December 2022
Quote
“Just because someone carries it well, doesn’t mean it isn’t heavy”
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Useful Fact
Watch this 2.53 minute clip with audio by Dr Brené Brown who speaks about The Power of Vulnerability.
She talks about the difference between sympathy and empathy and argues that to be truly empathetic you have to be vulnerable by connecting with someone's pain in yourself.
Interesting Website
Categorising your cervical mucus (also known as cervical fluid) can take time to learn. It can be really helpful to look at photos to familiarise yourself with different types of cervical mucus. On this website you will find images of both ‘non-peak’ and ‘peak-type’ cervical mucus. Hover over a photo to see the description. Remember, ALL cervical mucus (regardless of whether it is non-peak or peak-type) is considered fertile prior to confirming ovulation. See the ‘textbook’ example of how cervical mucus changes throughout the menstrual cycle under the influence of the ovarian hormones oestrogen and progesterone. Remember, this is a textbook cycle – most women will discover they have their own unique patterns.
Campaign
Australians sit almost 10 hours each day (on average).
In recent years a variety of major international research has produced compelling evidence that sitting for more than 4 hours each day leads to:
enzymes responsible for burning harmful blood fats shutting down
reduced calorie burning (Metabolic rate)
disrupted blood sugar levels
increased insulin and blood pressure levels and leg muscles switch off.
The Get Australian Standing campaign aims to change all that!
Key Event
Maddy & Naomi from Caddyshack Project got to attend this year’s Australian Sexual Health & HIV conference representing and presenting their respective projects.
Maddy is a co-lead of the International Students Program which is a collaboration between STI Programs Unit (STIPU), Local Health District Units and NGO partners. The Program manages a consortium of over 70 members from universities, private English colleges, private health funds, multi-cultural organisations, NGOs, and local health districts with interests in international student wellbeing. A major achievement of the project has been the development of the online International Student Health Hub to improve international student’s access to sexual and reproductive health information and services in NSW.
Naomi co-leads on the Out of Home Care (OOHC) Program which is a collaboration between STIPU, Local Health District Units and Yfoundations. The Program has developed resources targeted to workers and carers who have significant contact with young people with experience of the OOHC System. Resources developed, include a fact sheet and guide to trauma informed sexual health promotion, a fact sheet on sexual health promotion for people with a disability and an online training titled Because You Care that aims to develop the capacity of foster carers to engage young people around positive sexual health messaging. Because You Care online training was published in 2021 and is the first of its kind in the state, possibly Australia.. You don’t have to be a foster carer to do this free self-paced online learning module, it really is relevant to everyone!
Who are
The Reconnect Project provides Caseworkers with access to mobile phones, tablets and laptops, allowing them to select the items best suited to the needs of their clients. They work with women's refuges, homelessness agencies, refugee and asylum seeker support services and youth outreach programs. The Reconnect Project is a repair shop with impact. Their skilled technicians specialise in repairing mobile phones, tablets, laptops and electronic appliances. They aim to close the digital divide in Australia by providing refurbished devices to people in need, (re)connecting them with family, friends and essential services.
If you're a Caseworker and would like to register for an account, please email them at: hello@thereconnectproject.com.au
Out & About
The tide is changing for men young and old, and the outdated stereotype is leaving some of our mates, dads, sons, uncles, teammates, workmates and brothers stranded without the tools for a healthy life. We lose one man every 3.5 hours to suicide in Australia. So we say enough is enough. Let’s smash the straight jacket that the traditional male stereotype can be. And give men the complete toolkit to live a full life. See more at The Tomorrow Man.
Resource
Healthed has over 20 years of experience delivering professional development for healthcare professionals.
They deliver Australia’s most popular seminars for GPs, including the Annual Women’s & Children’s Health Update.
With headquarters in Sydney, Australia, Healthed is a trusted source of education for general practitioners across the country, but you don’t need to be a GP to listen in!
Check out the Women’s & Children’s Health Podcast, one of the many podcasts available.
Diary Dates
An exciting line up of On The Couch guest speakers for 2023 including Learning Consent, Chris Cheers, Maggie Smith (no not the actress) on Transgender health, Ruiqi Fan on cross cultural sexual health knowledge & more!
There are also free modules like Doin it Right, Nitty Gritty & Because You Care that you can sign up for and complete for free in your own time.