Friday, 11 July 2014

Podcasts for PD

Considered podcasts for a professional development activity? 


http://www.podsocs.com/

Podsocs is a site compiling podcasts for social workers, hosted by Griffith University
http://www.podsocs.com/
Some sample topics:
- Social work in disasters
- Social work, robots and a technological future
- Finding Aboriginal identity












ABC Radio National's All In The Mind program has an archive of podcasts.  The show explores the connection between brain and behaviour
http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/allinthemind/
Sample topics:
- Willpower
- The forces that shape us
- Brain training for mental illness









The Wise Counsel Podcast has interviews on the topic of mental health and psychotherapy.  This one doesn't have recent content, but the archives are interesting nonetheless.
http://www.mentalhelp.net/poc/view_index.php?idx=119&w=9
Sample topics:
- Organize your mind, organize your life
- Trauma and art
- Forensic psychology


As always, if you have any suggestions for your colleagues please share in the comments.

Wednesday, 25 June 2014

5 Mental Health PD activities that you can do in less than 15 minutes

Time poor and haven't done your professional development for the month?  Try one of these online activities.


Watch Treating anxiety disorders: educational videos a 6 part educational series on treating anxiety - for training Master's level clinicians.  Produced by the Anxiety and Depression Association of America.  Takes about 15mins in total to view them all.


Drawing up a support chart A practice activity from ReachOut


Read one of the journal articles from the free-to-access International Journal of Mental Health Systems


Watch Vikram Patel's TED talk Mental health for all by involving all


Participate in a professional discussion on the PsychCentral forums




Have a quick PD activity to share with your colleagues? Comment below



Wednesday, 4 June 2014

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
 
 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 




 









Thursday, 15 May 2014

National Volunteer Week - thank you to our volunteers!



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


Wednesday, 14 May 2014

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 **

Wednesday, 7 May 2014

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