#GeorgeTalks: Understanding the Nexus between Food and Water Security
The George Institute for Global Health and the UNSW Global Water Institute invite you to a breakfast event, 'Understanding the Nexus between Food and Water Security' on Tuesday 21 February 2023 from 7:30am to 9am at Newtown in Sydney.
Join us to discuss the importance of water security to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in Australia and other communities globally, and its links to nutrition, wellbeing and planetary health.
A/Prof. Sera Young, Associate Professor of Anthropology at Northwestern University will discuss the Household Water Insecurity Experiences (HSIE) tool and the Individual Water Insecurity Experiences (IWISE) scales. Christine Corby OAM, CEO of the Walgett Aboriginal Medical Service and Prof. Jacqui Webster, Head of Public Health Advocacy & Policy Impact at The George Institute, will present and discuss findings from the recent food and water surveys in Walgett.
A/Prof. Sera Young, Anthropology at Northwestern University
A/Prof. Sera Young is an Associate Professor of Anthropology at Northwestern University. Her focus is on the reduction of maternal and child-undernutrition in the first 1000 days, especially in low-resource settings. Methodologically, she draws on her training in medical anthropology (MA, University of Amsterdam), international nutrition (PhD, Cornell) and HIV (Fellowship, University of California San Francisco) to take a biocultural approach to understanding how mothers in low-resource settings cope to preserve their health and that of their families. Sera has developed the Household Water Insecurity Experiences (HWISE) and the Individual Water Insecurity Experiences (IWISE) scales.
Christine Corby OAM, CEO, Walgett Aboriginal Medical Service (WAMS)
Christine Corby OAM is the CEO of the Walgett Aboriginal Medical Service (WAMS). She is responsible for the overall management of WAMS, and for the day to day management, support and monitoring of staff. Christine holds a Graduate Diploma of Health Service Management, a Diploma of Management, and a Diploma of Health Sciences. At WAMS, she enjoys being an advocate for rural communities, the localization of services and watching the WAMS skill-base grow by using local people, where possible.
Wendy Spencer, Manager, Dharriwaa Elders Group (DEG)
Wendy Spencer is Manager of Dharriwaa Elders Group (DEG) and Walgett Lead of the Yuwaya Ngarrali partnership between DEG and UNSW. Wendy first worked in Walgett for the Walgett Aboriginal Medical Service (WAMS) bringing small business and community media experience. The Founding Chair of WAMS, George Rose OAM, together with other Elders, began DEG in the late 1990s and invited Wendy to support their work, which she continues to further through DEG and Yuwaya Ngarra-li.
Professor Greg Leslie, Director. UNSW Global Water Institute
Professor Greg Leslie is the Director of the UNSW Global Water Institute and the Director of the UNESCO Centre for Membrane Science and Technology. Prior to joining UNSW, he worked in the public and private sector on water treatment, reuse and desalination projects in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong and the US. His experience includes work on the NEWater recycling projects for the Singapore Public Utilities Board and the Groundwater Water Replenishment System at the Orange County Water District in California. He served on the WHO Technical Committee that developed guidelines for desalination, the Water Issue Committee for the NHMRC and the Independent Advisory Panel for the Orange County Groundwater Replenishment Project
Prof. Jacqui Webster, Head of Public Health Advocacy & Policy Impact, The George Institute
Prof. Jacqui Webster is the Head of Public Health Advocacy & Policy Impact at The George Institute. She is committed to reducing the burden of chronic diseases globally through more effective implementation of food policy interventions. Jacqui coordinates a program of research and advocacy on food policy interventions to reduce cardiovascular diseases at The George Institute and is a Professor at UNSW. She is the Director of the WHO Collaborating Centre on Population Salt Reduction at The George Institute, with a remit to support countries to achieve the global targets to reduce salt by 2030. Jacqui leads NHMRC funded programs of work to strengthen implementation of food policy in the Pacific Islands and improve food and water security in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in Australia.
Keziah Bennett-Brook, Program Head, Guunu-maana (Heal) Program
Keziah Bennett-Brook is a Torres Strait Islander woman, the Program Head of Guunu-maana at The George Institute, the Executive Indigenous Representative at the Australasian Injury Prevention Network, and a Board Member of Hepatitis NSW. Her expertise includes social and cultural determinants of health, Indigenous methodologies, knowledge translation and impact that privilege Indigenous knowledges, and applying decolonising methods to organisational change. She leads implementation of strategic organisational activities to increase cultural safety and capability within global research. Keziah has developed and implemented several transformational organisational policies including an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health research policy resulting in a significant increase in Aboriginal health research, employment, and successful PhD completions of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students.
New research from The George Institute for Global Health shows that higher rates of cardiovascular complications in men hospitalised with COVID-19 versus women are not explained by their higher prevalence of pre-existing heart disease.
George Institute submission on the Role and Functions of an Australian CDC
The George Institute for Global Health is pleased to contribute a written submission to the Department of Health and Aged Care on the consultation for the Role and Functions of an Australian Centre for Disease Control (CDC) Prevention-Promotion-Protection consultation paper.
The George Institute joins our consumer and public health colleagues in welcoming the establishment of an Australian CDC.
“The establishment of an Australian CDC is a once in a generation reform that could truly change the face of healthcare in Australia” said Professor Bruce Neal, Executive Director, The George Institute Australia.
“With adequate funding and support, a CDC can provide the Australian public with clear and transparent health advice and equip policy makers with crucial up-to-date, evidence-based guidance on global health threats.
“After years of public health advocates calling for the establishment of a CDC, the recent experience of the COVID-19 pandemic clearly showed the need for an agile, coordinated body to deal with new and emerging health threats of national and international significance. We are pleased the Albanese Government has responded to this need and are seeking input from the public health and medical research sector” said Professor Neal.
The George Institute is committed to the establishment of a CDC that will see reductions in health burdens for all Australians, now and into the future. In addition to providing direct feedback to questions within the discussion paper, The George Institute also provided additional recommendations and broad support for:
Inclusion of prevention within the CDC
Recognition of social, cultural and environmental determinants of health
Transparency and independence
Building workforce capacity
Conducting research as a function of the CDC
We welcome the opportunity to further engage with the Department of Health and Aged Care as the structure and remit of the CDC is developed. To read our full submission, click here.
“We support the NSW Government in focusing on reforms to NSW Liquor Licensing to reduce alcohol consumption in order to improve health outcomes” said Professor Simone Pettigrew, Program Director of Health Promotion and Behaviour Change at The George Institute.
“It is not well understood in the community that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption, despite its significant impact on Australia’s disease burden.
“The community continues to be bombarded with alcohol advertising and marketing tactics, targeting children, young people and our most vulnerable communities, which is having devastating impacts on health and wellbeing.
“We support government policy that implements a wide range of actions, including taxation, reductions in number of outlets, restrictions on advertising and marketing and improvements to labelling, that will reduce alcohol consumption and its related harms.”
The George Institute joins our public health and consumer colleagues in recommending:
Improvements to consumer and community consultation processes that see meaningful engagement with those affected by the liquor licensing system
Mandatory Social Impact Assessments in liquor license applications
The winding back of allowances made during COVID-19 to facilitate delivery of alcohol and further limits placed on the home delivery of alcohol
Trading hour restrictions remain as currently required
The application of alcohol regulations to non-alcoholic beverages that mimic alcohol
Submission to the TGA on proposed reforms to regulation of vapes
The George Institute for Global Health is pleased to contribute a written submission to the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) on the consultation for Proposed Reforms to the Regulation of Nicotine Vaping Products (NVPs).
The George Institute strongly supports a comprehensive approach to tobacco and nicotine control in Australia.
“Australia has a great legacy of reducing tobacco-related harm over the last several decades. This has been achieved through proactive, evidence-based policies including taxation, regulation of advertising and packaging, and enforcing smoke-free spaces” said Professor Simone Pettigrew, Program Director, Health Promotion and Behaviour Change at The George Institute.
“Sadly, despite this success, there has been a proliferation of vaping devices, which are largely imported illegally. It is crucial that these products are strictly regulated, and their availability controlled.
“Our latest research shows many young people are susceptible to vaping due to ease of availability and the wide range of youth-friendly flavours.”
The George Institute joins our public health and consumer colleagues in recommending:
The control of illegally imported NVPs to be of upmost priority
NVPs should be used as a smoking cessation tool only under medical supervision
Minimum safety standards for NVPs should be set according to scientific evidence of harms, and these safety standards should be monitored and enforced (with the TGA not providing pre-market assessment)
Non-nicotine e-cigarettes to be banned
Regulatory frameworks to be clear and streamlined to aid enforcement and avoid loopholes
