In this update:

age discrimination sexual discrimination UK Equality & Human Rights Commission analytics for the public sector grantseeker manual sustainable communities housing needs of asset-poor older persons housing affordability single homelessness

health reform online health information ward rounds allied health professions service improvement chronic disease self-management costing care pathways mandatory folic acid and iodine fortification promoting mental health

end of life planning adult safeguarding Disability Services Bill 2011 (Tas) families in Australia child protection and family law domestic abuse digital media habits of young children poverty and ethnicity

	The Elephant in the Room. Age Discrimination in Employment   finds that age discrimination is widespread - in recruitment, in promotion, and during times of retrenchment. It is evident in workplace harassment and pressure to retire, and in the unspoken but powerful assumption that the best workers are young workers. National Seniors Productive Ageing Centre (April 2011) Addressing sexual orientation and sex and or gender identity discrimination. Consultation Report   discusses findings from a public consultation that canvassed the experiences and views of people who may have been discriminated against on the basis of their sexual orientation or sex and/or gender identity. Australian Human Rights Commission (Apr 2011) UK Equality and Human Rights Commission Business Plan 2011 / 2012    focused on the following areas: making the Equality Act easier to embrace for employers and service providers; raising organisational standards; promoting human rights; building the evidence base for effective regulation; employment: a fair and equal recovery; reforming the Commission to be more efficient and effective. UK Equality and Human Rights Commission (May 2011) The power of analytics for public sector: building analytics competency to accelerate outcomes   Today’s unprecedented “information explosion” can paralyze government and other public sector organizations as they address increasingly intertwined public issues. Yet, a historic opportunity exists to accelerate desired outcomes by embracing analytics as a core management competency. US IBM Institute for Business Value (May 2011) The Grantseeker Manual designed to support small to medium sized NGOs that may not currently have the capacity or resources to undertake effective grant seeking activities. Philanthropy Australia & Community Services, NSW Dept of Human Services  (Mar 2011) Sustainable Australia - sustainable communities, a sustainable population strategy for Australia    The Strategy recognises that population change is not only about the growth and overall size of our population, it is also about the needs and skills of our population, how we live, and importantly, where we live. It recognises that population change impacts different communities in different ways.  See also,  the Productivity Commission's Submission to the Taskforce on the Sustainable Population Strategy for Australia. Comm Dept of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (May 2011) Other countries' policy initiatives to meet the housing needs of asset-poor older persons: implications for Australia   involved a systematic review of the international literature, with the purpose of identifying whether overseas experiences (USA, UK, Canada, France, Italy and Germany) are applicable in the Australian context. AHURI (May 2011)   Improving housing affordability: the tax reform debate   with, particular emphasis on the Henry Tax Review’s recommendations for addressing housing supply issues - and the impact of the recommended reforms on housing affordability stress. AHURI Research Seminar, Melbourne (May 2011) The Hidden Truth about Homelessness: Experiences of Single Homelessness in England  The clear message from this report is that to be single and homeless in England is, effectively, to be hidden. Staying with friends, squatting and rough sleeping emerge as precarious scenarios in which homeless people accommodate themselves away from the reach of support and advice services and often in insecure and dangerous conditions. UK Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research (CRESR) and CRISIS (May 2011)
	The Government's Health Reforms: An Analysis of the Need for Clarification and Change This paper is provided to inform the Prime Minister of the changes to the UK Health and Social Care Bill and wider health reform proposals that the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) believes is necessary. UK RCGP (May 2011) The Social Life of Health Information, 2011   The internet has changed people’s relationships with information. Our data consistently show that doctors, nurses, and other health professionals continue to be the first choice for most people with health concerns, but online resources, including advice from peers, are a significant source of health information in the U.S. US Pew Internet & American Life Project (May 2011) Multidisciplinary Ward Rounds: A Resource   One of the main themes of the Special Commission of Inquiry – Acute Care Services in NSW Public Hospitals (the Garling Report) was the need for the adoption of an interdisciplinary collaborative model of care. Fundamental to this model is the multidisciplinary ward round. NSW Health (Apr 2011) Allied Health Professions Service Improvement Project  The report summary and compendium provide details of improvements for children and adults in the 27 participating services including engagement with patients and carers in redesign of services. UK Health (may 2011) Report of the evaluation of the Blue Mountains GP network chronic disease self-management project   The social and economic burden of chronic conditions is set to increase in western societies because of ageing populations, an increase in numbers of those with chronic conditions and associated escalating health costs. The Menzies Centre for Health Policy (May 2011) Costing care pathways: Understanding the cost of the diabetes care pathway. A health briefing    finds that care pathways are altered, and commissioning decisions made, with the intention of benefitting patients, but often without fully understanding the cost implications. Poor quality data across outpatient and community services was the most common barrier to costing the pathways. UK Audit Commission, produced jointly with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (May 2011) Mandatory folic acid and iodine fortification in Australia and New Zealand   To help reduce the incidence of serious birth defects, mandatory folic acid and iodine fortification in flour has begun in Australia and New Zealand. This report outlines the baseline date used to monitor this trial. AIHW (May 2011) Working with Australians to promote mental health, prevent mental illness and support recovery. Evaluation of the FaHCSIA targeted Community Care Mental Health Initiatives. Final report, Mar 2011   The Initiatives are demonstrating quality service and making a substantial contribution to the service system by increasing access to services, improving service pathways and ensuring social inclusion.  Workforce supply and quality issues and the development of collaborative services are ongoing challenges. Prepared for the FaHCSIA  by Courage Partners (Released May 2011)
	Planning for the end of life for people with dementia: part two   The general reluctance in our society to discuss end-of-life issues translates into a failure by many to prepare properly for the end of life, including not making wills, expressing wishes about funeral arrangements, considering the need to make powers of attorney or give directions for care through advance directives ... considers what additional options might become available in the future. These could include euthanasia and assisted suicide. Alzheimer's Australia (May 2011) Statement of Government policy on adult safeguarding    includes a statement of principles for use by local authority social services and other agencies for developing and assessing the effectiveness of their local safeguarding arrangements. UK Health (May 2011)   Disability Services Bill 2011   A draft version of the Disability Services Bill was made available for public comment during December 2010 and January 2011. Feedback and comments have been considered and the Bill redrafted. Tas Health and Human Services (Apr 2011) Families in Australia 2011: Sticking together in good and tough times  draws on recent statistics to provide a picture of selected aspects of Australian families in 2011, including demographic and social changes that set the scene for contemporary family life; patterns of participation in work and family life; participation in community life through voluntary work and caring for others, expectations about the availability of support in times of need, and government assistance to families and individuals; and, economic wellbeing and life satisfaction. AIFS (May 2011) Child protection and family law… Joining the dots  looks at the specific issues facing those responsible for ensuring the safety and wellbeing of children in the context of parental separation, and the two separate legal systems: family law and child protection. AIFS (May 2011) Information and Guidance on Domestic Abuse: Safeguarding Children and Young People in Wales  This document aims to provide information to those working with children in education and youth settings in Wales to help protect them from the issues relating to domestic abuse and try to reduce future incidents via preventative work. UK Welsh Assembly (May 2011) Always Connected: the new digital media habits of young children   "the figures in this report provide strong evidence that children’s media habits are, in fact, out of balance. In the final analysis, we need higher-quality educational offerings to promote critical thinking for children and adults in their selection and use of media." US The Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop (May 2011) Poverty and ethnicity: A review of evidence: a review of evidence    The research focused on: the three main areas affecting experiences of poverty – education, work and unpaid caring; how social networks and place shape experiences and opportunities; inequality within ethnic minority groups UK Joseph Rowntree (May 2011)