Make immunisation mandatory

The federal government has announced a ‘no jab, no pay’ plan with bipartisan support. Medical ethicist Dr Alberto Giubilini says making child immunisation mandatory would be a better policy than withholding welfare payments.

Why Australians are getting larger

Australia’s obesity rates are climbing faster than anywhere else in the world. Professor Manny Noakes says people who want to lose weight need to take action in order to prolong their life and decrease the likelihood of developing conditions associated with being overweight.

Go Blue for Autism

Every year on 2 April iconic buildings across Australia and around the world turn their lights blue for World Autism Awareness Day. You can use #LIUB to share your experience across social media.

Upgrading our debate on disability, welfare and jobs

The government has released its final report of the review into the Australian Welfare system. Craig Wallace, President of People with Disability Australia, says too many Australians with disability are still locked out of the labour market.

What are the effects of coal seam gas on the health of Queenslanders?

A leading health organisation is backing calls for a royal commission into the impact of coal seam gas mining on the people of Queensland. Dr David Shearman from Doctors for the Environment Australia (DEA) urges the new Government to protect the current and future health of Queenslanders.

Wellbeing at work

Health and wellbeing are not the same. Health is determined objectively, by scientific measurements, while wellbeing is purely subjective. Joanne Abbey explores what this means at the workplace.

Do something amazing to help beat blood cancer

Blood cancer can develop in anyone, at any time. Alys Holz from the Leukaemia Foundation explains how you can change someone's life by giving up your hair for a little while at the World’s Greatest Shave.

Be brave and shave

Get sponsored to shave your hair between 12-15 March 2015 and support the Leukaemia Foundation in helping people with blood cancer. If you are not quite brave enough, you can always colour your hair instead.

Therapeutic tools from canola waste product

Canola is primarily grown for its oil. Saira Hussain shares exciting research results on how the by-product of canola oil might be used for treating a wide range of conditions like diabetes, cancer, hypertension and fat development.

Which challenge will you take on?

FebFast is a charity that raises money to fight youth addiction by challenging you to give up your favourite vice for 28 days. In the past the focus was on alcohol, but this year FebFasters are invited to choose from five habits one that they are going to abstain from – alcohol, nicotine, sugar, junk food or social media.

On my agenda – the importance of investing in health

Doctors from across the globe came together at the H20 International Health Summit late last year. Grace Davies, one of the keynote speakers, explains the influence of climate change on existing health and development issues and what she and fellow Australian medical students are doing to address this.

Looking back on 2014

I would like to thank you, the Open Forum community, for your support and engagement throughout the year. You are instrumental in shaping this website with your blogs, ideas and comments.