Question 1

$7million campaign to target smokers 21 November, 1996

Accepted Answer

The 25 per cent of Australians who still smoke will be the target a new anti-smoking campaign announced today by Federal Health and Family Services Minister, Dr Michel Wooldridge.

Following a meeting of the newly formed Ministerial Tobacco Advisory Group (MTAG) this morning in Canberra, Dr Wooldridge said the campaign will target smokers between 18 and 40 over a period of two years.

"This campaign has been recommended to me by the Ministerial Tobacco Advisory Group and is strongly supported by the Australian Cancer Society, the National Heart foundation and QUIT organisations around Australia," Dr Wooldridge said.

“This truly national collaborative effort to tackle smoking is a first for the Commonwealth Government and will send out a vital message to entrenched smokers that they are risking their lives and health.

“Research examined by the MTAG has shown that one in five smokers still believe that smoking does not cause any illness. Younger smokers also believe that they will give up by the time they are 30.

"We have to remind smokers that quitting is the single most effective step that they can take lo improve their own health. We believe that the best way to do that is through a tough campaign which is supported all around Australia by everyone working to help smokers quit, including Quit campaigns, Cancer charities and the local Heart Foundations.”

Dr David Hill, chair of the MTAG said the Group's research shows that many smokers doubt their ability to quit for good, having tried and failed before.

"This campaign will be designed to provide smokers with renewed motivation to quit and the confidence that they can succeed," he said.

Phase one of the two wear campaign will be launched next year around World No Tobacco Day on 31 May 1997.

Question 2

Legislation introduced for the government 30% rebate for private health insurance 12 November, 1998

Accepted Answer

The Minister for Health and Aged Care. Dr Michael Wooldridge, this morning, introduced the legislation enabling the Government’s 30% rebate for private health insurance to be introduced from 1 January next year, replacing the current Private Health Insurance Incentives Scheme.

Announced as part of the Government's tax reform plan, not a New Tax, A New Tax System in August this year, the rebate will give 30% back off the cost of private health insurance premiums paid by contributors.

The rebate is available to every person with private health insurance, whatever their level of cover, income or type of membership. For example, a family or older couple paying $2,500 a year in private health premiums would set back $750 from the Government every year.

People will be able to choose the method of payment that suits them best. It will be available as an upfront premium discount through their health fund, as a rebate in their annual tax return, or as a direct payment from the Government.

Introducing the legislation this morning, Dr Wooldridge noted that published opinion polls had found nearly 70 per cent support, and that the 30% rebate will help stem the decline in private health insurance membership and help restore the balance to the health system.

Dr Wooldridge warned that falling membership in the private health insurance funds could threaten the viability of the public hospital system.

Question 3

Achieving the balance 22 June, 1999

Accepted Answer

Suicide is a tragic event that touches many Australian families.

Improvements to the way suicide is reported, and the extent to which mental illness is understood by the community, are featured in a new resource kit for journalists and media professionals.

Titled Achieving the Balance, the kit is the result of an extensive collaborative effort between the media industry, community and the Federal Government.

It is a landmark initiative that brings together the efforts of key players to lessen the threat of imitation suicide and reduce the stigma currently faced by people with mental illness.

Launching the program, Federal Health and Aged Care Minister Dr Michael Wooldridge said the media could play a central role in suicide prevention.

"This information will assist journalists who face sorting fact from myth and misinformation," Dr Wooldridge said.

“While the media has generally shown a sensitive and responsible approach to suicide, in an attempt to minimise copy-cat attempts, improvements can still be made.”

The Federal Government has shown a strong commitment to addressing suicide in Australia, with a $31 million National Youth Suicide Prevention Strategy, which concludes this month.

This has included a series of programs involving crisis telephone counselling, upgraded support services for young people at risk in rural areas, educations and training for general practitioners and youth workers. and linking drug and alcohol services.

A new $39.2 million Fighting Suicide initiative will be undertaken over four years on completion of the National Youth Suicide Prevention Strategy.

Today's kit has six elements:

Suicide

a Media Resource for the reporting and portrayal of suicide
a Life Promoting Media Strategy
a Media quick release card on suicide

Mental illnesses

a Media Resource for the reporting and portrayal of mental illnesses
a Mental Health Promoting Media Strategy
a Media quick reference card on mental illness

"More than 2500 people die by suicide in Australia each year, with the highest rates among young males aged 25-34," Dr Wooldridge said.

"Suicide can occur in clusters within a local area, with a single event touching off similar choices among others.

"This is where media reporting of suicide may have its largest impact on the perceptions and behaviour of those in the general age group or ethnic origin as the person who died."

Key media stakeholders such as the Federation of Australian Radio Broadcasters (FARB), Indigenous media and the Federation of Australian Commercial Television Stations (FACTS) have been involved in the overall strategy.

Question 4

Diffuse the Diabetes Time Bomb! 14 November, 1999

Accepted Answer

Australians are facing a diabetes epidemic within 10 years if immediate changes are not made to our lifestyle and diet, Federal Minister for Health and Aged Care, Dr Michael Wooldridge warned today at the launch of a new diabetes community awareness campaign.

Launching Diabetes Australia's campaign, Defuse Diabetes, on World Diabetes Day, Dr Wooldridge spoke of the prevalence of non-insulin dependent diabetes (Type 2 diabetes) in Australia.

"More than 400,000 people have already been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. For every person living with diabetes another is yet to be diagnosed. That means 400,000 people do not know they have a time bomb ticking inside them, and are unaware of how at risk they are.

"Australia's ageing, increasingly overweight and inactive population means the nation is well on the way to a diabetes epidemic. It is estimated that the prevalence of Type 2 Diabetes will double in the next 10 years alone.

"Type 2 Diabetes does not require insulin injections and is consequently perceived by many as less of a threat. This is a dangerous misconception. If left unchecked Type 2 diabetes can cause long term health problems, such as heart attack, stroke, kidney failure and blindness. Also, Diabetes related blindness - diabetic retinopathy - is the most common cause of vision loss in adults under the age of 60.

"The Federal Government is pleased to support the Defuse Diabetes Campaign. The campaign aims to reach those 400,000 people who are unaware they have diabetes and help them manage their condition. The campaign asks GPs to consider diabetes as a factor in their patients from the high risks groups - anyone who is slightly overweight, has high blood pressure, or has a family history of diabetes is at risk. GPs are being asked to routinely blood test the blood glucose of the patients over the age of 50," Dr Wooldridge said.

Diabetes is the sixth major cause of death in Australia and it is estimated to affect 1.6 million people in the next decade. Consequently the social and economic cost of diabetes is set to increase exponentially.

"The good news is that diabetes can be effectively managed through diet, it does not mean a drastic change in lifestyle or following an insulin dependent health regime. But when someone at risk delays being diagnosed and treated early, the fuse of the diabetes time bomb inside them burns even further,” he said.

"The Federal Government has allocated $7.3 million over the next four years to a range of initiatives and is committed to stemming the rise of diabetes. Diabetes Australia is one of several organisations being funded as part of the fight against diabetes. Other initiatives include funding State and Territory programs to improve the eye health of people living with diabetes and reduce the impact of retinopathy.

Type 2 diabetes is often known as late-onset diabetes, however with a population favouring a more sedentary lifestyle, it has the potential to affect a large number of Australian adults.

"The recipe for a healthy lifestyle is easy. It doesn't have to mean denying ourselves occasional treats, but with a balanced, sensible diet, we can take charge of our health problems," Dr Wooldridge said.

"Don't wait for diabetes to explode within you. Defuse the diabetes time bomb today by adopting a new awareness of your health."

Anyone who thinks they may be at risk of developing diabetes are urged to contact their GP or community health service for a check up as soon as possible.

People most at risk of diabetes are those who are:

Aged over 50 and:

overweight;
have high blood pressure; or
a family history of diabetes

Aged over 65 and:

have heart disease;
developed diabetes during pregnancy;
had a borderline blood sugar test

Diffuse the Diabetes

Question 5

Australia Beats Measles: Dr. Wooldridge 22 November, 1999

Accepted Answer

Australia has beaten measles, Health Minister Dr Michael Wooldridge said today, unveiling a report which shows around 1.7 million or 96% of school children aged 5-12 years were vaccinated as part of the Australian Measles Control Campaign.

"Tonight, I am unveiling the results of one of the world's most successful immunisation campaigns," Dr Wooldridge said.

"Australia has achieved a ten per cent increase in its children's immunity to measles within a year.

“Queensland, where we are an international immunisation conference, is the star state of Australia, dropping from 2483 reported measles cases five years ago, to just 30 in 1999,” Dr Wooldridge said.

“NSW is not far behind, with measles reports plummeting from 2348 to 75.

“The best news in this report is what hasn't happened. The World Health Organisation predicted this year would be an epidemic year - and yet we have had the lowest levels ever of measles reported in most states.

“The evaluation says that up to 17,500 cases of measles were prevented in Australia this year, as a direct result of this campaign.

“The parents of Australia should be congratulated, because it means we have probably prevented one child from dying - and four more from suffering permanent brain damage - not to mention the pure pain of measles itself.

“A serosurvey conducted after the Campaign showed that 94% of children aged 6-12 years were immune to measles, a ten percent increase over the course of the Campaign," Dr Wooldridge said.

“In the preschool group it was estimated that 97.5% of those aged 12 months to 3 1/2 years had received their first dose of MMR vaccine, and serology showed that 89% of children aged 2-5 years were protected, a rise from 82% before the Campaign.

A separate evaluation of the communications strategy found that it was a highly successful component of the Campaign.

"Results indicated that the strategy was successful in meeting its objectives with the information pack and the television advertisements having the highest reach," Dr Wooldridge said.

"Parental awareness of the Campaign and its key message of needing to sign a consent form peaked at 97% and increased in line with the launch of the Campaign and implementation of the communication activity."

Australia Beats Measles

Question 6

Australians to get a new “insite” on internet health 28 April, 2000

Accepted Answer

Federal Health Minister, Dr Michael Wooldridge, today launched a new health Internet site, HealthInsite, which will ensure Australians have access to high quality health information on the Internet.

Speaking at the launch, Dr Wooldridge said that with literally millions of health related websites on the Internet, consumers and health professionals often found it difficult to find relevant and credible sources of information.

"There is a vast amount of information available on the Internet in the area of health but until now there has been no reliable way for people to determine the quality of information provided or how current it is," Dr Wooldridge said.

"With links to more than 50 websites from some of Australia's leading health organisations, HealthInsite provides a single gateway to up to date information on important health topics such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer, children's health and related information on health services."

Dr Wooldridge said HealthInsite was set to become Australia's first choice in health information on the internet.

“Whether people are looking for information on a particular health topic or interested in finding information on important life events such as pregnancy, they can now find what they are looking for in one place," he said.

Dr Wooldridge said the major advantage of HealthInsite to consumers was the fact that all information on the site was subject to a rigorous quality assurance process and assessed by medical experts and consumer representatives.

"HealthInsite comprises quality assured content with an Australian focus and forges exciting partnerships between government and Australia's leading health information providers." he said.

Healthinsite has been developed by the Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care and the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), as part of the Federal Government's commitment to providing online information services

Question 7

The Age 13 June, 1997

Accepted Answer

The Age 13 June 1997

Question 8

The Daily Telegraph 13 November, 1998

Accepted Answer

The Daily Telegraph 13 November 1998

Question 9

The Daily Telegraph 19 November, 1999

Accepted Answer

The Daily Telegraph 19 November 1999

Question 10

The Age 31 March, 2000

Accepted Answer

The Age 31 March, 2000

Question 11

The Age 15 November 1999

Accepted Answer

The Age 15 November 1999

Question 12

The Daily Telegraph 23 November, 1999

Accepted Answer

The Daily Telegraph 23 November, 1999

Question 13

The Australian Financial Review  20 September, 1996

Accepted Answer

The Australian Financial Review 20 September, 1996

Question 14

PUBLISHER NAME AND DATE MISSING, 1996

Accepted Answer

Missing Name

Question 15

Alfred Hospital, Names and Faces Vol II - DATE?

Accepted Answer

Alfred Hospital Vol II

Question 16

Regional Health Check February, 2001

Accepted Answer

Regional Health Check February, 2001

Question 17

PUBLISHER NAME AND DATE MISSING

Accepted Answer

Missing Name 2

Hon. Dr. Michael Wooldridge

Medical Activism

Creating Change in Communities

Leading Vital Conversations about Australian Health

Key Initiatives & Achievements

$7 Million National Anti-Smoking Campaign (1996)

Press Release

Media

Introduction of 30% Private Health Insurance Rebate (1998)

Press Release

Media

Achieving The Balance (1999)

Press Release

Media

Diffuse Diabetes Campaign (1999)

Press Release

Media

Australian Measles Control Campaign (1999)

Press Release

Media

HealthInsite (2000)

Press Release

Media