Advocacy in the Spotlight                          
Edition 5 - February 2023

What is Advocacy?

The Advocacy Toolkit

• Demystifies advocacy
• Includes examples and case studies demonstrating how advocacy strategies can be applied across different issues
• Offers tips to effectively work with the media and
• Provides practical tools to help you and your organisation advocate on your issue

To download the Toolkit click here.

NSW Greens lobby for Rural and Remote Health Commissioner

The NSW Greens are pledging to lobby for a Rural and Remote Health Commissioner to improve the state’s ailing regional and rural health system.
 
“The Greens' plan will repair the faltering regional and rural health system and ensure people living outside of our cities can expect fair and equitable healthcare services” says Cate Faehrmann, Greens Health Spokeswoman.
 
It comes after a Parliamentary Inquiry into health outcomes and access to health and hospital services in rural, regional and remote New South Wales last year found patients had died on bathroom floors and cleaners had been working as nurses during staff shortages in the regional and remote areas. The government backed 41 of the 44 recommendations made by the Inquiry but rejected calls for an independent health watchdog. Under the Greens' plan, nurses, midwives and paramedics would be given a 15% pay rise in a bid to stop workers leaving the system; an issue that's exacerbating staff shortages.

Find our more about the Inquiry here.

Youth mental health advocate named Fremantle's Citizen of the Year

Latest Advocacy Campaigns

This confronting new campaign emphasises the common consequences of smoking, ranging from smoker’s cough and breathlessness to bleeding gums.   'The aim of the campaign is to prompt people who smoke to stop and listen to the effects smoking is having on their bodies, so they can make the most of life.' said Melissa Ledger,  Cancer Council WA’s Cancer Prevention and Research Director.

The two new advertisements feature individuals of different ages, backgrounds and genders to appeal to a variety of West Australians.

Watch the videos here.

1. Protect young people from the harm of vaping
2. Promote healthy weight among children by removing junk food advertising on state-owned assets, starting with public transport
3. Minimise harms of gambling, including including blocking any pre-election agreements with the gaming industry
4. Act boldly on climate change by banning new coal and gas mines, including expansions
5. Make prevention a health system priority.

Parliamentary Inquiries for public health advocacy

National Cultural Policy

On 30 January 2023, the Australian Government released a new National Cultural Policy, Revive: a place for every story, a story for every place. This policy is a five-year plan that seeks to revive Australia's arts, entertainment and cultural sectors.  On 8 February 2023, the Senate referred the National Cultural Policy for inquiry and report by 15 June 2023

The extent and nature of poverty in Australia

On 7 September 2022, the Senate referred an inquiry into the extent and nature of poverty in Australia to the Senate Community Affairs References Committee for inquiry and report by 31 October 2023.  Further detail about the scope of the inquiry is provided in the Terms of Reference.

National trend of school refusal and related matters 

On 27 October 2022 the Senate referred the inquiry into the national trend of school refusal and related matters to the Education and Employment References Committee for inquiry and report by 22 March 2023. On 9 February 2023, the Senate agreed to extend the Committee’s reporting date to 21 June 2023. Submissions were requested by 9 December 2022. The Committee has re-opened submissions to the inquiry and invites submissions, or supplementary submissions, by 22 March 2023. here.

The issue of increasing disruption in Australian school classrooms

On 28 November 2022 the Senate referred “The issue of increasing disruption in Australian school classrooms” to the Education and Employment Reference Committee for inquiry and report by the first sitting day in July 2023.
Submissions are requested by 31 March 2023 here.