Young worker’s death in rural Australian hospital highlights public healthcare crisis
The long-standing crisis of public healthcare in rural Australia has been brought to light by the coronial inquest into the tragic death of Alex Braes. In September 2017, the 18-year-old fitter and turner presented to the emergency department of Broken Hill Hospital, in far-western New South Wales (NSW), with sepsis from Streptococcus, a blood-stream infection that is fatal if not treated urgently.
Despite worsening leg pain from an ingrown toenail, where the infection originated, Braes was sent home three times. Once admitted, he needed to be transferred to a larger hospital, but a lack of beds in Adelaide led to his evacuation being delayed for several hours. Though finally transported to Sydney, it was too late to save his life.
In the passionate debate over the treatment of women in workplaces, and particularly the extent of violence and harassment, the voice of Indigenous women, especially those living in isolated communities, has gone largely unheard.
Linda Burney, speaking at the ALP’s National Conference this week, strongly advocated for equality and opportunity for all in Australia. She called for a constitutionally-enshrined voice for First Nations people in parliament, commitment to realising the Uluru Statement in full, and a renewed focus on ‘truth-telling’.
As Shadow Minister for Families and Social Services, and for Indigenous Australians, Burney joins the podcast to discuss the voice of Indigenous people, especially in light of the current cultural movement.
Andi Snelling uses bold, exaggerated movement to illustrate her chronic ill health in Happy-Go-Wrong
Andi Snelling uses bold, exaggerated movement to illustrate her chronic ill health in Happy-Go-Wrong
Sun 14 Mar 2021 22.52 EDT
Last modified on Wed 17 Mar 2021 22.30 EDT
In 2015 a revolt sprung seemingly from nowhere as women began talking openly about chronic, invisible illnesses.
The Guardian Australia journalist Gabrielle Jackson shared her personal experience of endometriosis – the pain, the dismissal by doctors, the impacts on daily life – in a powerful opinion piece. That piece expanded into an international investigation by the Guardian on a condition that had previously received little attention either in the media or among the medical establishment.
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Australians spent more money boozing at home when pubs and restaurants were reopening last year than in the darkest months of the pandemic winter.
Australian Bureau of Statistics data released last week also showed our thirst for takeaway alcohol in locked-down and socially-distanced 2020 eclipsed that of 2019 by at least $1.3 billion – a figure likely to rise by a billion or two once December, traditionally the most indulgent month, is included in the ABS tables.
Until those numbers come through, October takes top spot for 2020, with Australians spending $1.37 billion on grog and other goodies from liquor retailers.
Curiously, the $1.35 billion we spent on takeaway alcohol in November – when parts of Australia s pub scene were resembling pre-pandemic times and even Victoria was beginning to loosen hospitality restrictions – was more than in June ($1.26 billion), July ($1.29 billion), August ($1.27 billion) and September ($1.28 billion).