What's new with Dr Feelgood ?

TODAY PROGRAM  - Channel 9 

Please join us  for breakfast on Channel 9's TODAY program where I am part of  a weekly panel segment where we will be discussing issues affecting you -  please email me if you have any topics you would like us to discuss 

GIRLFRIEND MAGAZINE

I have recently started writing a health advice column for Girlfriend Magazine. I believe that young people deserve to have somewhere they can feel comfortable to ask health questions and know they can trust the answers they receive. Magazines are often the first port of call  and I am proud to be part of the team at Girlfriend.  My first column appears in the latest edition of the magazine and you can catch me each month 

click on the mag  to visit GIRLFRIEND's  web page 

AUSTRALIA DAY AMBASSADOR 

26th January is our National Day. It is about  people celebrating just being alive and  part of our wonderful country. I am proud once again to have been asked to be an Australia Day Ambassador for Victoria. Australia Day Ambassadors are volunteers whose  task is simply to assist you have a great day ! Generally we are assigned to various municipalities and rural areas around the state and we attend Australia Day Celebrations in those towns and cities. 

Last year I attended Bayside's naturalisation ceremony. The year before that I was aboard QF 97 from LA to Melbourne on the day and because we crossed the International Date Line my fellow passengers lost a day - and it was 26 January. So I had a whisper to the fabulous flight crew and we decided it was important not to miss our National Day -so we got out the little flags and pins and put on an impromptu Aussie Trivia competition  for the passengers. 

This year I will be attending celebrations in the historic town of HASTINGS on the Mornington Peninsula 

click HERE to visit HASTINGS 

click HERE  to visit Western Port via  Parks  Victoria's site.

click HERE to visit Australia Day Home Page 

 BOARD RETIREMENT  

from Metropolitan Ambulance Committee Of Management  

After 7 years on the committee of management of the Victorian Metropolitan Ambulance Service I have decided not to seek reappointment in February. I am so proud to have been part of this wonderful organisation and I remain an advocate and huge supporter of it . It has been a privilege to be be part of the board and work with such a dedicated group . However I feel that people should move on from boards. The  service is in great shape and  I feel it is a good time for me to do that now. Under the strong leadership of CEO, Greg Sasella , our Ambulance service will go from strength to strength.  Our Ambulance Service is a  world leader in pre hospital emergency health care and our Paramedics are highly skilled experts.

If you are not a pensioner you need to be a member of the Ambulance Service or a trip could cost you  a lot of money. Please support the service and join up - its a great idea for a Christmas present ! 

We all should know how to do FIRST AID -  Ambulance offers excellent courses in FIRST AID training 

click  HERE to visit Victoria's  Ambulance Services

HOT ISSUES & CAUSES

YOUNG PEOPLE'S WELFARE  & MEDICARE 

I am saddened to see a policy emerge from our Government where young people may lose their rights to confidential  care. 

Currently 12 year olds can apply for their own Medicare cards which mean they can access health services without seeking permission from their parents. While I would always advocate parental involvement and supervision as the best way it would be naive to think that there were not circumstances where that may not be best. 

The Federal Government is seeking to allow parents access to the Medicare records of young people which are currently confidential. As a parent I understand how important it is for us to know how our children are faring but frankly if a child has a problem they cant ,or wont, discuss with their parents I would think it preferable that they felt safe to get advice from a reputable health service than not seek advice at all , or worse still,  listen to the "shelter shed" advice! 

Changing the rules wont magically improve communications within families. Of course in the perfect world open discussion of all issues within a family is the way to go and we should all work on improving the f that - but as the world is not perfect we need to protect those most vulnerable. Children do not have political voices - we must protect them. 

Through my work I know that there are too many young people at risk. Unfortunately  sometimes they are at risk from members of  their own family. My fear  is that  the proposed changes wont affect the majority of functioning families but instead  the parents who will seek access to  this information may be  the very parents  we are trying to protect the young people from ! 

LORT SMITH ANIMAL HOSPITAL 

I recently spoke at International Volunteers day seminar for Lort Smith Animal Hospital in Melbourne. Where would  we be without our community  volunteers. Lort Smith offers much needed services for sick and lost animals. They are great advocates for the health giving properties of pet ownership. If you are after a pet and you live in Melbourne  why not  adopt a pet from Lort Smith ? 

I am a cat lover but believe strongly in mandatory de-sexing of all kittens except registered breeders. Stray cats are dangerous to wildlife and pets, but its not their fault. We must be responsible pet oweners and vigilant about de-sexing our pets .

click HERE to visit Lort Smith Animal hospital 

*****

as well as  the usual things - 

These days most of my time  is taken up with health advocacy in the media or public speaking , and lots of  committees ! Of course, I still work in private General Practice and teach at Monash University.

I am still a strong advocate for destigmatising Mental Illness . I am the patron of the Southern Mental Health Association and a big supporter of SANE AUSTRALIA, www.sane.org  - please visit their site .

I also speak out as loudly as I can to destigmatise GENITAL HERPES - its only a virus - in fact its really only a cold sore but lower down !! I have been involved with an educational CD ROM on the subject which is available through www.HERPES.com.au I have answered many questions about Herpes there too.

I am also a patron of the WONDERFUL Royal District Nursing Service. These community base nurses work hard to keep our health system flowing. They are often under appreciated by those who've not needed their service - if you have then you know they are unsung community heroes. Please visit their site and support them -  www.RDNS.com.au

......

And then there is my latest addiction..... eeek ..... the family history !I have always been interested but I started in earnest  over summer when I met the wonderful Sue Macbeth from Macbeth Genealogy.  I am thinking now maybe its time to set up GAgroup  ( geneal-aholics anonymous !). Actually its extremely rewarding - watchout I can feel a book coming on ......... Look out Bryce Courtney I have just found out that my family were at the Potato Factory in Tassie  -  I went looking for a convict but instead to my shock I found the Deputy Matron and Deputy Superintendent ! DOH!  ....but as Tim Shaw would say ..... but wait there's more !