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In a seminar held at the University of Sydney on 16 May 2011, four speakers were invited to consider 'The Future of Private International Law in Australia' from different perspectives - judge, lawyer in government, practitioner and academic. Unsurprisingly, given the breadth of the topic, the subject matter of the presentations varied widely. Justice Paul Le Gay Brereton of the New South Wales Supreme Court addressed the difficulties inherent in the proof of foreign law, and recent developments in New South Wales practice in this area. Thomas John of the Commonwealth Attorney-General's Department considered Australia's approach to the regulation of private international law issues at an international level. Dr Andrew Bell SC of the New South Wales Bar looked at recurring themes and likely future trends in Australian case law in the area. In the final presentation, based on this paper, the author considered two related topics. First, the development and recognition of a unified body of Australian private international law. Second, the case for reform of the currently diverse regimes regulating the personal jurisdiction of courts in Australia. The author argues that the subject has now developed and matured to a point where the label 'Australian private international law' is justified in two of the three key areas: applicable law and the recognition and enforcement of judgments. He urges reform of federal and state rules governing personal jurisdiction, by a process of harmonisation, in order to complete the last side of the Australian private international law triangle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A conference paper about the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law (UNIDROIT) Principles of International Commercial Contracts based on the Australian law perspectives. It discusses domestic contract law of Australia and its sources including common law, Commonwealth statute and equity. It further discusses the need of amendments in the contract law and the role of the High Court as custodian of common law. It also discusses international trade and renegotiations.

This is an edited transcript of observations made by Andrew Bell SC in the course of a seminar on 16 May 2011 on 'The Future of Private International Law in Australia'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents several research studies related to the field of clinical medicine in Australia. One of these studies entails the prognosis of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) which is a chronic disease affecting Veteran populations using the Flinders Chronic Disease Management Program. Another is a study on the strategies used in reducing cognitive impairment associated with sedative and anticholinergic agents among older people with dementia. Models of care for OSA are also being studied.

This article mainly responds to Professor Bonell's three proposals (on page 177 of this volume) to expand usage of the UNIDROIT Principles of International Commercial Contracts (UPICC). As UPICC are primarily opt-in rules, they can be more ambitious than the United Nations Sales Convention (CISG). They also needed to be, being designed for all commercial contracts--including many more relational contracts. This imparts a somewhat different 'vibe' to UPICC, creating one impediment to the proposal for a UN Declaration urging interpretation of CISG in light of UPICC. As a formal reasoning based legal system, particularly in contract law, Australia also still struggles with such soft law initiatives. More promising will be law reform clarifying that courts, not just arbitrators in proceedings with the seat in Australia governed by the UNCITRAL Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration, are free to apply 'rules of law'--including UPICC--as the governing law. Elevating UPICC into a Model Law for International Commercial Contracts would also be useful. Australia could then adopt or adapt provisions as the basis for more comprehensive reform of its contract law. This would better mesh with burgeoning relational transactions, and many norms (such as good faith) could also extend to domestic dealings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article considers how the UNIDROIT Principles of International Commercial Contracts ('UPICC') respond to the typical form of commercial contract--the relational contract. Relational contracts provide a 'framework' for relationships, allowing them to develop over time. The temporal element gives rise to peculiar issues, including: the need to accommodate changed circumstances; whether to keep the contract alive or terminate it in response to changed circumstances; contractual discretions and the role of fault and good faith; the role of contractual mechanisms for dealing with supervening risks. The article considers various of the provisions of the UPICC dealing with these issues and concludes with a consideration of possible new directions, including the proposal for a future edition of the UPICC that certain contracts can be terminated for 'just cause'. As Australian commerce becomes more international in nature, we need a common framework--a 'new law merchant'--by which contractual relations are maintained. The Australian case law on relational contracts is thin. The UPICC will prod Australian courts and practitioners to grapple with these issues. However, that effort might stall if commercial parties believe the rules in the new law merchant are too open-textured, allowing too much judicial intervention in contracting practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The prevalence of eating disorders in Australia is increasing. Binge eating disorder (BED) is the most prevalent form of disordered eating. Many people with BED are overweight. This compounds the problem due to weight stigma and the typical conception of someone with an eating disorder being underweight, leading to the under-recognition of eating disorders in this population group. Objective The aim of this article is to update general practitioners (GPs) on how to screen patients for eating disorders across the entire weight spectrum and to diagnose, treat and monitor patients with BED. Discussion GPs have an important role in the screening, assessment, diagnosis and coordination of treatment for patients with eating disorders, including BED. Treatment for BED includes psychological counselling, diet and, at times, medication. These treatments are explored in the paper, alongside the clinical processes for diagnosis and ongoing care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fatigue jeopardises soldiers' lives, and despite caffeine being the approved wakefulness aid in the Australian Defence Force (ADF), its efficacy equals a placebo with unwanted side effects. The US Military uses modafinil as an alternative, but no ADF studies on modafinil exist. This article argues for exploring alternatives, ensuring consent and conducting willingness-to-participate studies before conducting ADF modafinil trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the twenty-five national objectives for Australia relating to society, culture and economic relations. It mentions that the objectives will give attention to educations, infrastructure, and macroeconomic factors. It states that the government of Australia should understand the benefits of Asian language and culture to build a bond with Asia.

The author highlights the final chapter of the 2009 Defence White Paper entitled "The Government's Financial Plan for Defence." He notes that the said chapter shows the guaranteed increased funding of the Australian Defence Department. He mentions the justifications behind the increased funding, which includes the launch of a reform program. He argues that the increased in the Australian military spending is irresponsible given few overseas diplomatic missions.

Background Infertility is a medical and psychosocial problem that affects one in six couples worldwide. Infertility is increasing largely due to people starting families later, a decrease in the quality of sperm due to environmental and lifestyle factors and rising rates of obesity in both men and women. As a result, general practitioners (GPs) are increasingly seeing patients for fertility-related consultations. Nearly half of these GP consultations will result in a referral to a fertility clinic or relevant specialist. Approximately 5% of children now born in Australia are born as a result of assisted reproductive treatment. Objective In Australia, GPs are the primary access point for reproductive care. They can play a central role in educating, preparing and supporting their patients and ensuring timely and appropriate intervention and referral. This paper describes the lived experience of those dealing with infertility, particularly the emotional challenges of infertility and its treatment, to help GPs support their patients throughout treatment and beyond. Discussion Infertility and fertility treatment can have a significant impact on the psychological wellbeing of both men and women, as well as their relationships with one another, their family and friends. GPs are well placed to establish a trusting and supportive relationship during one of the most stressful periods of their patients' lives, to notice changes in wellbeing, functioning and relationship satisfaction and to facilitate timely referral to appropriate resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the three main themes that are expected to shape the future growth and development of domestic capital debt markets (including syndicated loan and bond markets). The first two themes are: the continued rise in the importance of Asian investors; and the growing appetite of self-managed superannuation funds and non-institutional investors for investing in the domestic bond market. These trends also have an impact on the third theme -- increased innovation -- both in terms of alternative international markets for raising funds and in the design of debt products. This paper was prepared for the Monash University and Australian Centre for Financial Studies' 22nd Melbourne Money and Finance Conference on 10-11 July 2017. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Australian Defence Force (ADF) aspires to provide high-quality medical care to personnel deployed on operations. Medical procedural specialists are key enablers of this capability. In the late 20th Century, the ADF relied upon Reserve clinicians to staff deployed health facilities. Though generally successful, this approach is limited in the extent to which it can guarantee the availability of specialists at short notice or for prolonged durations. Consequently, from the early 2000s, the ADF has worked to create a more robust, high-readiness specialist staffing model. As a result, several schemes were established, culminating in the extant Medical Specialist Program (MSP). This paper examines the evolution of the MSP and the contemporary employment of its members. Consideration is also given to challenges encountered during the MSPs early years and how these challenges may be overcome. Particular issues include the imbalance of MSP specialties, refinement of command frameworks and formalising career pathways for procedural specialists. If these challenges are met, the MSP will continue to grow as a repository of corporate knowledge and generate value beyond the contribution of its individual members. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Dunt Review into mental health services in the Australian Defence Force (ADF) enabled significant investment in programs and initiatives across the defence environment in Australia. The subsequent attention to long standing mental health issues for our veteran community is both timely and admirable, and has indeed begun to address mental health stigma, education and community support around this country. Arguably, the overwhelming focus of these programs has been on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder as it relates to the physical and mental trauma of operational deployment. However, this paper will attempt to redirect at least some of this focus onto potential issues of compassion fatigue in uniformed health professionals arising from their care of traumatised (physical and/or psychological) clients. The paper will also highlight burnout as a similar possible consequence of stressful defence health work/life experience. This literature review based paper identified myriad peer reviewed references relating to research and programs for international healthcare systems and overseas forces on these conditions. However, at least within the published domain, very little can be identified for the Australian military context or in the ADF's current mental health strategies to specifically address these mental health issues for our uniformed health professionals. This paper introduces these relevant concerns for the broader military/veteran's health peer group, leadership and academic audience to consider as worthy of greater attention in Defence and Veteran's Affairs research and policy agendas. The paper will encompass: 1. An introduction, background and definitions of 'Compassion Fatigue', being vicarious traumatisation of clinicians as a consequence of caring for traumatised people. 2. A similar discussion of Burnout' as a wider but still significant workforce issue that reduces the quality of care provided to patients, and the morale, quality of life and physical and mental health of sufferers. 3. A brief outline of a 'Four Stages of Burnout' model, being (1) Physical, Mental and Emotional Exhaustion, (2) Shame and Doubt, (3) Cynicism and Callousness and finally (4) Failure, Helplessness and Crisis. 4. Identified issues for military health services from compassion fatigue and burnout as identified in the literature. 5. Recommendations that individual practitioners and the defence health organisation should consider to address issues identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper emphasizes the need for greater protection of religious freedom in law to address the increasing conflict between law and religion in Australia. Topics covered include role of Christianity in the origins of common law and the legal system brought about by the colonists who arrived in Western Australia, relationship between law and religion during the foundation years of the colony, and contemporary attitudes to religion in Australia.

The predicted growth of the aged care sector in Australia, driven by the ageing population, is expected to create an increasing need for workplaces to support the development for all kinds and classifications of workers to undertake their work within multicultural settings. This paper describes and elaborates the necessary and increasing requirement for workplaces to support adult learning in multicultural circumstances. A mixed methods approach was used to collect data from workers undertaking the role of carer in residential aged care facilities across the east coast of Australia. Arising from the collection and analysis of these data are contributions to knowledge including a conceptual model for understanding learning in multicultural settings. This research emphasizes a notion that cultural diversity has a fundamental influence on workplace learning in aged care and identifies practices to support cross-cultural communication, coworking and learning. Further, inter-worker learning is reinforced as a key enabler of performance in aged care work. Such contributions help to understand what influences workplace learning in multicultural settings and how it may be better supported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With technology changing the nature of risk and the way risk services are priced, this paper examines the key elements of a 'traditional' insurance business that are now open to challenge. It includes a stylised insurance value chain, which provides a framework for discussing how the disruptive forces in the industry are affecting incumbents. The paper also speculates on the form, or forms, which the insurance business model will take in the future. The paper was prepared for the Monash University and Australian Centre for Financial Studies' 22nd Melbourne Money and Finance Conference on 10-11 July 2017.1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the engagement of middle-class Catholicism with the federal movement in Australia. It pays particular attention to the period between 1896 and 1901, thus tracking the involvement of politically active Catholics in federation’s so-called Popular Movement. Parallel to an upswing in federal sentiment in the broader community throughout that period was a rise in sectarian tensions, as the Catholic élite strove to contribute to the federal debate against the current of age-old religious tensions in Australia’s socio-political climate. Those tensions drew further strength from more general anxieties over federation, loyalty, and national identity. This article argues that, by examining the actions and attitudes of middleclass, politically engaged Catholics in the lead-up to Australian federation, we can get a clearer sense both of the nature of social divisions in colonial Australia and the liminality of lay Catholicism’s upper order at the turn of the twentieth century: a class simultaneously characterised, by both Protestant and Catholic elements in the community, as the loyal religionists of a persecuted church and the affluent products of a persecuting, hegemonic cultural Protestantism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The disruptive and at times traumatic nature of military service can create mental health issues among veterans Wounded, injured or ill personnel, even if their physical and psychological rehabilitation goes well, can experience an acute loss of purpose and structure that is provided during their military service, especially post-discharge It is also increasingly recognised that contemporary veterans have unique requirements, and in this context, military personnel often find their traditional medical and psychological treatments are insufficient to address their needs Fortunately, there is growing evidence that a range of exercises, such as physical activity as well as animal- and art-based activities can serve as worthwhile adjuncts to more familiar programs of rehabilitation and reintegration There is growing evidence that these activities reduce anxiety, depression and PTSD symptoms -- all of which are relevant to military personnel The theoretical basis concerning symptom reduction includes behavioural, cognitive and neurophysiological theories Tests of these theories may result in enhanced treatment This paper will describe these adjunct activities and how they are being implemented with Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel, with particular focus on the evidence and theories surrounding art-based endeavours as an adjunct to established therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This discussion paper considers the role of allied health assistants (AHAs) in speechlanguage pathology and provides information regarding the training, role and value that they may bring to the profession. As part of a larger research study into speech-language pathologists' perceptions of working with allied health assistants, a review of the literature was undertaken utilising the search terms assistant, allied health assistant, speech-language pathology list, speech therapy/ist. Only a small number of papers were found directly addressing allied health assistants in speech-language pathology, raising concern regarding the profession's existing knowledge of working with this vocational group. A narrative summary of findings is presented. Greater understanding of the allied health assistant workforce, including training, skills and tasks they can undertake, is required to ensure the speechlanguage pathology profession is prepared to work with allied health assistants, and to utilise them effectively. Working with allied health assistants is a workforce strategy which may assist the profession to provide a broader range of services to those who need it. However, relatively little is known about allied health assistants in Australian speechlanguage pathology, and the value they can bring to speech-language pathology practice. This paper explores current perceptions and barriers to utilising allied health assistants in speech-language pathology, and proposes some possible solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the contribution of craftivism to climate justice learning through the practices of Australia's Knitting Nannas Against Gas and Greed (aka KNAG or the Nannas). Framing activist adult learning as social movement learning locates environmental and climate justice struggles within lifelong learning practices. Established in 2012, the Nannas are an older women's anti-coal seam gas and fossil fuel movement that has grown to encompass intergenerational ecological sustainability activism. Data presented in this paper were collected with active KNAG members in Australia as part of a PhD study using surveys, interviews, document analysis of social media (Facebook posts, digital videos, e-news bulletins) and researcher auto-ethnography. The research identified the milieu of craftivism motivated older women to collaboratively build their activist identity, ecological and environmental literacy, and non-violent direct action activist skills. The learning ecology involved a complex web of social interactions and encounters that stimulated opportunities for active listening and critical reflection, which promoted transformative and emancipatory learning dispositions. Craftivism was analysed to be the catalyst and transformative force that activated situated experiential learning and identity formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the aspects of the foreign policy in Australia and its association to the country's liberal democracy, considering how they serve as the bedrock of the democratic politics.

Gifted education has been recognised as a fractured field that can be categorised using varying paradigmatic approaches. Over the past thirty years, Gagné's Differentiated Model of Giftedness and Talents (DMGT) has maintained a strong influence in Australia, which means that the paradigmatic assumptions that are present in this model have shaped the Australian policy landscape. With recent changes in the gifted education policy and guidance space in many Australian states and territories, it is appropriate to explore whether there is a paradigmatic shift occurring. This research adopted a document study methodology, and found that the DMGT is still a favoured model, which means that an essentialist vein continues to flow through many of the Australian state and territory gifted education approaches. At the same time, most states and territories are attempting to embrace more dynamic approaches to supporting giftedness, which leads to paradigmatic confusion at the policy and guidance level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pre-tertiary enabling programs have become an increasingly popular pathway to university in Australia in recent years, however little is published about how well enabling students fare once they start university. This paper examines and compares first-year retention and academic outcomes of students that entered Murdoch University between 2014 and 2016 via successful completion of its enabling program, OnTrack. A greater proportion of students transitioning via OnTrack were from equity and disadvantaged backgrounds than any other entry pathway; thereby demonstrating an important function of this enabling program in boosting the representation of these students at the university. Further, OnTrack-pathway students were retained at a rate that was similar or better than students entering via all other admission pathways, despite poorer academic performance. This persistence suggests enhanced resilience amongst this cohort, potentially built during their enabling education experience. Multivariate regression modelling was also undertaken, revealing that admission pathway, demographic and enrolment factors collectively explained very little of the observed variation in student outcomes for all first year students, and were particularly poor predictors of academic underperformance. Thus, once students are enrolled in undergraduate study, student outcomes may be better explained by student variables not captured in university databases, such as personal circumstances or psychological factors. In summary, these findings provide empirical data to support the notion that enabling programs have been successful in 'enabling' access and participation of students who are capable but otherwise lack opportunity, including those from disadvantaged backgrounds. However, enabling pathway students may experience ongoing challenges that impact their academic performance, and thus future equity and access policy should address appropriate mechanisms for supporting the broader transition experience of these students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) marched in lockstep with the Australian Army in most, if not all, its overseas campaigns during the twentieth century. Gonorrhoea and syphilis, bacterial infections spread most commonly through sexual intercourse. This article illustrates through reference to the Australian Army's major overseas deployments; from the Boer War at the beginning of the century to the war in Vietnam, which ended in 1975. The primary purpose of the paper is to demonstrate the scale of STD infections in the Army's overseas deployments. There is, of course, a 'human' or 'sociological' aspect as well. When investigated, every STD episode can be seen to be a little disaster of its own; a mini-tragedy for the soldier contracting the STD, for the person who most often transmitted it to him and, beyond them, for their families. Subsequently, there is the medical aspect: the measures taken by the staff of the Army Medical Service to prevent the STDs and to treat those who contracted STDs. Significant though the sociological and medical aspects of the Army's experience of STDs are, this article does not dwell on them. Instead, the focus is statistical, showing the large scale of the STD problem during the Army's overseas deployments of the twentieth century. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The 2009 Dunt Review of Mental Health in the Australian Defence Force (ADF) led to the establishment of the ADF Centre for Mental Health in Sydney. One of the programs developed at the Centre was a mental health Second Opinion Clinic. The aim of the Second Opinion Clinic is to provide specialist assessment and management recommendations for patients with complex and treatment-resistant mental disorders. Purpose: This paper describes the practices of the Second Opinion Clinic, the clinical outcomes and satisfaction as reported by patients and referrers, based on the first 58 patients seen at the clinic. Method: Clinic databases of patient demographics, diagnoses, and patient and referrer satisfaction surveys were reviewed. Results: Among the findings, it was found that the diagnosis was revised in half the patients seen, with resultant implications for treatment and management within the ADF. The clinic's practises and clinical outcomes were well regarded by both patients and referrers. Conclusion: This paper contributes to the small body of literature reporting on mental health tertiary referral or second opinion clinics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When children are diagnosed with hearing loss, their families begin making many decisions, including whether their children will use speech or sign, and if they are multilingual, what languages they will use with their children. Parents frequently consult with health and education professionals concerning the best communication pathway for their children and their families. This paper is a translational summary of four studies investigating the communication choices of children (n = 406) with hearing loss and their parents (n = 792) who were participating in the Longitudinal Outcomes of Children with Hearing Impairment (LOCHI) study in Australia. Parents reported on the factors that were influential in their decision-making about whether their children with hearing loss would communicate using speech, sign, and/or more than one spoken language. The influences parents reported included advice from professionals, children's access to speech through audition, children's intervention experiences, children's future opportunities, practicalities of communication, and creating a sense of belonging for their children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background General practice is regarded as central to the Australian health system. However, issues affecting the general practitioner (GP) workforce have been focused mainly on remuneration, numbers and distribution. The focus is shifting to how best to enable GPs to deliver effective, efficient and equitable care. Objectives The aim of this paper is to identify important elements, dynamics and interdependencies that influence GPs' work and their ability to continually improve outcomes for individuals and communities. Discussion Most important problems are multifaceted and cannot be reduced to a simple, single solution. Influence diagrams capture the interdependent domains that affect general practice, such as the variations in patients' needs in the community and the impact of disadvantage and care expectations on outcomes. Identifying interrelationships between key domains should capture the dynamics that 'feed the problem'. Finding 'best possible solutions' to improve interdependent system problems and avoid the inherent risk of unintended failures requires an ongoing mix of qualitative and quantitative modelling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Medical workforce problems still dominate headlines despite considerable investment in education, training and other initiatives. There is little consensus about what Australia's general practice workforce should look like or what training outcomes should be reported. Objective The aim of this paper was to explore a number of issues relevant to outcomes of workforce programs and offer suggestions for identifying and overcoming these issues. Discussion Social accountability literature highlights the importance of outcomes focusing on community needs. We suggest that evaluations should 'count what counts' and be careful what is counted. Numbers are only part of the story; not everything that counts is counted, and synergies and cooperation are key. Australia has many general practice workforce programs that are generally heading in the right direction. We believe that closer attention to appropriate outcome measures is important if we are to maximise return on investment and get the best outcomes for the community. Everyone talks about the weather but no one does anything about it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Concussion or mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is associated with long-term impairments in military personnel. Diagnosis of the condition remains clinically challenging. Neurological examination and cognitive symptoms may not accurately map the nature and severity of underlying brain injury. Neuroimaging techniques, such as diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), show promise as an effective tool in delineating the microstructural neural changes and corresponding clinical consequences following mTBI. This paper discusses the diagnosis and management of concussion, in the military context, using two cases of veterans who suffered blast-related mTBI. Insights on an integrated approach to concussion in the military, incorporating thorough neurological and neuropsychological examination and application of advanced neuroimaging are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Figures from the Department of Veterans' Affairs indicate there may be over 30,000 Australian veterans that have or may yet develop some form of service-related mental illness. There is a growing body of evidence that there is a spiritual dimension to soldiers' wounds. Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to understand the causes, symptoms and healing pathways for spiritual wounds, Method and materials: Firstly, exploration of the nature of veteran spirituality, Secondly, how a veteran's spirit can be wounded and what form these wounds take will need to be understood, Finally, approaches to healing these spiritual wounds. Results: There is a strong and growing body of empirical evidence highlighting linkages between diminished spiritual functioning and mental health issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Properly trained and accredited medical and psychological practitioners are required to deliver treatment in their space. Conclusion: There is limited evidence of any spiritual institution or facility of any nature making a significant contribution in the support of veterans whose Defence service has led to mental health issues with a spiritual or faith basis. Determining what role spiritual institutions or facilities should take will need to be a major area for further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we present some details of momentum investment hopefully of interest to fund managers and planned sponsors. The focus will be on momentum investment in Australia, but much of the discussion, and results, are applicable virtually everywhere. The academic literature considers many different types of momentum strategies, and we distinguish between academic and institutional momentum investment in section 2. In section 3, we discuss linkages between investor behaviour and momentum. We present information about the pattern of returns one might expect and market conditions that might help or hinder performance in section 4. Apart from being a style of investment, quantitative financial analysts (quants) also think of momentum as a factor; we shall discuss this briefly in section 5. We present some results in section 6 together with conclusions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objective The Primary Care Collaborative Cancer Clinical Trials Group (PC4) is funded by Cancer Australia to support the development of new cancer in primary care research. We undertook a research prioritisation exercise to identify cancer research priorities in Australian general practice. Methods We adapted the nominal group technique, including a literature search and stakeholder survey. An expert group from the Primary Care Collaborative Cancer Clinical Trials Group consolidated and ranked priorities. A second stakeholder survey reviewing the top 50 priorities informed a final prioritisation workshop. Results Overall, 311 priorities were identified across the cancer continuum. Nearly one-third of priorities were related to cancer survivorship and included strategies to detect recurrence, behavioural interventions and tools to assess physical and psychosocial aspects of survivorship. Prevention/early detection comprised 43.4% of priorities. Palliative care produced the least priorities (9.6%). Cross-cutting research priorities (15.1%) included quality and models of care. Discussion This is the first study to identify cancer research priorities for general practice in Australia. It could be used to inform the development of targeted research and funding to improve the care and outcomes for Australians affected by cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Sport-related concussion (SRC) is a traumatic brain injury that occurs during sport or exercise activity. SRC is a growing health concern in Australia, with increasing public awareness and presentations to general practitioners being increasingly common. Objective This article will focus on the assessment and management of SRC in general practice, including guidance for returning patients to sport. Concussion prevention, potential long-term complications, and the decision-making process regarding retirement from sport are beyond the scope of this article. Discussion Recognising concussion can be difficult, as clinical symptoms and signs of SRC can evolve over a period of hours to days. General practitioners should be aware of the range of clinical concussion presentations. The key principles of management include relative rest, followed by a graduated return to cognitive and physical activity. Involvement of a multidisciplinary team can improve symptoms for those patients whose concussion symptoms are prolonged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses parent education groups for families with children who have sensory disabilities. Families living in rural and remote areas participated in group sessions via videoconference. The technology required to provide parent groups for families located across Australia is discussed, with three different telepractice methods reported. The parent groups used The Hanen It Takes Two to Talk program as the structure of the parent groups, and the adaptations required to use this existing program in a telepractice format are described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the developments in the energy sector in Australia. It cites the Energy White Paper (EWP) draft that was issued by Labor Minister for Resources and Energy, Martin Ferguson, in December 2011, which showed that fuel industry representatives still wield influence in the sector. Among the firms that were involved in the EWP are BHP Billiton, Xstrata Coal and Woodside Energy.

Tri-service post-graduate vocational education in Medicine has not previously been available in the Australian Defence Force (ADF). Introduction to Military Medicine (IMM), originally designed as an introduction to the practice of medicine in the military, ran for the first time in 2008 as an on-line postgraduate course in the Master of Public Health (Defence) program provided by the Centre for Military and Veterans Health. This paper recommends that the course should be a core component of the MPH (Defence) Program for Medical Officers, rather than an elective; however, greater opportunities to develop IMM exist in blending it into existing programs to train new military Medical Officers to a deployable standard (Competency Level 2). Introduction to Military Medicine also supports military clinical supervisors to apprentice new Medical Officers facilitating their passage through civilian vocational training towards becoming competent and confident military and civilian general practitioners. A broader student scope is also recommended to accommodate military medicine training needs for Reserve Force and Civilian Contract Medical Practitioners. Improvements will now require expansion of the teaching staff and exploration of new delivery methods in closer collaboration with the ADF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the outlook for the Australian securitisation market is very buoyant, the market is currently transitioning to meet the requirements of the new prudential standard on 1 January 2018. Over the medium term, an additional challenge for the market will be to attain economic pricing of cross-currency swaps to enable the issue of tranches of residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS) and asset-backed securities (ABS) in currencies other than Australian dollars, thereby providing greater access to a wider investor base. This paper was prepared for the Monash University and Australian Centre for Financial Studies' 22nd Melbourne Money and Finance Conference on 10-11 July 2017. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the regulatory reforms instituted in the financial management industry in the wake of the global financial crisis. It discusses the effects of the said reforms on the culture of financial services companies particularly on the way they served their customers. It cites the introduction of the Banking Executive Accountability Regime (BEAR) and its effects on the financial services industry in Australia.

A biography of Australian politician Bartholomew Augustine Santamaria is presented. Topics covered include his family and educational background, his work with Catholic intellectuals who he met regularly to discuss Catholic social teaching and which led to his publication of a paper called the "Catholic Worker," and his contribution to Australian politics.

Improvements in clinical governance in Australian Army health services in recent years have reflected and drawn upon developments in the civilian sector. This paper describes how 2 GHB adapted and incorporated key civilian health system measures to drive improvements in the quality and safety of clinical care. Health restructure initiatives included optimisation of corporate and clinical governance by introducing a Director of Clinical Services to assist the Commanding Officer, a similar structure for technical and command authority to that found in modern civilian hospitals. A Clinical Governance Framework was introduced to provide a platform for identifying and addressing areas for improvement, acknowledging that the delivery of health care endeavours to meet the expectations inherent in the Australian standards while taking place in a unique and often austere environment with no readily comparable Australian civilian benchmark. The framework included a dedicated process to evaluate and improve clinical services based on the National Standards promulgated by the Australian Commission for Safety and Quality in Health Care with a view to achieve external certification of a deployable R2E capability. Clinical governance measures were intensified in 2015 as part of preparations for the deployment of a R2E to Operation OKRA, Australia's support to Iraq in combating Da'esh. These measures included intensive, realistic clinical training and collective certification exercises (HOSPEX) evaluated by expert independent assessors. During Operation OKRA the Clinical Governance Framework was tailored to meet the challenges of health care in a specific operational setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]