2 June 2011

INSTEP recognised for reconciliation efforts

The National Seniors INSTEP program has been named finalists in the Queensland Reconciliation Awards 2011.

The Indigenous Skills Transfer and Exchange Partnership (INSTEP) places senior volunteers in Aboriginal communities with the aim of helping Indigenous community members improve their own circumstances, by mobilizing skilled ‘grey nomads’ who train and mentor them.

INSTEP was named as one of four finalists in the Community Organisations category at the awards night held in Cairns this week.

INSTEP project manager Karen Furnivall said being recognised in the awards was an honour for National Seniors.

“Whilst we didn’t win this year, it still recognises the work of INSTEP in making positive moves towards reconciliation.”

Premier Anna Bligh said the awards were going from strength to strength.

"Over the past nine years, these awards have continued to highlight the inspiring work of Queenslanders advancing reconciliation and offer us the opportunity to not only reward these initiatives, but also look forward to a brighter future,” Bligh said.

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Rural seniors need better access to health services

Queensland seniors living in rural and remote areas are struggling to cover the costs of travel and accommodation to get to vital medical appointments, says National Seniors Australia.

Rural members of National Seniors Australia say the most pressing issue they face at the state government level is the lack of financial assistance available through Queensland Health’s Patient Travel Subsidy Scheme (PTSS).

Chief executive Michael O’Neill said the cost of travelling to medical appointments and paying for accommodation was very expensive yet not enough financial support was being offered.

“It’s clear when we talk to our members in rural Queensland that they are really struggling out there- they have to travel hundreds or thousands of kilometres sometimes and the last thing we want is our elderly people stressing out about whether they can afford to go or not,’’ O’Neill said.

“Currently, a patient must attend the nearest specialist and if they choose an alternative, no assistance is provided.

“In the government’s 2010-2020 Positively Ageless strategy plan for seniors, they have stated that they need to explore more ways to improve patient travel for rural seniors, but to date, we have not seen any real improvements.

“National Seniors concurs that more needs to be done in this area and that the PTSS needs to be enhanced, especially since the Queensland government scrapped the state’s 8.4 cents per litre fuel subsidy scheme from 1 July 2009, despite rising fuel costs.”

The current subsidy levels are 15 cents per kilometre for every kilometre travelled over 50km. Accommodation assistance is $30.00 per night for commercial accommodation.

In its budget submission to the Queensland Government, National Seniors is calling for an immediate increase in both the travel and the accommodation component of the PTSS.

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High costs keep people away from dentists

A report released last week shows one third of Australians avoid or delay visits to the dentist due to the cost, an increase from about a quarter in 1994.

The figure was noted in the report, Trends in access to dental care among Australian adults 1994-2008, released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW).

“Women, concession card holders, uninsured people and those who usually visited for a problem rather than a check-up, were more likely to avoid or delay dental visits,” Dr Jane Harford of the AIHW’s Dental Statistics and Research Unit said.

However, more people reported they had visited the dentist in the 12 months before the survey (55 per cent to 59 per cent between 1994 and 2008) and more adults visited for a check-up rather than a problem at their most recent dental visit (42 per cent to 56 per cent between 1996 and 2008).

“Holders of Commonwealth concession cards, those who live in rural areas and those without dental insurance did not have the same gains in ‘visiting a dentist regularly’ or in ‘usually visiting for a check-up’ compared to higher income earners, urban dwellers and those with dental insurance.”

Middle-aged and older Australians were more likely to have dental insurance, with insurance coverage highest in the 45 to 64 years age group.

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Is it sexist or acceptable?

At an estimates hearing on Wednesday, Finance minister Penny Wong and Liberal Senator David Bushby were involved in a ‘catty’ argument.

Senator Bushby ‘meowed’ at Wong after she reacted to being interrupted by Bushby. You can see the video here.

Debate has raged over the catty incident about whether or not it is sexist.

Is a man saying ‘meow’ to a woman sexist?

Or are we too sensitive these days?

Have your say on the blog.