriginal Victorians. In an historical context of mistrust and unmet expectations, program implementation methods that build confidence amongst collaborating Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal health agencies is fundamental to building capacity to enhance Aboriginal nutrition and health. This paper describes how an evidence-based Aboriginal health policy and program strategy that was initiated, developed and led by the peak Aboriginal community-controlled health organisation in Victoria established a collaborative network of government, non-government and local Aboriginal health agencies with a shared focus and increased capacity to engage with Aboriginal Victorians regarding healthy eating.

Recipes on how to make detoxifying tea from four herbs, dandelion, stinging nettle, milk thistle, and burdock, are presented.

It is our hope our findings can be used by health services to plan culturally appropriate health promotion programs for First Nations children in Victoria. Indigenous ways of teaching could be beneficial for all children A strengths-based approach To examine First Nations childrens' health, Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal researchers from Deakin University partnered with the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO). [Extracted from the article]

The article offers step-by-step instructions on exercises for fascial stretching including hop felxors stretch, gluteus maximus and rotators stretch and hamstring stretch.

To highlight the emerging ethos of cultural rigour in the use of critical appraisal tools in research involving First Nations peoples.

Hired as a secretary at Dunlap Insurance and Consulting 12 years ago, Jennifer Hilsabeck-Browne has since purchased the company and become vice president and senior benefit consultant. 'I'm only 30,so [...]

To investigate the child nutrition concerns of Aboriginal families with young children attending Aboriginal health and early childhood services in Victoria; training needs of early childhood practitioners; and sources of nutrition and child health information and advice for Aboriginal families with young children.

To examine the extent to which nutrition has been prioritised in national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health policy.

Effective partnerships between Aboriginal Health Workers and non‐Aboriginal health professionals are essential to achieve Aboriginal health outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate a mentoring workforce development strategy for Aboriginal Health Workers and non‐Aboriginal allied health professionals.

The article describes how conscious breathing can help to improve sleep, reduce stress, and boost overall health. It mentions that breathing is critical for life, but it is often overlooked as a necessity for good health. Poor breathing habits can lead to negative health consequences, therefore, one must make a conscious effort to breathe slowly and deeply; deep breathing relives pain, reduces stress, and clears one's mind; some simple deep breathing exercises for deep relaxation are described.

Systems thinking is increasingly applied to understand and address systemic drivers of complex health problems. In Australia, group model building, a participatory method from systems science, has been applied in various locations to engage communities in systems-based health promotion projects. To date there is limited evidence regarding GMB use with Australian Aboriginal communities. This study aimed to determine the value and acceptability of group model building (GMB) as a methodological approach in research with Aboriginal communities and identify any adaptations required to optimise its utility. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with 18 Aboriginal health and university staff who had prior experience with a GMB research project. Interview transcripts were inductively analysed using thematic analysis and key themes were organised using an Indigenous research framework. Participants reported that GMB methods generally aligned well with Aboriginal ways of knowing, being, and doing. Participants valued the holistic, visual and collaborative nature of the method and its emphasis on sharing stories and collective decision-making. Group model building was viewed as a useful tool for identifying Aboriginal-led actions to address priority issues and advancing self-determination. Our findings suggest that by bringing together Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal knowledge, GMB is a promising tool, which Aboriginal communities could utilise to explore and address complex problems in a manner that is consistent with their worldviews. In adapting group model building methods, non-Aboriginal researchers should aspire to move beyond co-design processes and enable Aboriginal health research to be entirely led by Aboriginal people.

The article deals with the 2015 Closing the Gap report presented by Prime Minister Tony Abbott to the Australian Parliament. Particular focus is given on the developments made on key targets for reducing inequalities between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and non-Indigenous Australians. Topics include the aim to reduce by half the gap for Indigenous students in year 12 attainment rates by 2020, and to reduce the employment gap between Indigenous and other Australians by 2018.

The article discusses the food items that may contain gluten. It states the ingredients that translate to gluten such as triticum vulgare, triticum spelta, and hordeum vulgare. It notes that foodstuffs including vinegar, ice cream, and herbal supplements may contain gluten. It mentions that accidental swallowing of product with gluten is a cause for concern.

The article discusses issues concerning gluten-free diet. Topics covered include health benefits of gluten-free diet in reducing carbohydrate consumption and promoting weight loss, food ingredients that translate to gluten including triticum vulgare, hordeum vulgare and secale cereale, food that people with gluten sensitivity should avoid including peanut butter, oats and food sold in bulk and tips for gluten-free dining in restaurants.

The article focuses on the difference between the health impacts of meat products from grass-fed animals and grain-fed animals. It states that low levels of saturated fat is found in grass-fed beef which is higher in omega-three fatty acids. It also states that genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are not much safe for human consumption.

The article discusses the health risks associated with hair dye chemicals. It notes a 2010 study confirming the high risk for bladder cancer among hairdressers, and a 2012 study that associated hydrogen peroxide in hair dye to skin irritation and hair loss. It mentions the carcinogenic effect of coal tar ingredients such as aminophenol and p-phenylenediamine (PPD). The article cites that safe hair dyes have low toxicity, and are made from natural ingredients like beet and henna plant. INSETS: TIPS FOR SAFE HAIR COLOURING;SAFER HAIR DYE PRODUCTS.

The article discusses the highlights of the International Experiential Learning Institute (IELI) inauguration in Newfoundland, Canada on May 29-31, 2013. It notes that the IELI was created to identify the increasing role of experiential learning in student engagement. The IELI was attended by representatives from the U.S. and Canada who participated in several sessions that focused on topics that include reflection, assessment, and working with faculty and community partners.