27 July 2015

Just words...
What we talk about 
when we talk about health

Please join us on

Friday 21 August 2015
12:30-1:30pm
the Long Room in Parliament House, Hobart

for a presentation on the findings of a study into what Tasmanians from all walks of life think about health, the factors that impact upon it & the language we use.
  
We invite you to join the conversation with our Host:

The Hon. Ruth Forrest MLC, Chair of the Joint Select Committee on Preventative Health Care;

Researchers: Ms Miriam Vandenberg & Dr Michael Bentley;

and Panellists:
· Ms Cheynee Pullen from Gagebrook Community Centre
· Dr Richard Eccleston from the Institute for the Study of Social Change
· Ms Robin Banks, Tasmania’s Anti-Discrimination Commissioner
  
All welcome to this free event. Light lunch provided. RSVP to socialdeterminantsofhealthtas@gmail.com by 19 August 2015.

This study was undertaken for the Social Determinants of Health Advocacy Network (Tasmania)

and funded by the proceeds from the ‘Our Health - who decides?’ Forum held in November 2013.

13 July 2015

SDOHAN - Information to share



2. Invitation to a Lunchtime Conversation – Commissioner for Children
Each month we discuss an issue of interest and importance, that affects children and young people.  At each conversation a speaker with expertise or experience in a particular area will lead the conversation with a short talk. The purpose of this series of conversations is to generate discussions, broaden networks and develop possible strategies to further support or progress issues of importance to children.  Our last Lunchtime Conversation on The Ingredients of a Child Safe Organisation was well attended and well received.

July’s Conversation will be about
Cumulative childhood trauma and its impact on educational outcomes.  This upcoming Lunchtime Conversation will be on held Wednesday 22nd July, between 13.00pm and 1400pm.  It will be held at our office at 119 Macquarie Street, Hobart. 

In Tasmania we are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of the need for higher levels of participation in education. The next topic in this series of conversations will focus on the impact of cumulative trauma on children and young people and the impact this has on their education.  More effective support for this cohort of children will ensure greater numbers gain an education. And thus go on to live happier, healthier and more productive lives.
Steve Bentley -  who has recently completed a Churchill Fellowship will be the guest speaker and will give a 30 minute presentation on this topic.  The remainder of the session will be taken up with general conversation related to this topic.

Please RSVP by Monday 20th July 2015.  Please note, places will be limited to the first twenty five people or organisations who RSVP to this invitation.  A light lunch will be provided. If after accepting, you are unable to attend for any reason can you please let us know so we can reallocate your place. RSVPs to Linda Bowen.    linda.bowen@childcomm.tas.gov.au,     Phone – 03 6233 4520.


3. TPPA – Things you need to know
Australian Health Promotion Association

Dear Members
Deborah Gleeson has prepared the following list of very important developments we need to know about the TPPA (Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement).  The developments happening are listed below for your information and action where you deem appropriate. 
1.       Fast track: The US Senate passed the ‘fast track’ (Trade Promotion Authority) legislation early yesterday morning. CLICK HERE This has been the main barrier to concluding the TPP negotiations, so they are now likely to be wrapped up in a matter of weeks (although there are still some very contentious issues to be resolved). There is no confirmed date yet for the ministerial meeting, although one news article has suggested mid-July.
2.      Productivity Commission report: The Productivity Commission released a report that is strongly critical of the Australian Government’s approach to trade negotiations generally, and cast a lot of doubt on the claimed benefits of the trade deals recently concluded. It was also highly critical of the TPP negotiations and in particular the lack of transparency: "...the absence of any rigorous and transparent assessment of the agreement before government commitment is a critical failure in transparency." (p. 162). See Peter Martin’s article in the SMH and chapters 4 and 7 of the PC Report.
3.      DFAT information sheet on TPP, and Médecins Sans Frontières' response: DFAT has published a “fact” sheet about the TPP ... MSF has issued a media release in response.  Pat Ranald is also preparing a response.
4.      Senate Inquiry Report, and AFTINET’s response: The report of the Senate Inquiry into the Commonwealth’s Treaty Making Process was released yesterday. AFTINET’s media release  basically argue that the report accurately describes the problems but doesn’t go far enough in its recommendations to fix them. The Greens have apparently issued a dissenting report. 
5.      Human Rights statements: Human rights experts in most of the TPP countries have united to seek a human rights evaluation of the TPP, following a statement by 10 UN human rights experts voicing concerns over the impact of trade and investment agreements on human rights.
6.      Two opinion articles: Michael Moore wrote in the City News about ISDS and Ruth Lopert and Deborah Gleeson  wrote for the Canberra Times on how the TPP could drive us towards an American-style health system


4. How Pop-Up Stores, Origami Shelters And Bus Stop Bedrooms Are Helping Tackle Homelessness


5. Inequalities in health: definitions, concepts, and theories
ARCAYA, Mariana C.; ARCAYA, Alyssa L.; SUBRAMANIAN, S. V.
Global Health Action, [S.l.], v. 8, jun. 2015. ISSN 1654-9880

Individuals from different backgrounds, social groups, and countries enjoy different levels of health. This article defines and distinguishes between unavoidable health inequalities and unjust and preventable health inequities. We describe the dimensions along which health inequalities are commonly examined, including across the global population, between countries or states, and within geographies, by socially relevant groupings such as race/ethnicity, gender, education, caste, income, occupation, and more. Different theories attempt to explain group-level differences in health, including psychosocial, material deprivation, health behavior, environmental, and selection explanations. Concepts of relative versus absolute; dose–response versus threshold; composition versus context; place versus space; the life course perspective on health; causal pathways to health; conditional health effects; and group-level versus individual differences are vital in understanding health inequalities. We close by reflecting on what conditions make health inequalities unjust, and to consider the merits of policies that prioritize the elimination of health disparities versus those that focus on raising the overall standard of health in a population.

How to obtain this article: click here.


6. Advocacy for Health Equity: A Synthesis Review
Linden Farrer, Claudia Marinetti, Yoline Kuipers Cavaco, Caroline Costongs
Milbank Q. 2015 Jun; 93(2): 392–437
Published online: 4 Jun 2015
Health inequalities are systematic differences in health among social groups that are caused by unequal exposure to—and distributions of—the social determinants of health (SDH). They are persistent between and within countries despite action to reduce them. Advocacy is a means of promoting policies that improve health equity, but the literature on how to do so effectively is dispersed. The aim of this review is to synthesize the evidence in the academic and gray literature and to provide a body of knowledge for advocates to draw on to inform their efforts.
How to access click here.


7. Health Inequalities and Intersectionality
This briefing note briefly explains intersectionality and explores the potential of an intersectional approach to reducing health inequalities.
Published in January 2015. DescriptionDownload http://www.ncchpp.ca/images/contenu/pdf_nouveau.gif 668 K

Intersectionality is a way to think about and act upon social inequality and discrimination.  It offers a promising approach to these issues within public policy and within public health.  This briefing note introduces the approach and explores the potential contribution of intersectionality to reducing health inequalities.


8. The socioeconomic gradient and chronic illness and associated risk factors in Australia: how far have we travelled? Evidence from the ABS National Health Survey series






11. Transnational Corporations and Health: A Research Agenda
Frances Elaine Baum and Julia Margaret Anaf; International Journal of Health Services 2015, Vol. 45(2) 353–362http://joh.sagepub.com/content/45/2/353.full.pdf+html

Abstract
Transnational corporations (TNCs) are part of an economic system of global capitalism that operates under a neoliberal regime underpinned by strong support from international organisations such as the World Trade Organization, World Bank, and most nation states. Although TNCs have grown in power and influence and have had a significant impact on population health over the past three decades, public health has not developed an integrated research agenda to study them. This article outlines the shape of such an agenda and argues that it is vital that research into the public health impact of TNCs be pursued and funded as a matter of priority. The four areas of the agenda are: assessing the health and equity impacts of TNCs; evaluating the
effectiveness of government regulation to mitigate health and equity impacts of TNCs; studying the work of activist groups and networks that highlight adverse impacts of TNCs; and considering how regulation of capitalism could better promote a healthier and more equitable corporate sector.


12. In It Together: Why Less Inequality Benefits All