1. TasCOSS Conference – Workshop on the need
to strengthen connections between health and social services
We'd like to draw your attention to the forth-coming TasCOSS
Conference: http://tascoss.org.au/Events/TasCOSSConference.aspx
and in particular to invite you to be part of a workshop on Thursday 13th November.
The workshop title is: Common
ground: How can the health care and social services sectors strengthen
collaborative action to improve outcomes for Tasmanians?
Abstract:
The social services and health care
sectors have something significant in common: the majority of
people/clients/patients/communities that engage with both these sectors share
similar demographic and social characteristics. It is well known that people who experience social disadvantage are
over-represented as patients in the health care sector, i.e. greater
disadvantage = poorer health. This workshop will engage participants in
understanding the extent of the impact of social determinants on Tasmania's
health care system, and the associated challenges which result. Knowing that
the social services and health care sectors "share the same
clientele", the workshop will involve applying a shared problem-solving
framework to develop recommendations for actions.
It would be terrific if many of you could be part of this
discussion. As a warm up to this workshop, here’s an interesting paper you may
like to read: Time after Time — Health
Policy Implications
of a Three-Generation
Case Study http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp1407153
2. Australian Women’s Health Network
Once again as a Board member of the Australian Women’s
Health Network, I am proud to draw your attention to the latest of the
series of AWHN position papers - http://www.awhn.org.au/files.php?cat=1.
I hope you find it interesting and useful in your work.
For those of you receiving this kind of notice for the first
time or for your further interest I recommend the AWHN website (www.awhn.org.au) where
you will find a number of other position papers of interest.
From Glynis Flower, Hobart Women’s Health Centre
3. Select Committee on Health
We prepared a submission to the Senate Select Committee on Health. You can find our submission here (pg. 3, No. 41): http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Health/Health/Submissions along with the other submissions.
The Senate’s Select Committee on Health is holding public
hearings in Hobart on the 3rd November, Devonport on the 4th
and Launceston the 5th.
4. A glossary of policy frameworks: the many
forms of ‘universalism’ and policy targeting A glossary of policy frameworks:
the many forms of ‘universalism’ and policy ‘targeting’
The recognition that certain characteristics (such as
poverty, disadvantage or membership of marginalised social or cultural groups) can
make individuals more susceptible to illness has reignited interest in how to
combine universal programs and policies with ones targeted to specific groups.
However, ‘universalism’ and ‘targeting’ are used in different ways for
different purposes. In this glossary we define different types, and approaches
to, universalism and targeting. We
anticipate that greater clarity in relation to what is meant by ‘universalism’
and ‘targeting’ will lead to more nuanced debate and practice in this area.
Read more: https://www.academia.edu/8675091/A_glossary_of_policy_frameworks_the_many_forms_of_universalism_and_policy_targeting
5 Cannabis Policy Framework (Canada)
You may be interested in this Cannabis
Policy Framework from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) in
Canada, in which we recommend legalization with strict regulation as the most
effective means of reducing cannabis-related harms. There are fascinating SDoH
dimensions to this topic, which we explore in the document and in this
blog that accompanies it. Concerns about equity, particularly in the area
of law enforcement, are part of the reason CAMH has moved away from its
previous pro-decriminalization position towards one that favours legalization with
strict regulation.
6. Invitation to provide input into the
development of a Discussion and Options Paper for Safe and Healthy Food in
Tasmania
If you were unable to attend the consultation forums that
were recently held but would like to provide input, the online
survey is now available until 9am, Friday 24 October 2014.
The following papers will provide the context for both the
face-to-face and online consultations and are available on the Population
Health Services website:
- Background Paper for the Development of a Discussion and Options Paper for Safe and Healthy Food in Tasmania
- Working in Health Promoting Ways - Principles of Practice.
If you have any queries in the meantime, please don’t
hesitate to get in touch.
Kind regards,
Michelle Morgan - Senior Analyst, Policy and Research
Population Health Services | Department of Health and Human Services
2/25 Argyle St Hobart GPO Box 125 Hobart Tas 7001
Phone (03) 6166 0669 | Email Michelle.Morgan@dhhs.tas.gov.au
7. Addressing Social, Economic and
Environmental Determinants of Health and the Health Divide in the Context of
Sustainable Human Development
This week IHE and UNDP published a report and policy
briefing based on a project aimed at understanding whether, how and in which
ways UNDP's development projects in countries in Eastern Europe and Central
Asia address social, economic and environmental determinants of health and
health equity.
Social, economic and environmental factors are embedded in
development as the three interlinking pillars of sustainable human development.
They also, to a large extent, determine population health and the distribution
of health.
While health and development are inextricably linked, health
and development practitioners often operate in organisational silos.
In order to realise potential co-benefits for both health
and development and to prioritise areas for action, it is necessary to take
specific steps to integrate health and development. Bringing health and
development together will create opportunities for more impact. This study
shows how this can be done in a practical way.
More information can be found on the 'SEEDs
project page' on our website.
Best wishes,
The Institute of Health Equity
8. *The State of Food Insecurity in the
World 2014*: The
State of Food Insecurity in the World 2014 presents updated estimates of
undernourishment and progress towards the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) and
World Food Summit (WFS) hunger targets. A stock-taking of where we stand on
reducing hunger and malnutrition shows that progress in hunger reduction at the
global level and in many countries has continued but that substantial
additional effort is needed in others. Read more: http://www.fao.org/publications/sofi/2014/en/
9. From Europe
Video
– Health 2020: Better health for Europe - more equitable and sustainable
Health 2020 is the health policy framework for the
European region. It aims to support action across government and society to:
“significantly improve the health and well-being of populations, reduce health
inequalities, strengthen public health and ensure people-centred health systems
that are universal, equitable, sustainable and of high quality”. This video
introduces the concept and elements of Health 2020.
From Julie Milnes, Health Promotion Coordinator (NW)
10. NW Health Promotion Network meetings
Come along and share your health promotion activities! The
videoconference sites are available
from michelle.towle@dhhs.tas.gov.au.
Come along and discover what’s going on in the NW of
Tasmania. Final date for 2014 is December 5th.
11. Health Promotion: The Reorient Express
Starting Wednesday 5th November - A 3 week face to face and
online course for people working in a clinical setting. This express course
will get you on track with easy steps to make a big impact in working in health
promoting ways. If you're looking to reorient your service to be more health
promoting, then this is the course for you.
Register at the link below
For more information contact Rebecca Essex on 6233 6908
rebecca.essex@dhhs.tas.gov.au
Or Jennie Gorringe on 6233 6652 jennie.gorringe@dhhs.tas.gov.au
12. Analysis of Federal Health Budget: Unfair
and unhealthy
This analysis looks at the health and related provisions in
the Australian Government’s 2014-15 Budget.
Shared by Kath McLean, TasCOSS
13. Australian Health Promotion Association
Latest Newsletter:
The latest edition of Update is now available. Click
here to view. It includes a list of useful tools and resources.
14. 'Local Action on Health Inequalities' -
A Series of Reports
Dear Colleagues,
Today we are launching a number of evidence review and
breifings about practical, local actions to reduce health inequalities through
action on the social determinants of health.
The reports have been commissioned by Public Health England
and written and produced by the UCL Institute of Health Equity.
The topics covered relate to some of the policy objectives
in the Marmot Review and are intended to provide a useful local focus for
action.
The papers include evidence, practical points and case
studies on approaches and actions that can be taken by local authorities on a
range of issues to reduce health inequalities.
The reports cover the following topic areas:
There is also an overview
document available, which introduces the documents, and a video
of Michael Marmot introducing the work.
We hope that you find this work useful. Please do get in
touch with us with any feedback.
Best wishes,
The Institute of Health Equity
15. Women and Girls in Tasmania:
The Women and Girls in Tasmania Report (the
Report) provides a statistical snapshot of the current status of women and
girls in Tasmania.
The Report was initiated as a key action under the Tasmanian
Women's Plan 2013-2018 (the Women's Plan) as another vital step
forward for gender equality in Tasmania by improving the evidence-base we use
for policy and service development.
The Report provides a unique baseline profile of women and
girls in Tasmania by bringing together a range of data relevant at the
commencement of the Women's Plan that spans its six outcome areas:
·
Health and Wellbeing;
·
Economic Security and Financial Independence;
·
Education and Training;
·
Housing and Homelessness;
·
Safety and Justice; and
·
Leadership and Community Participation.
16. Natural Solutions to Tackling Health
Inequalities
‘Natural Solutions to Tackling Health Inequalities’ report
highlights the evidence of the benefits of green spaces to health and wellbeing
outcomes, and the inequalities in use of, and access to, natural environments
across England. Visit: https://www.instituteofhealthequity.org/projects/natural-solutions-to-tackling-health-inequalities
17. Monitoring health inequality: An
essential step for achieving health equity
Author: World Health Organization (WHO), September, 2014
This booklet communicates fundamental concepts about the
importance of health inequality monitoring, using text, figures, maps and
videos. Following a brief summary of main messages, four general principles
pertaining to health inequalities are highlighted:
- health inequalities are widespread
- health inequality is multidimensional
- benchmarking puts changes in inequality in context and
- health inequalities inform policy
Each of the four principles is accompanied by figures or
maps that illustrate the concept, a question that is posed as an extension and
application of the material, and a link to a video, demonstrating the use of
interactive visuals to answer the question. The videos are accessible online by
scanning a QR code (a URL is also provided). The next section of the booklet
outlines essential steps forward for achieving health equity, including the
strengthening and equity orientation of health information systems through data
collection, data analysis and reporting practices. The use of visualization
technologies as a tool to present data about health inequality is promoted,
accompanied by a link to a video demonstrating how health inequality data can
be presented interactively. Finally, the booklet announces the upcoming State
of inequality report, and refers readers to the Health Equity Monitor homepage
on the WHO Global Health Observatory.
Download the booklet here!
The accompanying video clips illustrate fundamental concepts
of monitoring health inequality.
Available from: http://www.who.int/gho/health_equity/videos/en/.
For other products on the topic of health inequality
monitoring, please visit www.who.int/gho/health_equity/en/
18. Concerns about the future of public health in Tasmania
Read a Croakey article expressing concern about public health and population health in Tasmania. Read it here: http://blogs.crikey.com.au/croakey/2014/09/25/concerns-about-the-future-of-public-health-in-tasmania-some-killer-tweets/
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