http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/5779 2026-04-11T16:07:00Z 2026-04-11T16:07:00Z Freeman, Becky Dessaix, Anita Buchanan, Tanya http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/5847 2024-09-20T03:13:22Z 2023-11-21T00:00:00Z

Title: Closing loopholes in Australian vaping laws: Why Australia’s proposed vaping reforms are sound public health policy Authors: Freeman, Becky; Dessaix, Anita; Buchanan, Tanya Abstract: t’s a story we have heard countless times in recent years from young people – accessing vapes is easy, common, and happening at school, online, and through convenience retailers.1 The widespread availability and retailing of vapes across Australia has gone hand in hand with the rapid rise in young people vaping. The sale of vapes from local shops, positioned near schools, and with their enticing displays of candy and sweets lining the entrance, attracts a new young customer base. The vapes themselves come in the very same candy-scented flavours and are sold cheaply, and illegally, to young people. These self-claimed ‘responsible retailers’ are addicting a new generation to nicotine

2023-11-21T00:00:00Z Oster, Candice Bogomolova, Svetlana http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/5845 2024-09-20T03:04:19Z 2023-11-30T00:00:00Z

Title: Potential lateral and upstream consequences in the development and implementation of social prescribing in Australia Authors: Oster, Candice; Bogomolova, Svetlana Abstract: Social prescribing generally involves referral from health services (e.g. primary care) to services provided by the community and voluntary sectors (e.g. housing or financial support; supports to address social isolation). Social prescribing, then, sits at the interface between health, community, and voluntary services and aims to address the lack of integration between services to better address people’s holistic needs. However, concerns have been raised internationally about the potential lateral effect of increased referrals on the capacity of the existing community and voluntary services.17 Brown et al.,18 for example, note “concerns that existing community assets may not be able to handle the increased demand without receiving additional resources and training” (p. 620). These concerns are also relevant to the Australian context

2023-11-30T00:00:00Z Vourliotis, Tiana Twyman, Laura Trigg, Joshua Fairweather, Alicia Kate Disney, George Lawn, Sharon Kavanagh, Anne Bonevsk, Billie http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/5842 2024-09-20T02:58:00Z 2023-11-13T00:00:00Z

Title: High tobacco smoking rates in people with disability: An unaddressed public health issue Authors: Vourliotis, Tiana; Twyman, Laura; Trigg, Joshua; Fairweather, Alicia Kate; Disney, George; Lawn, Sharon; Kavanagh, Anne; Bonevsk, Billie Abstract: Tobacco smoking is the leading preventable cause of death and disease in Australia.1 In Australia, tobacco use has declined due to population health interventions, such as smoke-free environments legislation and increasing product taxes. However, the decrease is not consistent across the whole of society; there remains significantly higher smoking prevalence among people experiencing social, economic or cultural disadvantage (hereafter, ‘priority populations’).2 One group with high smoking rates is people with disability who have an Australian daily smoking prevalence of 24.5% for individuals aged 15–64 (compared to 12.6% for those without disability).3 Article 1 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability describes people with disability as those ‘with long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments, which in interaction with various barriers may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others’. 4 Smoking rates are consistently higher among people with disability, and these patterns hold across six disability sub-groups (intellectual, physical, psychosocial, sensory, acquired brain injury and other) than among people without disability.5 Across 21 European countries, people with disability had consistently higher smoking rates than their non-disabled peers.6 Tobacco-related health burden is inequitably higher among people with disability, who are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease, respiratory illness and cancer.3,7

2023-11-13T00:00:00Z Oberai, Mehak Xu, Zhiwei Bach, Aaron J. E. Phung, Dung Watzek, Jessica T. Rutherford, Shannon http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/5801 2024-09-14T04:54:29Z 2023-11-21T00:00:00Z

Title: Preparing for a hotter climate: A systematic review and meta-analysis of heatwaves and ambulance callouts in Australia Authors: Oberai, Mehak; Xu, Zhiwei; Bach, Aaron J. E.; Phung, Dung; Watzek, Jessica T.; Rutherford, Shannon Abstract: Abstract Objective: The objective of this study was to quantify the impact of heatwaves on likelihood of ambulance callouts for Australia. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to retrieve and synthesise evidence published from 1 January 2011 to 31 May 2023 about the association between heatwaves and the likelihood of ambulance callouts in Australia. Different heatwave definitions were used ranging from excess heat factor to heatwave defined as a continuous period with temperatures above certain defined thresholds (which varied based on study locations). Results: We included nine papers which met the inclusion criteria for the review. Eight were eligible for the meta-analyses. The multilevel metaanalyses revealed that the likelihood of ambulance callouts for all causes and for cardiovascular diseases increased by 10% (95% confidence interval: 8%, 13%) and 5% (95% confidence interval: 1%, 3%), respectively, during heatwave days. Conclusions: Exposure to heatwaves is associated with an increased likelihood of ambulance callouts, and there is a dose–response association between heatwave severity and the likelihood of ambulance callouts. Implications for public health: The number of heatwave days are going to increase, and this will mean an increase in the likelihood of ambulance callouts, thereby, spotlighting the real burden that heatwaves place on our already stressed healthcare system. The findings of this study underscore the critical need for proactive measures, including the establishment of research initiatives and holistic heat health awareness campaigns, spanning from the individual and community levels to the healthcare system, in order to create a more resilient Australia in the face of heatwave-related challenges. Key words: excess heat factor, ambulance services, heatwave action

2023-11-21T00:00:00Z