By Disabled World - 2008-10-13
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THE Rudd Government is working on a stimulus package using its multi-billion-dollar surpluses to pump-prime the economy as it warns that the global financial crisis is moving into a "new and dangerous phase" that will cut Australian growth and push up unemployment.
Kevin Rudd said yesterday the Government was assessing "in a calm, methodical and rational way" how best to deploy its projected surpluses and was not ruling out a special economic statement or mini-budget, nor the possibility the budget could go into deficit. The Government is also facing demands from the states of up to an extra $23 billion over four years in the new funding agreements on health, education, housing, vocation education and training, and disability services that are to be finalised at the November 17 Council of Australian Governments meeting, and come into effect from January.
New figures released by the Australian Division of World Action on Salt and Health (AWASH) has highlighted the dangerously high consumption of salt by teenage boys. The AWASH report released figures from the 2007 Australian National Children’s Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey showing teenage children aged 14-16 are eating more than twice the recommended daily intake for salt each day. The study also revealed that kids' take-away meals such as pizzas, burgers and sausages contain more than half the suggested dietary salt target for adults. High salt intake is one of the main causes of elevated blood pressure in Australia and the disease is the biggest cause of premature death and disability throughout the world. The report found boys and girls of all ages were consuming salt far in excess of the recommended daily intake.
Closer collaboration between key players would help to resolve the workforce issues facing the disability sector, a conference in Hobart heard today. Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier, Lisa Singh MP, opened the third annual Celebrating Support Workers Conference at Moonah today. Ms Singh said the disability sector was addressing some complex issues as part of the broader disability reform process, with the ageing of the workforce one important example. “The Government is working closely with National Disability Services (NDS) and other key non government partners across a very broad disability reform agenda, and I’m pleased to say the initiatives we have in place are beginning to show some very exciting results,” Ms Singh said.
Low back pain and sciatica will be come under the microscope at a Melbourne conference involving four Australasian medical organisations specialising in the treatment of these conditions. The Australasian Musculoskeletal Medicine Conference will be held at The Sebel, Albert Park 17-19 October. According to conference organiser, Dr Vic Wilk, Melbourne musculoskeletal physician, 96% of back pain partients who are referred to orthopaedic surgeons do not require surgery. “They can be treated in general practice,” Dr Wilk said. “Low back pain costs Australians approximately $1 billion per annum and could be treated better than it is at present.”
A HANDBOOK explaining Tasmania's planned education reforms has come under fire for excluding information for Aboriginal, disabled and migrant students. While the handbook for the trades-based polytechnic gives example programs and support information for these groups, the pre-university academy handbook does not. Tasmanian Academy chief executive officer Mike Brakey said his organisation was fully inclusive for all students who aspired to university.
Coming Events
Epilepsy Action, Australia is holding a national consumer symposium entitled Epilepsy: Top of Mind for people living with or affected by epilepsy.
The symposium to be held on 8 November 2008 at the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre, Darling Harbour. The symposium directly follows the Epilepsy Society of Australia’s Annual Scientific Meeting, which provides the opportunity to involve key national and international speakers, including neurologists and other specialists who will be in Sydney that week.
Epilepsy: Top of Mind will include major presentations on new medications and treatment options, community attitudes to epilepsy, employment, the latest in research and more. Disability Discrimination Commissioner Graeme Innes will be one of the speakers at the event. The format will include an official opening and morning plenary session followed by specialised streams for parents of children with epilepsy, adults living with epilepsy, professionals working with or providing services for people with epilepsy and an interactive stream for adolescents. There will also be an exhibition of products and services that are of benefit to people living with epilepsy and/or carers.
For more information or to register, phone 1300 37 45 37 or visit www.epilepsy.org.au
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