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‘Boom Boom’ goes the beat towards ending rheumatic heart disease

A song written by kids in Barunga as part of the END RHD Communities Project is helping prevent the spread of infections that cause rheumatic heart disease in remote Aboriginal Communities.

Healthy skin guideline hits the mark

The first ever National Healthy Skin Guideline has become the gold standard for the treatment, prevention and public health control of skin infections in Indigenous populations in Australia and provides a positive framework for healthy skin.

Bullying

Bullying is now regarded as a health problem and not just a disciplinary problem. Increasing evidence shows both traditional bullying (e.g. hitting, teasing) and cyberbullying have lasting effects on young people (both those who bully and those who are bullied), including damage to self-esteem, academic results and mental health.

Gender Diversity

Not all children or teenagers identify with the gender they were assigned at birth. As a result, some may choose to change their name, their clothes or their body. With considerably higher rates of depression, anxiety, self-harm and attempted suicide, the need for specialist mental health services has been recognised.

Immunisation

Immunisation is the most effective way of protecting your child against a range of serious illnesses, including measles, hepatitis B and whooping cough. All vaccines used in Australia undergo stringent testing and ongoing monitoring.

Vaccination

Vaccination is the injection of an inactivated bacteria or virus into the body. This simulated infection allows an individual's immune system to develop an adaptive immunity for protection against that type of illness. When a sufficiently large percentage of a population has been vaccinated, this results in herd immunity.

Influenza

Influenza (commonly known as the flu) is caused by a highly contagious virus spread mainly through coughing and sneezing. An annual flu vaccination is the most effective way to prevent flu outbreaks.

Intellectual Disability

About 2 per cent of children are estimated to have an intellectual disability. The cause of the condition is unknown in at least 50 per cent of cases.

Meningitis

Meningitis is when the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord (meninges) become infected by the bacteria Neisseria meningitidis.

Nutrition

The science that interprets the way nutrients and other substances in food affect maintenance, growth, reproduction, health and disease.