National Reconciliation Week - TED talks

National Reconciliation Week has just finished.  We've had a great display up in the library, thanks to Justin and Jerome. 


As part of the celebrations for the week the following TED talks have been recommended by Reconciliation Australia: 




IndigenousX - Luke Pearson
Luke Pearson's journey from country NSW to teaching in Sydney, and then to the creation of @IndigenousX on Twitter, is part of a bigger journey to share Australia's diverse, courageous, and inspiring Aboriginal heritage
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvKlrvu7nws




OnexSameness - Dr. Anita Heiss
Anita is a contemporary Australian author. She is a Wiradjuri woman. She is an Indigenous Literacy Day Ambassador and an Adjunct Professor with Jumbunna Indigenous House of Learning, UTS amongst many other things.
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1f8ew23tLl0




Science, art and reconciliation - Steven Tingay
Steven Tingay is a Professor of Radio Astronomy at Curtin University and a Western Australian Premier's Research Fellow. He is the Director of the Murchison Widefield Array, a precursor SKA (Square Kilometre Array) telescope due to come into operation in early 2013. Steven also currently leads a large team of academics and students as Director of the Curtin Institute of Radio Astronomy and Deputy Director of the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research.
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFJumJM67sY




How to reduce poverty? Fix homes - Paul Pholeros
In 1985, architect Paul Pholeros was challenged by the director of an Aboriginal-controlled health service to "stop people getting sick" in a small indigenous community in south Australia. The key insights: think beyond medicine and fix the local environment. In this sparky, interactive talk, Pholeros describes projects undertaken by Healthabitat, the organization he now runs to help reduce poverty—through practical design fixes—in Australia and beyond. (Filmed at TEDxSydney.)
Source: https://www.ted.com/talks/paul_pholeros_how_to_reduce_poverty_fix_homes

A few moments for the anti-tobacco movement

Saturday was World No Tobacco Day, and on Friday the Prevention team and the library put together some displays and presentations on the topic.

One of the items we did was a timeline of the anti-tobacco movement.  I've recreated that timeline below.  It's not as pretty as the poster, which you can still see in the library, but it's still interesting AND has some relevant hyperlinks. 

Moments in the anti-tobacco movement

1604

King James I of England imposes heavy tax on tobacco.  Says that smoking is a , “cutome loathesome to the eye, hateful to the nose, harmful to the brain, dangerous to the lungs…”

 

1610

Sir Francis Bacon writes that tobacco use is increasing and that it is difficult to quit

 

1761

Physician John Hill conducts one of the first clinical studies linking snuff with cancers of the nose

1830s

Anti-tobacco movement starts in US as an adjunct to the Temperance movement

1856

A debate about the health effects of tobacco begins in the medical journal, The Lancet

1868

UK parliament passes bill to mandate smoke-free carriages on trains

1912

Dr I. Adler suggests strong connection between smoking and lung cancer

1930

Researchers in Germany make statistical correlation between smoking and lung cancer

1930s-40s

Nazi party engages in large scale public health campaign against smoking. Measures include—posters and advertisements of health dangers,  messages in workplaces, health education sessions, medical lectures on quitting, restriction on sales, and restrictions on the places people could smoke

1947

43% increase on tax on cigarettes in the UK results in 14% drop in use by British men

1951

First large-scale epidemiological study of the relationship between smoking and lung cancer.  Found 99.5% of 1,357 patients with lung cancer were smokers

1953

Dr E L Wynder publishes landmark report suggesting biological link between smoking and cancer.  Research involved painting cigarette tar on the backs of mice.

1962

Well publicised report by the Royal College of Physicians, “Smoking and Health”.  Recommendations include: the restriction of advertising, increased taxation, restrictions on smoking in public, and more information on tar and nicotine content

1970

Director-General of the World Health Organisation presents report on “The Limitation of Smoking”.  Call for an end to cigarette advertising and promotion

Closer to home...

1973

Direct radio and television advertising begins to be phased out in Australia. 

Health warnings on cigarette packs.

 

1990

Cigarette advertising banned in locally produced newspapers and magazines.

1995

Most forms of tobacco sponsorship phased out, except for international events

1996

Billboards, outdoor and illuminated advertising banned

2000

Laws passed removing sponsorship exemptions

2006

Tobacco industry sponsorship completely phased out.  New graphic anti-smoking ads  go to air and on cigarette packages

2007

Indoor smoking laws begin to be introduced

2008

States start banning smoking in cars with children

 

2009

Local councils move to make alfresco areas smoke-free

2010

Smoking inside pubs and clubs banned in every state.  Tobacco excise increased by 25%

2012

Australia first country to introduce plain packaging for all cigarettes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

National Volunteer Week - thank you to our volunteers!



 

Source: http://memegenerator.net/instance/45950119

 



s and guys,












Being a not-for-profit organisation many of our programs hinge upon the work of volunteers.  We don't get to see many programs volunteers in the library, but we hope that we can change that!

We know that volunteers have different motivations for contributing...

 

Source: http://quickmeme.com
 

 



... but we feel confident that we can meet your resource needs regardless.


You can find information on volunteering and managing volunteers on the Volunteering Australia website, including:

• National standards for involving volunteers in Not-for-profit organisations
• Volunteer rights and responsibilities
• Model code of practice for organisations involving volunteer staff
• Volunteers and tax information

Here are some of the new resources that we have in the library that may be of interest to you in your role:

New resources in the library!

Come in and visit anytime, or drop us an email if you are in the other offices.





We hope that you feel as appreciated as you are...

Source: http://troll.me

 And a final HUGE thank you for all you do:

"I can no other answer make, but, thanks, and thanks."

- William Shakespeare

Federal budget 2014-15

A brief outline of the federal budget in regards to AOD and MH.  Arrows indicate increases or decreases in spending and crosses cut funding or abolished items, i.e. they do not indicate approval or disapproval of budget items.

 

 

It's been a long morning reading budget documents, so if I've missed something please add a comment. 

 

** 16/05/14 - ANCD have done a more detailed outline regarding AOD here http://www.ancd.org.au/images/PDF/LatestNews/Budget2014.pdf

 - Kate **

Online PD - Intellectual disability and mental health

Firstly, thanks to Don in QIDDI for notifying the library of this professional development opportunity!

The following online professional development unit was developed by the Department of Developmental Disability Neuropsychiatry (3DN), at the University of New South Wales.  It was originally offered as a face-to-face workshop, but in an attempt to provide a more accessible and enduring format an eight module self-paced course has been developed.

Intellectual Disability Mental Health e-Learning (idmh e-learning)

Eventually, the website will have separate sections for professionals, carers and consumers, but at present only the "professionals" section is up and running.

The target audience is professionals in intellectual disability or mental health, but anyone with an interest is welcome to complete the course.

Eight modules are offered:

1. Introduction to intellectual disability
2. Living with an intellectual disability
3. Intellectual disability -  changing perspectives
4. Mental disorders in intellectual disability
5. Communication - the basics
6. Improving your communication
7. Assessment of mental disorders
8. Management of mental disorders

Each module begins with an outline of the content and an estimate of the time needed to complete (usually 15-45 minutes).  The outline also covers the guiding principles of the module.

Modules are succinct, nicely displayed and have supporting video clips and linked external websites.  Be sure to click on the "continue learning" or the "next" button to get the full content of a page, if you use the page numbers to navigate the full page won't open.    

There opportunities to provide feedback at the end of each module.

Although not certified, they are currently working on a system where you will be able to print out a statement of completion at the end of each module.

You will need to register to access the content and participate, but registering is obligation free.

If you come across an online professional development opportunity that you would like to share with your colleagues, be sure to email the library library@drugarm.com.au or comment below

Journal club follow-up - Harm minimisation drug education

Journal club was again an amazing success, the library was filled with people from across the organisations all eager to hear about a recent clinical trial testing a new harm minimisation education program being run in Victoria.

The evidence behind the trial was strong and the findings proved that harm minimisation programs work to effectively reduce harmful outcomes from drinking. Students undertaking the program

1. consumed less alcohol;

2. consumed alcohol in a less risky manner;

3. experienced less harm associated with the drinking of alcohol

The article prompted much discussion, some of it very entertaining, some if it a bit disturbing and even some that was actually on topic.

Lastly, kudos to Justin for all his hard work analysing the article and presenting the evidence in a way that was easily understandable to all who came.

Stay tuned for the next one as we are hoping that it will be even better.

References

Midford, R., Mitchell, J., Lester, L., Cahill, H., Foxcroft, D., Ramsden, R., ... & Pose, M. (2014). Preventing alcohol harm: Early results from a cluster randomised, controlled trial in Victoria, Australia of comprehensive harm minimisation school drug education. International Journal of Drug Policy, 25(1), 142-150.

http://download.journals.elsevierhealth.com/pdfs/journals/0955-3959/PIIS0955395913000868.pdf

Study protocol for the article:

Midford, R., Cahill, H., Foxcroft, D., Lester, L., Venning, L., Ramsden, R., & Pose, M. (2012). Drug education in victorian schools (DEVS): the study protocol for a harm reduction focused school drug education trial. BMC public health, 12(1), 112.

http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/12/112

Trial registration at the Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Centre:

https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?ACTRN=12612000079842

Self-reporting as an accurate measurement tool:

Lintonen, T., Ahlström, S., & Metso, L. (2004). The reliability of self-reported drinking in adolescence. Alcohol and Alcoholism, 39(4), 362-368.

http://alcalc.oxfordjournals.org/content/39/4/362.long

If you are interested in the topic of school based education programs on alcohol, drugs and mental health you may be interested in the CLIMATE schools prevention program. An online intervention currently being implemented and researched by NDARC . You can view that project's study protocol here. The project is currently underway and due for completion in 2016.

 

New name for the Resource Centre

We'd love to hear your thoughts on a new name for the Resource Centre.  The following three options are currently being considered; you may wish to vote on one of these...

 

 

 

 

Healthy Options Library

 

Australian Drug and Mental Health Library

The Drug and Mental Health Library

... or please feel free to make your own suggestion/s. 

Ideally, the name would encompass the three organisations.  We hope to have this finalised ASAP.

Comment below with your vote or suggestion or email library@drugarm.com.au