Message from the Chief Nurse Midwifery Officer.

“Aussies, watch out for mozzies” campaign

The Australian government has published important health information for those travelling to Rio de Janeiro for the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Brazil iscurrently experiencing a major outbreak of Zika virus. Yellow fever, chikungunya and dengue are also endemic in Brazil. The best defence against mosquito-borne viruses is to avoid being bitten. Please advise travellers to be aware of the risk of mosquito-borne viruses. For further information, please visit the Department of Health website.

Institute of Public Administration Australia (IPAA) Secretary’s Series Address

Martin Bowles PSM, Secretary of the Department of Health, gave a public address at the Institute of Public Administration Australia (IPAA) event on 21 June 2016. In the address, Martin talks about his background, the strategic reform agenda, and his view on the current health landscape. View the transcript of Martin’s public address.

Guidelines on the management of co-occurring alcohol and other drug and mental health conditions in alcohol and other drug treatment settings

The NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Mental Health and Substance Use at the University of New South Wales has published guidelines which aim to provide alcohol and other drug (AOD) workers with evidence-based information to assist with the management of co-occurring, or comorbid, AOD and mental health conditions. They are an update of the first edition published in 2009. To view the document, please visit the Department of Health publications page.

Victorian Parliament inquiry into end-of- life choices

The Victorian Government has now released the End of Life Choices Final Report. The Victorian Legislative Council was asked to consider and report on the need for laws in Victoria to allow citizens to make informed decisions about their own end of life choices.

View the End of Life Choices  final report.

UN Commission on Health Employment and Economic Growth

On 2 March 2016, the United Nations Secretary-General announced the appointment of a Commission on Health Employment and Economic Growth (the Commission), co-chaired by H.E. Mr. François Hollande, President of France, and H.E. Mr Jacob Zuma, President of South Africa. Dr Margaret Chan, Director-General of the World Health Organization will serve as the co-vice chair along with Mr Angel Gurría, Secretary-General of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development and Mr Guy Ryder, Director-General of the International Labour Organization.

The Commission is a strategic political initiative that complements broader initiatives, developed by international agencies and global health partners. It brings together a balance of policy, technical and geographical expertise from the education, employment, health, labour and foreign affairs sectors of government; alongside international organizations, health professional associations, trade unions, academia and civil society.

Nursing is well represented as both Judith Shamian, ICN President, and HRH Princess Muna Al-Hussein of Jordan, are members.

View further information on the Commission.

Antimicrobial resistance

The Australian Government has released the first National Antimicrobial Resistance Strategy to guide the response to the threat of antibiotic misuse and resistance. Developed in partnership with industry and government, the strategy will guide action by governments, health professionals, veterinarians, farmers and communities to reduce the emergence of resistant bacteria. A strategy Implementation Plan is currently being developed in consultation with stakeholders.

View the National Antimicrobial Resistance Strategy

The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care is also undertaking a project on Antimicrobial Use and Resistance in Australia (AURA) which aims to raise awareness of the issue of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and the risks that AMR and inappropriate antimicrobial use (AU) pose to human health. Throughout this project the Commission will be publishing reports, reviews and information sheets explaining the AURA project, the different aspects of AMR and AU, and some of the emergent resistant organisms. For further information on the project, please visit the Commission’s website.

Similarly, the UK has also recently released its Review on Antimicrobial Resistance in collaboration with the Wellcome Trust. View the publication.

Elder abuse: issues paper

The Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) is considering existing Commonwealth laws and frameworks that aim to safeguard and protect older. The ALRC was directed to consider the interaction of those laws with state and territory laws and to identify and model best practice legal frameworks which promote and support older people’s ability to participate equally in their community and protect against misuse or advantage taken by formal and informal supporters or representatives.

The Elder Abuse Issues Paper is the first consultation document in the Inquiry. It introduces the range of areas covered by the Terms of Reference and asks questions to assist in the development of reform responses through submissions from stakeholders. The submissions and further consultation rounds will inform the next stages of the process: a Discussion Paper to be released in November 2016; and the Final Report in May 2017.

View the issues papers here. Submissions should be received by ALRC by 18 August 2016.

Nursing leadership

A new issue of Nursing Leadership has been published, with a special focus on the Fundamentals of Care. View the various articles in volume 29.