Loss of biodiversity impacts us all

Thu, 17/05/2012 - Susie Burke
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The loss of biodiversity is often seen as an aesthetic issue or something only scientists care about. Dr Susie Burke says her research shows that there are broader implications, including a noticeable decline in human happiness.

I recently presented a submission to the Inquiry into Australia's Biodiversity in a Changing Climate on behalf of the Australian Psychological Society (APS). It responded to questions about how reduced biodiversity affects human communities and how climate change adaption can be enhanced.

The submission showed that environmental degradation and the accompanying loss of biodiversity have an impact on human health and well-being and only a holistic approach will assist both people and natural environments to adapt to that change.

The APS recognises the importance of protecting Australia’s biodiversity in a changing climate. The biodiversity of healthy natural environments and ecosystems is integral to human health and well-being, and is of profound importance to people’s everyday lives and connection with the natural world. This importance goes well beyond human requirements for healthy, life-supporting, ecosystems and uncontaminated air, water, food ecosystem services. Biodiversity is also of great importance for meeting the psychological needs of hope and inspiration, connection to the natural world, restoration, recreation, and identity.

It therefore follows that loss of biodiversity has significant psychosocial impacts on individuals and communities. Those psychosocial impacts include things like direct psychological impacts (distress from actual or anticipated changes to the environment), as well as social and community impacts, such as changes to relationships as a result of changes in how people use and occupy a territory.

Does it matter if our parents are gay or straight?

Thu, 17/05/2012 - Simon Crouch
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On ABC TV’s Q&A this week Senator Penny Wong was asked to justify her same-sex family. Dr Simon Crouch looks into that issue with a world-first study into the overall health and wellbeing of children of same-sex attracted parents.

Doctors for the Family have grabbed headlines this week. Promoting their submission to the Senate Inquiry into Marriage Equality they emphasise their opinion that “the evidence is clear that children who grow up in a family with a mother and a father do better in all parameters than children without.”

This is a view that lacks substance and in and of itself perpetuates a discriminatory attitude that is all too common and potentially damaging. Beyondblue, the national depression initiative, understands this and only last week launched a campaign to combat some of this discrimination, which sees around 30 per cent of Australians holding negative attitudes towards same-sex attracted people.

In fact, contrary to the commonly promulgated view that same-sex attracted parents are harming their children the limited international research suggests that in general children with same-sex attracted parents are doing pretty well. Unfortunately this work has to date been mostly limited to families with lesbian parents, has only considered aspects of mental and social wellbeing, and has had relatively few participants. It is time to capture the complete health and wellbeing of all children with same-sex attracted parents in the Australian context and to truly understand what impact that stigma and discrimination has on these families.

The Australian Study of Child Health in Same-Sex Families will for the first time determine the complete physical, mental and social wellbeing of children with same-sex attracted parents and give a voice to these children so that they have the opportunity describe their experiences in their own words.

Finding ways to cut red tape

Wed, 16/05/2012 - Sen. Arthur Sin...
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You can't run a business in Australia without some level of red tape, but when does paperwork become an unnecessary burden? Senator Arthur Sinodinos calls for contributions to Global Access Partners' online consultation on the Cost of Red Tape.

Regulating the 21st century

Wed, 16/05/2012 - patrickcallioni
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Modern society cannot exist without an effective regulatory framework. But Patrick Callioni looks at how the reduction of some red tape could enhance business productivity and competitiveness in Australia.

Forms, forms and more forms

Wed, 16/05/2012 - Leighton Jenkins
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The World Bank Group ranks Australia the second easiest country in the world in which to start up a new business. Leighton Jenkins believes we could make it even simpler.

Imagination an underrated business asset

Tue, 15/05/2012 - Craig Manson
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Imagination can be synonymous with daydreaming, but it is an underestimated asset in the business world according to a new report from Canon. Craig Manson looks at why imagination should be more highly valued.