Special Features | The Mandarin

How do you define healthy in kids?

by The University of Melbourne

When you have a blood test, your results are compared to what’s considered ‘normal’ in order to work out suitable treatment, but this vital step is missing in diagnosing children. University of Melbourne's Associate Professor Vera Ignjatovic and Xavier Busuttil-Crellin explain their research aimed at understanding how to prevent, diagnose and treat disease in children.

Using technology to alleviate pressure on our healthcare system

by The Mandarin

As we rely more on technology in healthcare, it’s vital that we maintain security and resilience at the heart of everything that develops in a digital sense.

Open learning: the whole BX2018 nudge conference is out now on video

by Stephen Easton

The behavioural economics team in the Prime Minister’s department has published hours of valuable educational videos from Behavioural Exchange 2018, the international conference it hosted back in June. The series of 19 new videos covers the entire event, from the opening plenary session to “The Great BX 2018…

Before replacing a carer with a robot, we need to assess the pros and cons

by Carlos Monteiro

It's easy to get excited about the potential for robots to help care for the sick, injured and elderly, but we need the right regulations in place to deal with issues as they emerge.

Why on-the-job training is failing to prepare public service leaders, and how to fix it

by Stephen Easton

Leadership development programs should call on senior managers to “get out from behind the email” and take a more active role in mentoring staff, says a study on the influence of the 70:20:10 learning model in the Australian public sector.

Why do people really become homeless?

by The University of Melbourne

While the majority of the general public thinks drug addiction is the main reason for homelessness, the reality is quite different.

The promise and problems of including ‘big data’ in official government statistics

by The Conversation

Digital technologies put an abundance of data at our fingertips, but we must ensure questions of what should, and should not, be measured are answered before we use them in official statistics.

Six ways to make committees more effective and efficient

by Australia and New Zealand School of Government

New ANZSOG-funded research, conducted by Professor Sandra Oliver and colleagues, is attempting to discover why some committees work better than others and has come up with six key lessons.

Why NSW needs a new public advocate to protect vulnerable adults from their families

by Stephen Easton

New South Wales needs a new public advocate for vulnerable adults in place by next July, ombudsman Michael Barnes has warned, after compiling over 200 cases of neglect and abuse committed mainly by family members over the past few years. Barnes’ team has been handling these reports on a temporary…

Penny Wong: ‘normative signals matter’

by The University of Melbourne

When the young union legal officer Penny Wong, active in Labor politics since her university days, considered a run for federal parliament, she concluded that her options were severely limited not because of factional numbers or the ALP’s unpopularity, but because of who she was. She knew what stood between…

Inquiring into mental health

by Maria Katsonis

October has shone a spotlight on mental health at both the state and national level. First, the federal government announced a Productivity Commission inquiry into the role of mental health in the Australian economy and the best ways to support national mental wellbeing. A fortnight later, the Victorian Premier promised a royal commission into mental health if re-elected.

Workplace rumours: how should organisations respond?

by David Donaldson

Rumours are a normal part of workplaces in times of change, but when handled poorly can be damaging. What can organisations do about them?

One in four Australians are lonely, which affects their physical and mental health

by The Conversation

We found nearly 55% of the population feel they lack companionship at least sometime. Lonely Australians, when compared with their less lonely counterparts, reported higher social anxiety and depression, poorer psychological health and quality of life, and fewer meaningful relationships and social interactions.

A case of policy envy: why a new living longer strategy has health experts excited

by The Mandarin

Despite Australia setting targets and indicators for a range of chronic disease risk factors, measured in Australia’s Health Tracker, we continue to struggle in asking any Australian government to commit to any measurable target.

Why we should worry less about retirement ‒ and leave super at 9.5%

by The Conversation

Compelling Australians to put even more into super runs the risk of giving them a better standard of living in retirement than they had while working.