Australia is a highly sought out study destination for international students, having attracted more than 200,000 enrolments over the last year. International education is often described as one of Australia’s biggest exports and international students, a commodity. It is often…
Don’t rely on our resilience. We want equitable mental health care!
In recent years, mental health and wellbeing has been catapulted into public consciousness and the policy spotlight at all levels of government. Reports such as the Productivity Commission’s Mental Health Inquiry Report and the findings of the Royal Commission into…
Making gains in pelvic pain
Underdiagnosed and potentially debilitating – pelvic pain effects women across their life course, impacting their ability to participate in education, employment, exercise and recreational activities. Most commonly associated with menstrual periods, though it can be exacerbated by a range of medical…
Solidarity speaks louder: our thoughts on the Voice referendum
The Uluru Statement is a generous invitation to the Australian community to act in solidarity with First Nations people. Based on a comprehensive, nationwide regional consultation process, the Uluru Statement starts with the principle of First Nations’ continuing sovereignty and…
Kicking goals for gender inclusive sport
The Women’s World Cup took Australia by storm this month, breaking ratings and attendance records, winning hearts across the nation and changing the game for women in this country, forever. There were a lot of firsts. Morocco became the first…
Calling Australia home: ideas for an equitable housing market
With rental vacancy rates in Australia sitting at just 1.3%, it’s become increasingly common to see queues for rental open-for-inspections spilling out onto the street as competition for private rentals grows tighter. So how do landlords decide who gets the privilege of a…
An MS-2 step in the right direction
This month, we welcomed important news from the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) which will improve access to abortion for women and pregnant people across Australia. The TGA has removed a number of restrictions on health professionals who prescribe and dispense…
Barbie: the power and the plastic
It’s difficult not to notice the magenta pink re-brand that happened on a worldwide scale this month. The Barbie movie has arrived, and by bringing Barbie into the real world the film plays with the hallmark of the Barbie brand…
Not all birthing parents are treated the same
Everyone deserves dignity in the perinatal period. When pregnant, giving birth, and transitioning to parenting a new child, everyone deserves the support and healthcare they need. But intersecting structural factors mean that not all births – and birthing parents –…
Ensuring solid ground for Australia’s care workforce
Australian industries rely very heavily on migrant workers, and the Australian health and community support sectors are no exception. Anybody who has walked into a health service, an aged care facility, or a child-care centre lately will see that migrant…