The Health News – 3 April 2017

Overview:
• Red blooms will blossom all year round at Canberra’s National Arboretum in a garden dedicated to those who have died of AIDS. The AIDS Garden of Reflection was declared open with a song from Canberra’s Gay and Lesbian Choir, Qwire.

• Department of Education and Child Development special educator Kathy Kleinschmidt said autism spectrum disorder (ASD) was just that; a spectrum, and many ASD children were highly functioning — if just a little bit quirky. Ms Kleinschmidt said high-functioning ASD children should be able to attend mainstream schools, but there needed to be education and tools available to staff.

• Launching the AMA Private Health Insurance Report Card 2017, AMA President, Dr Michael Gannon, said that people should thoroughly research and compare the various and varied policies on offer to ensure they are getting value for money and, more importantly, that they know exactly what they are covered for in the event of accident, illness, or injury.

News on Health Professional Radio. Today is the  3rd of April 2017. Read by Rebecca Foster. Health News

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-04-02/aids-garden-of-reflection-opens-at-arboretum/8408914

Red blooms will blossom all year round at Canberra’s National Arboretum in a garden dedicated to those who have died of AIDS.

Four new gardens officially opened …[on Sunday] and are the first of an eventual seven that will form the Gallery of Gardens.

They include a labyrinth, a garden designed by Open Gardens Australia as well as a children’s garden that is under construction.

The AIDS Garden of Reflection was declared open with a song from Canberra’s Gay and Lesbian Choir, Qwire.

“[It’s been] 23 years in the making for this garden,” AIDS Action Council ACT chief executive Philippa Moss said.

It serves as a permanent memorial to those who have died of AIDS and comes after a five-year fundraising effort.

The gardens include 156 new trees, stone walls, sculptures and spaces for people to sit.

The fifth garden is due to open to the public later this month.

Chief Minister Andrew Barr officially opened the garden.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-04-02/autism-is-a-difference-not-a-deficit-expert-says/8407556

Society needs to stop considering autism spectrum disorder as a deficit and start embracing difference, a South Australian expert in special education says.

Department of Education and Child Development special educator Kathy Kleinschmidt said autism spectrum disorder (ASD) was just that; a spectrum, and many ASD children were highly functioning — if just a little bit quirky.

Ms Kleinschmidt said high-functioning ASD children should be able to attend mainstream schools, but there needed to be education and tools available to staff.

“Just raising awareness that autism is not a deficit, it can be a huge positive because the people in our communities who have autism are those very focused people who can drill down and hopefully one day find a cure for cancer.” [she said]

https://ama.com.au/media/release-ama-private-health-insurance-report-card-2017

The AMA is urging consumers to do their homework before purchasing or changing their private health insurance …

Launching the AMA Private Health Insurance Report Card 2017, AMA President, Dr Michael Gannon, said … that people should thoroughly research and compare the various and varied policies on offer to ensure they are getting value for money and, more importantly, that they know exactly what they are covered for in the event of accident, illness, or injury.

“Australian families now contribute a substantial proportion of their household income towards private health insurance, so it is important they know exactly what they are getting from their investment,” Dr Gannon said.

“The AMA Private Health Insurance Report Card 2017 provides consumers with clear, simple information about how health insurance really works.

“The AMA wants this Report Card to be a catalyst for greater transparency and clarity from the private health insurers about their products, and a signal to consumers to thoroughly know their PHI product before signing up,” Dr Gannon said.

Since the release of the inaugural AMA Private Health Insurance Report Card in March 2016, the Government has established the Private Health Ministerial Advisory Committee to examine all aspects of private health insurance.

The AMA Private Health Insurance Report Card 2017 is at https://ama.com.au/ama-private-health-insurance-report-card-2017