2008 News Archive

Simon Chapman awarded Sidney Sax Medal

L-R Professor Bruce Armstrong; Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir, Governor of NSW and patron of the Public Health Association; Beverly Brock, Joe Chapman, Trish Kirby (all Simon's family), Professor Simon Chapman

Congratulations to Simon Chapman, the 2008 recipient of the Sidney Sax Medal, Australia's premier award for public health leadership.

The nomination for the Medal reads:
"Professor Simon Chapman has been prominent in Australian and international public health movements for over thirty years. His contributions to reducing tobacco use and the harms it causes, to gun control, the consumer movement and to public health debate about a wide range of public health issues have made him one of Australia's most recognised and respected figures in public health."

At the presentation of the award, Michael Daube, President of the Public Health Association of Australia said, "Professor Simon Chapman has created a unique role that combines outstanding research, teaching both in the university and externally, mentoring, scientific publications, authoring books, journalism, editing, reviewing, service to academic and community organisations, international committees, and speaking at countless conferences and meetings. All that in itself is remarkable; but over and above that he has been and remains a pioneering and exceptionally effective public health advocate. He has not only been an advocate himself, but has made a unique contribution to the theory, practise and development of public health advocacy. There can be few if any individuals who have combined the roles of scientific researcher and active advocate so effectively."

Read the complete citation here

About the Sidney Sax Medal
The Public Health Association of Australia, in 2000, initiated the first Public Health Medal. This Medal was designed to be the Associations pre-eminent prize. The Medal is awarded every year. In 2001, the Public Health Medal was renamed the Sidney Sax Public Health Medal in honour of the late Dr. Sidney Sax.

The PHAA bestows this competitive award on a person who has provided a notable contribution to the protection and promotion of public health, solving public health problems, advancing community awareness of public health measures and advancing the ideals and practice of equity in the provision of health care.

More information about the Sidney Sax Medal can be found here.

NSW Public Health Officer Training Program

Applications are now closed for the 2009 intake of NSW Public Health Officer Trainees.

This is a three year competency based training program offering supervised on-the-job experience for people who have completed postgraduate studies in public health and who are committed to a career on public health.

The Program is recognised for the training of medical graduates towards Fellowship of the Australasian Faculty of Public Health Medicine of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians.

If you are interested in applying:

Print the Information Package and Code of Conduct or contact us for a hardcopy by emailing:
Complete your application, ensuring you include an up-to-date curriculum vitae, a claim for the position in the form of a letter or statement describing how you meet the selection criteria, copies of academic transcripts for your Masters level qualification and any other documentation that you think is relevant.
Forward your completed application to the Recruitment Coordinator using one of these methods:

E-mail:

Post:
Recruitment Coordinator, NSW Health Department,
Locked Mail Bag 961 North Sydney NSW 2059

Submit on-line:
www.jobs.nsw.gov.au

The closing date for applications is Friday 21 November 2008.

Late applications will not be considered

Professor Simon Chapman on the Today Show

In an interview on the Today Show on 7 October, Professor Chapman said that the time has come when we have a debate about closing solariums. Professor Chapman outlined the dangers of sunbeds. "It's the intensity of the ultraviolet rays that you're exposed to. The intensity is about three times that of the summer midday sun in Brisbane. And if, as 30% of people do, you go several times a fortnight, you're getting an amazing level of exposure," he said.

Watch the entire interview with Professor Chapman here.

Poche Centre Launch

On 23 September Chancellor Marie Bashir joined the Dean of Medicine, Bruce Robinson, in launching the Poche Centre for Indigenous Health, which has been set up to address the inequities and barriers in access to healthcare for Indigenous Australians.

The Centre will work closely with Aboriginal communities, health services and individuals. Developing strategies to improve communication and encourage shared decision making, is one of the priority tasks.

More information about the centre and video of the launch can be found here.

Sir Gustav Nossal's visit to the University of Sydney

In his lecture entitled The fifty-year revolution in global public health (the 3rd of the Grand Challenges in Health & Medicine Public Lectures 2008), Sir Gustav Nossal spoke on the challenges in alleviating poverty and improving health in developing countries.

A graduate of the University of Sydney, Sir Gustav Nossal is a leading medical scientist and humanitarian. The former director of the Walter & Eliza Hall Institute in Melbourne, he is an advocate for international health.

“Major currents are sweeping through the development aid field. In 2005, the G8 group committed themselves to a new moral imperative of ridding the world of extreme poverty. Academics and other leaders are, I believe, ready for real partnerships,” he said.

“It is not all doom and gloom. The number of children dying aged under five years was a record low in 2006, and progress is being made in the fight against the big three global diseases of malaria, HIV and tuberculosis.”

Sir Gustav Nossal's lecture also celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Medical Foundation.

View photos of Sir Gustav's visit.
View a recording of Sir Gustav Nossal's presentation.
Read more about the Grand Challenges in Health & Medicine Public Lecture Series.

Seven Years Research of the Over 65s

It is seven years since Associate Professor Susan Quine and colleagues Dr Stephen Morrell and Professor Hal Kendig at the University of Sydney began analysing the data from Australia’s most comprehensive study of those aged 65 years and over.

In 1999 during the International Year of Older Persons, the Epidemiology Branch of the NSW Health Department decided to conduct a telephone survey to gain health and welfare information and a detailed profile of the lives and activities of older people across the state. The Older Persons Health Survey (OPHS) became the largest survey of its kind ever conducted in Australia.

The final analysis of the data from the OPHS was recently completed and overall the research has produced the following peer-reviewed articles:

Quine S., Morrell S. Food insecurity in community dwelling older Australians. Public Health Nutrition, 2006, 9(2): 219-224.

Quine S., Morrell S. Fear of loss of independence and nursing home admission in older Australians. Health and Social Care in the Community 2007, 15(3): 212-220.

Quine S., Morrell S., Kendig H. The hopes and fears of older Australians: for self, family and society. Australian Journal of Social Issues 2007, 42(3): 321-335

Quine S., Morrell S., Kendig H. Outlooks for the future in independently living older Australians. Aging and Mental Health: an International Journal 2008 (in press).

Quine S., Morrell S. Perceptions of personal safety among older Australians. Australasian Journal on Ageing 2008, 27(1): 72-77.

Quine S., Morrell S. Feeling safe in one’s neighbourhood; variation by location amongst older Australians. Australian Journal of Rural Health 2008, 16:115-116.

Quine S., Morrell S. Hopelessness, depression and oral health concerns reported by community dwelling older Australians. Community Dental Health 2008 (in press).

The NSW Premier’s Award for Outstanding Cancer Researcher of the Year 2008

Congratulations to Professor Simon Chapman who has been awarded the Premier’s Award for Outstanding Cancer Researcher of the Year 2008 at Cancer Institute NSW’s Awards Dinner on 22 May.

Simon was recognised for his outstanding research into tobacco control, which he has consistently maintained over more than 20 years, still continues and is now extending to tackle the growing problem of tobacco smoking in lower and middle income countries.

We are fortunate indeed to have research leaders of Simon’s calibre as academic leaders in our School.

View the Cancer Institute NSW's video about Simon and the presentation of his award here.

About the Award
The NSW Premier's Award for Outstanding Cancer Researcher of the Year was established to honour an individual who has made significant and fundamental contributions to any field of cancer research in NSW. These contributions must have had a lasting impact on the cancer field and must have demonstrated sustained progress against cancer.

The Premier’s Award for Outstanding Cancer Research Fellow and Premier’s Award for Outstanding Cancer Research Scholar are based on the review of Progress Reports for Cancer Institute NSW funded Fellows and Scholars. These reports are considered by the independent interstate Grants Review Committee.

Read more about Professor Chapman and this award at the University News website.

Health Economics Website - now live!

We are pleased to announce the launch of the Health Economics Website.

The website is now live and has information about the group's staff members, events & seminars, resources as well as information about their research.

View the Health Economics website here.

Alternatively you can enter the site via the School's Research Centres page.

CeMPED launched

The Centre for Medical Psychology & Evidence-based Decision-making (CeMPED) has now been officially launched.

CeMPED is co-directed by Professor Phyllis Butow (School of Psychology), Professor Martin Tattersall (Central Clinical School) and A/Professor Alexandra Barratt (School of Public Health). CeMPED is a cross-faculty, multidisciplinary organisation that sits within the School of Psychology, the School of Public Health and the Department of Medicine within the Faculties of Science and Medicine. It combines the two very active existing research groups within the University; the Medical Psychology Research Unit (MPRU) and the Sydney Health Decision Group (SHDG).

CeMPED's mission is to support excellent research across the interface of Psychology, Medicine and Public Health to answer questions about: the behavioural factors which promote good health and prevent disease; ways to enhance the psychosocial adjustment of patients and carers; ways to increase use of evidence in health care decision making; and ways to support patients to be more involved in their own health care. CeMPED's
research strengths lie in three themes:

Doctor-patient communication
Evidence-based, shared decision making; and
Psycho-Oncology

For more information visit CeMPED's new website.

Cycling: Getting Australia Moving - new report released

A national report, launched on 4 June, has for the first time placed a dollar figure on the benefits of cycling participation.

The report, Cycling: Getting Australia Moving, which was commissioned by the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing, estimates that cycling currently saves the government $227.2 million per year in health costs alone.

Professor Adrian Bauman and Associate Professor Chris Rissel from the University of Sydney, along with co-authors from Deakin and Curtin Universities and the Cycling Promotion Fund have identified key barriers and benefits to Australians getting on their bikes.

Read more

In the News

Australian Men Ill-Served By Media Coverage Of Prostate Screening
from Scoop Independent News 14 April 2008
A study of Australian newspaper and television stories about screening for prostate cancer has found the vast majority aggressively promote it, ignoring the almost complete absence of evidence that it would save lives.
An Australian researcher from the University of Sydney, Professor Simon Chapman, told the National Screening Symposium in Wellington today that an examination of newspapers across Australia and television news in Sydney over almost four years found 86 percent of all quotes framed prostate screening and its outcomes as desirable.
Read the complete article here

Prostate screening 'doesn't save lives'
from The Australian 14 April 2008
There is little evidence that prostate cancer screening saves men's lives, according to new research.
Professor Simon Chapman of the University of Sydney said a study of Australian newspaper and television stories about such screening for prostate cancer found most of them promoted it aggressively, ignoring the almost complete absence of evidence that it would save lives.
Read the complete article here

Scholarship to Vietnam for MIPH Students

Master of International Public Health students are invited to apply for a scholarship to travel to Vietnam in the summer break and spend time in Public Health Institutions in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City. This is an opportunity for MIPH students to experience first hand aspects of health care in a developing country.

The Học Mãi Foundation will be sponsoring scholarship places for MIPH students to undertake their Praxis in Vietnam. The four-week scholarship period will be 1-26 December 2008 (including Christmas). Reports from previous medical student recipients can be viewed here.

Application Deadline: 5pm Friday 15 August 2008

How to apply:
An information flyer including application information can be downloaded here.

Stretching - important or a waste of time?

This is just what a groundbreaking research trial aims to find out. The trial, headed by Associate Professor Alexander Barratt and colleagues at the University of Sydney is a partnership between the University and the Norwegian Knowledge Centre for the Health Services.
Read more

Hannah Nancarrow to attend UN training program in New York

Hannah Nancarrow, who works with the Smokecheck program in the School of Public Health, has been invited by the Foundation for Aboriginal and Islander Research Action (FAIRA) to attend a training program for young Aboriginal leaders at the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, 21 April to 2 May 2008, in New York. Hannah's trip is sponsored by Oxfam Australia.

An extract from the letter of invitation received by Hannah from FAIRA reads:

"You have been selected upon the basis of your skills and experience, in the anticipation that you will benefit from the advanced training provided in this program. It will be an intensive exercise where you will gain experience through participation in an actual UN meeting, one specifically dealing with indigenous issues, and through formal training sessions with experts in both UN and Indigenous Peoples' processes"

This is a great honour for Hannah. We wish her all the best at this training program and know that she will be a superb ambassador for the School of Public Health.

BMJ Publications

17 May 2008
This week's British Medical Journal features work by Professor Jonathan Craig. Read more
April 2008
This week's British Medical Journal featured work by Bob Cumming, Catherine Sherrington, Judy Simpson, Ian Cameron, Peter McIntrye and Julie Leask. Read more

New Professors

Congratulations to our new Professors!

Wonderful news - both Judy Simpson and Jonathan Craig have been promoted to full professor.

Congratulations on this great achievement. The School is both fortunate and proud to have two such distinguished academics amongst us.

The University of Sydney - Sydney School of Public Health