In this update:

future research in higher education hospital resource allocation NHS future reform forum patient experience regulated nurses health, work and wellbeing chronic disease end-stage kidney disease obesity Health Indicators 2011 - Canada

opioid pharmacotherapy statistics health expenditure for ATSI people Aboriginal injury prevention migration health planning for the aging population healthier and more sustainable catering flooding and insurance disability long-term care caregiving in later life adults facing multiple deprivation public policy and gambling

child material deprivation collecting data from parents and children parents and families - social exclusion & inclusion cyber-safety and the young indigenous youth in the criminal justice system working with indigenous children & families universal access to education for ATSI children crime prevention for CALD communities homelessness - CALD people with mental illness homelessness prevention -women & children who have experienced family violence tenant engagement

	Big Ideas for the Future   new report from Research Councils UK (RCUK) and Universities UK that explores the excellent research taking place in UK higher education at the moment and what it will mean for us in 20 years time. It features research from all fields including medicine, science, engineering and social sciences. UK Research Councils (June 2011) Review of efficiency measurement methodologies to inform hospital resource allocations in NSW   The Centre for Efficiency and Productivity Analysis conducted this review to identify efficiency modelling methodologies and data considerations relevant to Australia and of use to NSW Health and the Independent Hospital Pricing Authority in driving decisions about resource allocation ... measures of efficiency relevant to health funding and price benchmarking decisions include cost efficiency, input-oriented technical efficiency and cost-allocative efficiency. The Sax Institute (June 2011)   Government response to the NHS future forum report   This document summaries the key changes that the government intends to make in response to the NHS future forum. The changes are largely structured around the four workstream themes considered by the NHS future forum ans some require amendments to the Health and Social Care Bill. UK Health (June 2011) Overall Patient Experience Measure Updated to Include Results from the 2010 Inpatient Survey These statistics use responses that NHS patients gave in the wide-ranging national patient survey programme to calculate an overall set of scores to measure patient views on the care they receive. They include scores for five headline 'domains' of patient experience, together with an overall measure.   UK Health (May 2011)   Regulated Nurses: Canadian Trends, 2005 to 2009 draws on data from the Canadian Institute for Health Information's Nursing Database, which covers the three regulated nursing professions in Canada: registered nurses (RNs), licensed practical nurses (LPNs) and registered psychiatric nurses (RPNs).  See also Companion Products Canada CIHI (Dec 2010) Health, Work and Well-being: Attitudes of GPs, line managers and the general public   Key to the research was exploring the various audiences’ motivators and barriers to changing attitudes towards health and work to maintain a healthy workforce and aid return to work. It was also important to explore their views on what should be the key drivers for change. UK Work and Pensions (June 2011) Key indicators of progress for chronic disease and associated determinants   With preventive health now a major focus of health reform in Australia, this report provides information about the prevalence of those chronic diseases for which behavioural changes, or increased screening practices, can reduce onset, assist in management, or prevent death. AIHW (June 2011) End-stage kidney disease in Australia: total incidence, 2003-2007  The incidence of end-stage kidney disease is an important indicator of the health of the Australian population and valuable for healthcare planning. In the past we have been limited to counting only individuals treated with dialysis or transplant. This report presents a new method for counting the total incidence of end-stage kidney disease which also includes those not treated with dialysis or transplant ...  although the vast majority of these are elderly. AIHW (June 2011) Obesity in Canada. A joint report from the Canadian Population Health Initiative of the Canadian Institute for Health Information and the Public Health Agency of Canada  examines the prevalence of obesity among adults, children, youth and Aboriginal Peoples; presents new analyses of the determinants of obesity using innovative measures; and reports on the impact of obesity in Canada. In addition, Canadian and international lessons learned in obesity prevention and reduction are highlighted. Canada CIHI (June 2011) Health Indicators 2011 is the 12th in a series of annual reports containing the most recently available health indicators data from the Canadian Institute for Health Information and Statistics Canada. In addition to presenting the latest indicator data, this year's report features a focus section on mental health, including five new indicators that provide information about Canada's mental health system. See related documents Canada CIHI (June 2011)
	National Opioid Pharmacotherapy Statistics Annual Data collection: 2010 report   The number of Australians receiving pharmacotherapy treatment for dependence on opioid drugs such as heroin continues to rise, and the proportion of older clients is also increasing ... The findings show that on a snapshot day in 2010 there were over 46,000 clients who received pharmacotherapy for opioid dependence. AIHW (June 2011) Expenditure on health for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people 2008-09   health expenditure for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people was estimated at $3,700 million, amounting to 3.5% of Australia's total health expenditure in that year. AIHW (June 2011) Aboriginal injury prevention projects   The NSW Department of Health is establishing a four year program to provide grants to fund and evaluate demonstration projects that aim to prevent injury among Aboriginal people, as part of the NSW implementation plan for the National Partnership Agreement on Closing the Gap in Indigenous Health Outcomes. The Sax Institute (June 2011) Migration Health: Embracing a Determinants of Health Approach   examines how research is helping to broaden the approach to migration health, from one principally focused on preventing the spread of disease to one that also seeks to maintain the health of newcomers as they settle into their new environments. Health Policy Research Bulletin, Dec 2010, Issue 17 - Migration health Canada Health (Dec 2010) Better with Age: Health systems planning for the aging population. A regional roundtable series   The roundtable series aimed to: bring clarity to the impact of population aging on the financial sustainability of Medicare; raise the profile of the most pressing policy- and decision-making challenges and research gaps; and, offer ideas and strategies for delivering high-quality care to seniors. Includes final regional reports and presentations. Canadian Health Services Research Foundation  (June 2011) Healthier and more sustainable catering - Toolkit and supporting nutrition principles  This toolkit provides practical information for caterers and procurement managers. It gives guidance that will help improve the nutritional quality of the food provided while reducing the environmental impact of catering services.   UK Health (June 2011) Flooding and insurance – a roadmap to 2013 and beyond. An interim report of the flood insurance working groups    Insurance plays a key role in flood risk management. Defra Ministers hosted a meeting in September 2010 to discuss flooding and insurance. This was in the context of the expiry, in 2013, of the current agreement between Government and insurers, known as the Statement of Principles. UK Environment, Food and Rural Affairs   Productivity Commission – Inquiry into a National Disability Long-Term Care and Support Scheme. NSW Government Response to the Draft Report on Disability Care and Support     The NSW Government considers that the Productivity Commission needs to undertake further work on a number of foundation issues, such as: governance arrangements; funding mechanisms; the detail of the coverage; and the role of the non-government service sector in building community capability to support people with a disability. NSW Government (May 2011) How U.S. Older Adults Provide Care for Their Aging Parents, Adult Children, and Friends   examines new research on caregiving in later life—a time when men and women may spend their time in similar ways as they enter their retirement years. The study explored whether retirement and marital status made a difference in how men and women helped others. Specifically, they set out to learn whether men replaced paid work with time spent helping others after retirement and whether divorced people spent less time caring for kin, reflecting weakened family ties. The findings shed light on the costs of caregiving and the quality of life of older people. US Population Reference Bureau, Policy Seminar Series (May 2011) Local Solutions for Adults Facing Multiple Deprivation: Adults facing chronic exclusion evaluation - Final report    This publication evaluates the pilots that began in 2007 for new ways of working with excluded people who do not access services in the community. It provides information on cost-benefit measurements, pilot outcomes and policy recommendations. UK Communities and Local Government (June 2011) Evidence and social policy: the case of gambling   At a Luncheon Seminar for Corporate Members of the South Australian  in late March 2011, Mr Gary Banks, AO, Chairman of the Productivity Commission, gave a speech on evidence and public policy in respect of gambling. .... "As in other areas of public health and consumer policy, reducing harm for people who gamble requires a focus on two strategies: strengthening people’s capacity for informed choice (‘self-responsibility’) and moderating the hazardous features of the ‘environment’ in which people gamble." Gary Banks Chairman, Productivity Commission (May 2011)
	Review of the child material deprivation items in the family resources survey  This publication aims to propose changes to the overall set of indicators used to measure child poverty. It provides evidence on which items , including material goods, activities, access to services, are now regarded as essential in the UK UK Department for Work and Pensions (May 2011) Collecting data from parents and children for the purpose of evaluation: Issues for child and family services in disadvantaged communities. CAFCA Practice Sheet  Collecting data can be challenging for service providers - parents may be wary of sharing information with service providers; may speak languages other than English; and collecting data directly from young children can be difficult because traditional methods of data collection (e.g., surveys and interviews) are usually not appropriate or effective. Communities and Families Clearinghouse, AIFS (June 2011) What role can child and family services play in enhancing opportunities for parents and families: Exploring the concepts of social exclusion and social inclusion social inclusion can be encouraged by, for example: providing a space for parents and children to meet with one another and develop friendships and informal support networks; providing opportunities for parents to take up leadership roles within programs; and encouraging parents and children to contribute to decision-making processes in the local community. Communities and Families Clearinghouse, AIFS (May 2011) High-Wire Act: Cyber-Safety and the Young. Parliament of Australia Joint Select Committee on Cyber-Safety   The report takes into account the opinions and internet habits of an unprecedented 33,751 young Australian internet users ... results highlight the fact that younger generations not only hold the key to their own safety, but also that their knowledge and risk-management strategies are frequently undervalued. Young Australians have a wealth of experience with new technologies and are often more equipped to respond appropriately to online risks than is assumed. Joint Select Committee on Cyber-Safety (June 2011) Doing time - time for doing. Indigenous youth in the criminal justice system   It has been 20 years since the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody Report and yet the incarceration rate of Indigenous Australians, including Indigenous youth, is worse now. Indigenous juveniles are 28 times more likely than non-Indigenous juveniles to be incarcerated, despite Indigenous peoples representing only 2.5 percent of the Australian population. Standing Committee on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs (June 2011) Working with Indigenous children, families, and communities: Lessons from practice   Methods that child and family services can use to support Indigenous families and communities include: working with (rather than working "on") Indigenous communities; ensuring your service is culturally competent; focusing on attracting and retaining the right staff; cultivating  networks and relationships; and adopting an action research approach. Communities and Families Clearinghouse, AIFS (Feb 2011) Universal Access to early childhood education for Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Universal Access Strategy  outlines the participation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in early childhood education in urban, regional and remote locations and identifies four key focus areas: increasing access; positive community awareness and engagement; quality early childhood programs and activities; and cultural awareness of teachers and support staff. DEEWR (Mar 2011) Crime prevention programs for culturally and linguistically diverse communities in Australia   people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities may face a range of complex issues, including discrimination and prejudice, social isolation and disenfranchisement, and difficulties in assimilating. In addition, refugees may be suffering from undiagnosed or untreated trauma. All of these factors may impact on involvement in and engagement with the criminal justice system ... CALD-specific crime prevention programs, which serve to promote resiliency and protective factors and/or inhibit risk factors, are presented. AIC (June 2011) Homelessness amongst CALD people with a mental illness (Registration required to download report)     The report confirms little is known about rates of homelessness among people with a mental illness from immigrant backgrounds because data collection is neither mandatory nor consistent. The research also shows that that very few organisations which collect data review it or use it to develop specific strategies due to limited staff and financial resources.   Multicultural Mental Health Australia (MMHA) (June 2011 ) Homelessness prevention for women and children who have experienced domestic and family violence: Innovations in policy and practice    This project will explore the value and implementation challenges of innovative staying at home homelessness prevention measures, such as Staying Home Leaving Violence schemes in Australia, and Sanctuary schemes in England and Wales. This Positioning Paper is the first output from the research project. AHURI (June 2011) Tenant Engagement Framework: public consultation   The Framework sets out the strategic approach to tenant engagement and comprises high level principles to guide tenant engagement throughout Housing NSW. It also defines how tenant engagement / participation contributes to Housing NSW’s overall outcomes and the values set out in Housing NSW’s corporate plan. NSW Housing (May 2011)

In this update:

convergence of business & IT e-learning digital content & not-for-profits care coordination General Practice in NSW power of patient data Type 1 diabetes in Australian children

health of Australia's males health &wellbeing of young Australians making food safer to eat Australia's disaster future supporting people with dementia rethinking end-of-life care parenting and mental illness court-based mental health diversion

valuing care workers National Indigenous Reform Agreement commercialisation & sexualisation of childhood housing affordability raising standards & improving children's lives disability employment support housing assistance in Australia specialist homelessness accommodation

	Tech trends 2011: the natural convergence of business and IT   10 important trends, clustered in two categories have been identified: Emerging Enablers and Disruptive Deployments ..... the technologies themselves are not necessarily disruptive, but when deployed as discussed, they could disrupt the cost, capabilities, or even the core operating model of IT and the business. The 2011 trends list plays significantly to the convergence of Social and Mobile computing – a convergence that is fundamentally changing how information is accessed and used in business operations and decision-making. Deloitte LLP (June 2011) Practices that sustain e-learning training solutions  This booklet summarises the: evidence for the uptake of e-learning in the delivery of training; benefits of e-learning for employees, employers and training organisations; findings from the Framework funded research into practices that sustain the use of e-learning in training; guidelines around e-learning good practice. Australian Flexible Learning Framework (June 2011) Funding for sustainability: how funders’ practices influence the future of digital resources   Over the past decade, government agencies and philanthropic organisations have made significant investments in the creation of digital content in the not-for-profit sector .... what can funders do to help the digital resources and projects they fund have the best chance for success and long-term impact? UK Strategic Content Alliance/JISC (June 2011) Care Coordination Model: Better Care at Lower Cost for People with Multiple Health and Social Needs. IHI Innovation Series white paper    Offers a framework for better understanding and supporting the population of individuals with complex needs, while pushing towards improved individual health outcomes and better experience of care at lower overall per capita costs (referred to as the IHI Triple Aim). Partnerships between health care and community organizations offer an elegant solution in the form of individualized, wrap-around planning and supports.  See also Atul Gawande’s article, “The Hot Spotters," from the January 2011 New Yorker. US IHI (June 2011)   Guide to understanding and working with General Practice in NSW   Significant variation exists in the size, workforce, context and capacity of individual general practices which often makes the discipline difficult to fully comprehend and/or to apply a one-size-fits-all approach to collaborative projects and other initiatives. General practice faces a range of daily pressures not the least of which is maintaining a viable small business. See Report Developed by GP NSW Funded by NSW Health Department - May 2011 National healthcare agreement: performance report for 2009–10  There are seven objectives of the Agreement: prevention; high quality and affordable primary and community health services; high quality and affordable hospital and hospital-related care;  high quality and affordable health and aged care services; patient care—positive health and aged care experiences which take into account of individual experiences and care needs; a health system which promotes social inclusion and reduces disadvantage, especially for Indigenous Australians; and, a sustainable health system The COAG Reform Council (June 2011)   Connect: Patients and the Power of Data  There have been huge technological advances about how information can be used and by whom, which have been under utilised by the NHS. It is now possible to give people control over their own data. This discussion paper sets out seven practical ways and examples, each of which the Young Foundation believes would transform health care delivery. These could improve patient experiences, reduced errors and omissions, improve communication and make healthcare more efficient and effective.  UK Young Foundation (May 2011)  Prevalence of Type 1 diabetes in Australian children, 2008   The report focuses on children with Type 1 diabetes who were aged 0–14 years when they began using insulin. It includes information on the prevalence of the disease among children aged 0–14 years who were registered on the NDR as at 31 December 2008 by age, sex, and state or territory of current residence. It also provides projections of prevalence in 2013 AIHW (June 2011)
	The health of Australia's males   Drawing on a range of data sources, this report presents a snapshot of the health and wellbeing of Australia’s males. AIHW (June 2011) Young Australians: their health and wellbeing 2011   the fourth in a series of national statistical reports on how young people, aged 12–24 years, are faring according to national indicators of health and wellbeing. Indigenous young people and young people living in remote areas are far more likely to be disadvantaged across a broad range of health, community and socioeconomic indicators. AIHW (June 2011)     Making Food Safer to Eat: Reducing contamination from the farm to the table   During the past 15 years, a dangerous type of E. coli infection, responsible for the recall of millions of pounds of ground beef, has been cut almost in half. Yet during that same time, Salmonella infection, which causes more hospitalizations and deaths than any other type of germ found in food and $365 million in direct medical costs annually, has not declined. Each year, 1 million people get sick from eating food contaminated with Salmonella. Applying lessons learned from reducing E. coli O157 infections could help reduce illness caused by Salmonella. US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Released 7 June 2011) King-hit: preparing for Australia’s disaster future   This paper makes recommendations as to how Australia can be better prepared for and recover from future natural disasters.  Suggestions include: measuring and reporting on community resilience;  asking the Productivity Commission to investigate if the Commonwealth has got value from the billions spent on disaster response and recovery; declaring an annual national disaster prevention day; developing national hazard mapping and  a national sea level rise policy statement; introducing  durability ratings for buildings; providing information to individual insurance policy holders on the risks associated with their property; developing a national policy on retreating from hazardous areas to reduce people’s exposure to severe risks; and starting a national communications campaign to encourage individual and community preparedness. Australian Strategic Policy Institute (June 2011)   Common Core Principles for Supporting People with Dementia: A guide to training the social care and health workforce   The 'Common core principles for supporting people with dementia' have been produced jointly by Skills for Care and Skills for Health. They can be used to support workforce development for any member of staff, in any health or social care setting, working with people at any stage of dementia. They can also be used to inform the content of curricula and training courses UK Health (June 2011)    Editor’s Choice: Time to rethink end-of-life care   Our health system supports a model of care that is strongly reliant on provision of services in hospital. Two studies reported in this issue of the MJA illustrate the dominance of this model, the increasing demands on the system, and the way that the quality of care provided may be inappropriate for two major groups in our community: the very old and those with terminal disease - Hospital and emergency department use in the last year of life: a baseline for future modifications to end-of-life care and The challenges of population ageing: accelerating demand for emergency ambulance services by older patients, 1995–2015   Medical Journal of Aust (vol 194 no 11, 6 June 2011) Parenting and mental illness: the early years.   How do Australians with a mental illness fare when they become parents? How well are they supported during pregnancy and the early years and what action is needed to improve care? Sane Australia, Research Bulletin 13  (June 2011) Court-based mental health diversion programs. Tipsheet no.20  Alternative criminal justice processes that have attracted the attention of policymakers are specialist mental health courts and diversion programs. Court-based mental health diversion programs seek to address the underlying causes of criminal behaviour exhibited by offenders with a mental illness and/or intellectual disability by referring them to treatment services such as drug and alcohol counselling. Australian Institute of Criminology, June 2011
	Valuing care in Australia: Achieving pay equity in the social and community services sector.   The recent case before Fair Work Australia to substantially increase award wages for social and community services workers draws much-needed attention to the issue of underpaying the workers who care for our most vulnerable members of society. The author links the current pay inequity to the sector’s volunteer past, largely female workforce and pressure to fit into a market-driven model. Brotherhood of St Laurence Research and Policy Centre (June 2011)   National Indigenous Reform Agreement: Performance report for 2009–10. Report to the Council of Australian Governments   The agreement is one of six national agreements covering the areas of school education, skills and workforce development, healthcare, disability, affordable housing, and Indigenous reform. COAG Reform Council (April 2011) Letting Children be Children : Report of an Independent Review of the Commercialisation and Sexualisation of Childhood (The Bailey Review)   A six-month independent review into the commercialisation and sexualisation of childhood, which reports today, calls on businesses and media to play their part in ending the drift towards an increasingly sexualised ‘wallpaper’ that surrounds children. UK Department for Education (June 2011)  The residual income approach to housing affordability: the theory and the practice Positioning paper   Part A provides an overview, using existing literature, of the various semantic, substantive and definitional issues around the notion of affordability, leading to an argument in support of the soundness of the residual income approach. Part B is methodological; it shows for various household types and income ranges, both for home purchase and rental. AHURI (June 2011) Ofsted: Raising standards, improving lives - Strategic plan 2011-15 (HTML format) UK Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (June 2011) This strategic plan sets out Ofsted's vision, values and priorities. It also gives details of the measures by which it can be held accountable and focuses on what it needs to do over the next four years to continue to raise standards for children and learners of all ages UK Ofsted (June 2011) Getting in, staying in and getting on: Disability employment support fit for the future The UK Government has set out an ambitious programme of employment support to ensure that people disadvantaged in the labour market will get the help they need to find and keep jobs. Our aim is that Government programmes should support more disabled people than ever before into employment. The independent review of the Government’s specialist disability employment programmes, conducted by Liz Sayce, the Chief Executive of RADAR, the UK’s largest disability campaigning organisation, was released on 9 June 2011. UK Works and Pensions (June 2011) Housing assistance in Australia 2011  Housing assistance in Australia 2011 is a compendium style publication which provides readers with information about housing assistance in each segment of the housing sector: government, not-for-profit and the private sector. Key issues including allocation and waiting lists for social housing, overcrowding, and affordability are examined as well as changes over recent years. Housing assistance provided to special needs groups such as Indigenous Australians, the young and old, and to those with a disability are also examined. AIHW (June 2011) People turned away from government-funded specialist homelessness accommodation 2009-10   data indicate that government-funded specialist homelessness agencies are operating to capacity and are unable to completely meet the demand for their accommodation. Some groups, such as families, experience more difficulty than others in obtaining accommodation. AIHW (June 2011) Government-funded specialist homelessness services: SAAP National Data Collection annual report 2009-10: Australia   In 2009-10, 219,900 people (or 1 in every 100 Australians) used government-funded specialist homelessness services. Of these, 135,700 (62%) were clients and 84,100 (38%) were children accompanying clients. In 2009-10, young people, particularly young women, children, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, were significant users of specialist homelessness services. Clients were supported for an average of 64 days and, when accommodated, were accommodated for an average of 60 days. Family groups generally had longer periods of support and accommodation than people who presented on their own. AIHW (June 2011)

In this update:

public innovation workplace bullying NHS reforms community health partnerships trends in dental care radiofrequency electromagnetic fields - adverse health effects home health aides NZ district nursing service bereavement care quality

pathways to care for common mental health disorders older people leaving hospital palliative care for older people care in crisis - UK providing & paying for long-term care value for money in adult social care

health needs of people with learning disabilities indigenous education strategies overcoming indigenous disadvantage - Closing the Gap Clearinghouse homelessness services regulation of affordable housing Australia's private rental market

	Making the most of public services: a systems approach to public innovation   This paper looks at two case studies – international education and the NHS – highlighting the importance of innovation within public services, and how this could impact on the future performance of both public and private sectors. UK The Work Foundation (May 2011) The problem of workplace bullying and the difficulties of legal redress: an Australian perspective  Many targets of workplace bullying, then, may find themselves to be confronted with a legal landscape that is patchy and disjointed, and ultimately providing no legal remedy. This paper has argued that legal reform is necessary in order to address these inadequacies ..... Targets of workplace bullying would have access to complaint mechanisms provided by the court system, the Fair Work Ombudsman and Fair Work Australia. The Centre for Employment and Labour Relations Law, Univ of Melbourne (May 2011) Accountability in the NHS: implications of the Government's reform programme   Proposed radical changes to the structures and processes within the NHS have provoked unprecedented debate, protest and opposition. One of the core issues is how providers and commissioners of care will be held to account in the future if many of the existing lines of accountability are removed. The reforms could significantly reduce the day-to-day involvement of politicians, civil servants and managers in health care. Localisation, GP empowerment and patient choices will be the new priorities. UK The King's Fund (June 2011) The future of leadership and management in the NHS: No more heroes   At a time of enormous change in the NHS, leaders and managers have a crucial role to play. But what sort of leaders does the service need?  Does the model, prevalent in public service over recent years, of the ‘hero’ chief executive still hold sway? UK The King's Fund (May 2011) Where next for the NHS reforms? The case for integrated care   offers suggestions for revisions to the current Bill and future policy development ..... the Bill needs to create a regulatory framework that supports the development of more integrated models of care and multi-professional collaboration at all levels within the NHS. UK The King's Fund (May 2011) Transforming our health care system: Ten priorities for commissioners   1. Active support for self-management; 2. Primary prevention; 3. Secondary prevention; 4. Managing ambulatory care sensitive conditions; 5. Improving the management of patients with mental and physical needs; 6. Care co-ordination through integrated health and social care teams; 7. Improving primary care management of end-of-life care; 8. Effective medicines management; 9. Managing elective activity-referral quality; 10. Managing emergency activity – urgent care UK The King's Fund (May 2011) Review of community health partnerships   This report looks at community health partnerships in Scotland and their impact in improving people’s health and quality of life by joining up health and social care services and moving more services from hospitals into the community. See Media release Audit Scotland (June 2011) Trends in access to dental care among Australian adults 1994-2008   There were growing inequalities in the use of dental care. People on low incomes, those who live in rural areas and those without dental insurance did not have the same gains in visiting a dentist regularly for a check-up compared to higher income earners, urban dwellers and those with dental insurance. AIHW (May 2011) IARC classifies radiofrequency electromagnetic fields as possibly carcinogenic to humans  From May 24–31 2011, a Working Group of 31 scientists from 14 countries has been meeting at IARC in Lyon, France, to assess the potential carcinogenic hazards from exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields. These assessments will be published as Volume 102 of the IARC Monographs, which will be the fifth volume in this series to focus on physical agents, after: solar radiation; ionizing radiation; X-rays, gamma-rays, neutrons, radio-nuclides; and, non-ionizing radiation (extremely low‐frequency electromagnetic fields). WHO IARC (May 2011) An Overview of Home Health Aides: United States, 2007   presents national estimates of home health aides providing assistance in activities of daily living (ADLs) and employed by agencies providing home health and hospice care in 2007. Data are presented on demographics, training, work environment, pay and benefits, use of public benefits, and injuries. National Health Statistics Reports, Number 34, May 19, 2011 US DHHS CDC (May 2011) District Nursing Service Development in New Zealand   Opportunities and challenges for developing district nursing are identified in areas including; governance, leadership, clinical outcomes, information sharing, and advancing their scope of practice. NZ Health (May 2011) Draft Spiritual Support and Bereavement Care Quality Markers and Measures for End of Life Care   One of the key aims of the End of Life Care Strategy is to ensure that carers are appropriately supported both during a patient’s life and into bereavement. Whilst the first iteration of Quality Markers (QMs) for end of life care2 included a few relating to bereavement, they were focused mainly on the acute health sector. NHS National End of Life Care Programme (May 2011)
	Common mental health disorders: Identification and pathways to care   This new NICE guideline on the identification of and pathways to care for common mental health disorders focuses on primary care. It draws on existing NICE guidelines and makes new recommendations on how patients are assessed, and when and how they are referred to other services for treatment. The guideline also provides advice to managers and commissioners on how to develop referral and care pathways in their local area. See Press Release UK Nice (May 2011) Older people leaving hospital: a statistical overview of the Transition Care Program in 2008-09   Presents key statistics on the characteristics and services provided to older people who are eligible for residential aged care directly after discharge from hospital. The program aims to improve recipients' independence and functioning. AIHW (June 2011) Palliative care for older people: better practices   Some examples consider how to improve aspects within the whole health system; specific smaller examples consider how to improve palliative care education, support in the community, in hospitals or for specific groups of people, such as people in nursing homes and people with dementia and their families. WHO Europe (May 2011) Care in crisis: causes and solutions  This report presents the results of an investigation into the care system in England. It finds that 800,000 people who currently need care receive no formal support from either the state or private sector agencies. The report makes recommendations for the future of the social care system and the funding and provision of it. UK ageUK (May 2011) Help Wanted? Providing and Paying for Long-Term Care   With populations ageing and the need for long-term care growing rapidly, this book looks at such issues as: future demographic trends, policies to support family carers, attracting and retaining long-term care workers, financing arrangements, long-term care insurance, and getting better value for money in long-term care. OECD (May 2011) Improving value for money in adult social care     Better procurement, improved back office arrangements, and a preference for community-based rather than residential care where possible, are just some of the changes that local authorities have implemented to help them meet the challenges they face. But the briefing also finds that the pace and scale of change need to increase if councils want to release material savings, as well as improve care for people. UK Audit Comm (June 2011)
	Meeting the needs of health people with learning disabilities: RCN guidance for nursing staff   This is the updated second edition of this guidance which aims to support nurses and nursing students in delivering high quality care to those with learning disabilities. The guidance provides a definition of learning disabilities; outlines some specific health needs; and explains relevant legislation. UK Royal College of Nursing (May 2011) Indigenous Education Strategies for Government Schools   The Wannik strategy was launched in Feb 2008 as the Dept of Education and Early Childhood Development's (DEECD) strategy to overcome poor educational outcomes for Koorie students. The audit concluded that at the beginning of the fourth year DEECD cannot demonstrate whether the Wannik strategy is on track to improve education outcomes for Koorie students and it is unclear whether progress is in line with DEECD's expectations. Vic Auditor-General (May 2011) Early childhood and education services for Indigenous children prior to starting school.  The COAG National Early Childhood Development Strategy argues the need to strengthen universal maternal, child and family health services, provide support for vulnerable children, engage parents and the community in understanding the importance of early childhood development, improve infrastructure, strengthen the workforce and family support services.  This resource sheet addresses these issues as relevant to Indigenous early childhood education and services. AIHW/AIFS Closing the Gap Clearinghouse (May 2011)   What works to overcome Indigenous disadvantage: key learnings and gaps in the evidence   See Appendix B: Summary of assessed items: Web only access: www.aihw.gov.au/closingthegap/publications See also: Press release   AIHW/AIFS Closing the Gap Clearinghouse (May 2011) Closing the Gap: Annual report 2009-2010   The Closing the Gap Clearinghouse was established as part of these commitments to bring together evidence-based research on what works to overcome Indigenous disadvantage within the seven building blocks laid out by COAG. This report outlines the first year of operation and the significant achievements accomplished. AIHW/AIFS Closing the Gap Clearinghouse (May 2011)   Government-funded specialist homelessness services: SAAP National Data Collection annual report 2009-10: Australia  In 2009-10, 219,900 people (or 1 in every 100 Australians) used government-funded specialist homelessness services. Of these, 135,700 (62%) were clients and 84,100 (38%) were children accompanying clients. In 2009-10, young people, particularly young women, children, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, were significant users of specialist homelessness services. Clients were supported for an average of 64 days and, when accommodated, were accommodated for an average of 60 days. Family groups generally had longer periods of support and accommodation than people who presented on their own. See Additional material for State reports AIHW (June 2011) Stakeholder perspectives on the regulation of affordable housing providers   Regulation of the not-for-profit housing sector is recognised by stakeholders as a necessary condition for growth. However, significant challenges exist in balancing the differing interests of housing providers, investors, NGOs representing tenant’s interests and existing regulatory bodies. AHURI, Research & Policy Bulletin, Issue 141 (May 2011) Australia's private rental market: changes (2001-2006) in the supply of, and demand for, low rent dwellings   compared the supply and demand for private rental dwellings in Australia. It showed that affordability had worsened for low-income private renter households. This was made even more severe by the fact that many low-income households were unable to access the stock.     AHURI (May 2011)