Posts tagged public policy
Who’s lobbying whom? When it comes to alcohol, tobacco, food and gambling firms, we’re in the dark
Who’s lobbying whom? When it comes to alcohol, tobacco, food and gambling firms, we’re in the dark

It can be very difficult to get traction for meaningful policy change that will benefit the Australian public, particularly for marginalised communities. What can make it even harder is the influence of corporate actors, which is often hidden from public view. In today’s post, VicHealth postdoctoral research fellow Jenn Lacy-Nichols (@JLacyNichols) of University of Melbourne (@unimelbMSPGH) and Katherine Cullerton of University of Queensland (@UQmedicine) share their research findings into tracking the lobbying activities of corporations. This article first appeared in the The Conversation on 13 November 20203; you can read it in its original form here.

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Policy and governancePower to Persuadegovernment, economic policy, public policy, public health
Deadlier than flames: The devastating impacts of bushfire smoke
Deadlier than flames: The devastating impacts of bushfire smoke

2023 has made headlines as the hottest year in recorded history, and Australia is gearing up for a serious bushfire season. In today’s post, VicHealth Postdoctoral Research Fellow Rongbin Xu (@RongbinXu) of Monash University (@MonashUni) shares his research into how bushfire smoke is an increasingly hazardous public health threat and needs a more focused policy response.

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Creating using evidencePower to Persuadeclimate change, public health, public policy, health
DrinkWise: A wise partner choice?
DrinkWise: A wise partner choice?

Not too long ago a global survey named Australia the ‘drunkest country in the world.’ Meanwhile, studies are increasingly emphasising that there is no ‘healthy’ or ‘safe’ level of drinking. In today’s post, VicHealth (@VicHealth) Postdoctoral Fellow Florentine Martino (@FP_Martino) of Deakin University (@IHT_Deakin) discusses how the Australian alcohol industry influences health policy through its registered charity DrinkWise.

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AdvocacyPower to Persuadepublic health, public policy, social determinants of health
It's time to stop the processed food industry from compromising children's health
It's time to stop the processed food industry from compromising children's health

which in turn is driven by the marketing of unhealthy foods. In today’s post, VicHealth (@VicHealth) Research Fellow Alexandra Chung (@Chung_Alexandra) of Monash University (MonashUni) traces the problem to its origins in childhood and explains recent proposals to curb commercial activity that compromises children’s health.

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Policy and governancePower to Persuadepublic health, public policy, Children
The sun is setting on archaic abortion laws in the West
The sun is setting on archaic abortion laws in the West

In today’s analysis, Megan Elias discusses the impact of recent reforms to abortion law in Western Australia. Megan is a women’s and sexual health professional based in Boorloo, working across government and the not-for-profit sector. Megan is WA representative and Secretary for the Australian Women’s Health Network (@AusWomensHealth).

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Womens Policy Action Tank, Service DeliveryWomen's Policy Action Tankhealthcare, women, public policy, Abortion
Can stewardship bring First Nations’ knowledges to the centre of being a public servant in Australia?
Can stewardship bring First Nations’ knowledges to the centre of being a public servant in Australia?

Today’s piece explores the possibility of a uniquely Australian approach to stewardship in public policy informed by First Nations ways of knowing. It is by Andrew Morgan, who is a Sir Roland Wilson Scholar at ANZSOG and the Crawford School of Public Policy at ANU, with contributions from Craig Ritchie and Lisa Conway.

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Innovation, Policy and governancePower to Persuadefirst nations, stewardship, Public Servants, public policy
The administrative burden of forms can stop people getting the services they need
The administrative burden of forms can stop people getting the services they need

Forms are innocuous, dry, and often boring pieces of bureaucratic technology that most people consider as an inconvenience. But despite their relatively innocuous nature, forms play a critical role in the collection of information and often represent a filtering mechanism in gaining access to programs or support in the modern welfare state.

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Policy and governance, AccessibilityPower to Persuadepublic policy, social services
The Batty Effect: a case study on the influence of victim-survivors, and an argument for purposefully engaging and empowering diverse voices in the development of public policy
The Batty Effect: a case study on the influence of victim-survivors, and an argument for purposefully engaging and empowering diverse voices in the development of public policy

Why are victim-survivors of gender-based violence such powerful agents of change? What perils do they face? New research published in the journal Violence Against Women (@VAWJournal) presents findings from an in-depth study of domestic and family violence advocate Rosie Batty and the significant social and policy change she helped to drive in Australia. Lead author Lisa Wheildon (@wheeliebinit), from BehaviourWorks at the Monash Sustainable Development Institute, shares a summary of the findings from the study, co-authored with Professor Jacqui True (@JacquiTrue), Associate Professor Asher Flynn (@AsherFlynn), and Abby Wild.

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Policy and governancePower to Persuadedomestic violence, family violence, public policy, gendered violence
It’s a patient’s right to be involved in decisions about their healthcare – so why aren’t we doing it enough?
It’s a patient’s right to be involved in decisions about their healthcare – so why aren’t we doing it enough?

We expect to be included in decisions about our care, yet one in three patients report not being included as much as they would like. Health services are working to include patients in decisions through Shared Decision Making (SDM) but lack robust research evidence to support implementation in hospitals. In today’s analysis Alexandra Waddell (@WADDELLAL) of Monash University (@BehaviourWorksAustralia) shares a summary of her recently-published paper, co-authored with Alyse Lennox (@alyselennox), Gerri Spassova, and Peter Bragge (@BraggePeter). It is the first publication to explore insights into barriers and facilitators to SDM faced by patients and clinicians, specifically in hospital environments. It also goes beyond past research to include other crucial stakeholders such as health service decision-makers and administrators, and government policymakers.

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Policy and governancePower to Persuadepublic health, health, behaviour change, public policy