Reversing the trend in HIV

Recharging our response to HIV

As World AIDS Day approaches on 1 December, Rob Lake executive director of the Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations looks at the changing approach to treating the HIV infection.

World AIDS Day 2012 looms. Thirty years into the AIDS epidemic, it seems amazing we are now hearing frequent, credible references to an end to new HIV infections, to getting to zero and to universal access to HIV treatments. UNAIDS characterised its 2012 Global Report on HIV as moving from despair to hope, though not without some caveats about significant and worsening epidemics and poor responses in Eastern Europe, North Africa and the Middle East.

Why Australia can lead the world in making products and services better

User focused design has helped with the success of products like the iPhone.  Tom Voirol explains how, by implementing this approach, Australian organisations and users can reap the significant benefits.

You may not have heard the term, but user experience design (or UX) is getting increased traction in developing services and products that are more useful, usable and even desirable. It is the practice of putting the users and their needs, wants and preferences at the centre of the design process.

This sounds like an obvious thing to do, and you'd be forgiven for thinking that this is how most products and services are developed today. Unfortunately, as evidenced by convoluted telephone menus, labyrinthine banking procedures and mysterious control panels on microwave ovens, this is not always the case.

A Slice of Orange

Strike at the heart of our food security

Australia has enough water for all its food and export needs, to protect and sustain its native landscapes and to embark on new industries in aquaculture, algae culture and irrigation potentially worth $30-40 billion – but to do that, it needs good science, technology and education, argues Julian Cribb.

If Australia’s security agencies got wind of a terrorist plot to destroy vital national infrastructure, eliminate companies and thousands of jobs, cost the Australian public billions of dollars and undermine the health of the community, our governments would – presumably – mobilise all our national resources and defence forces to prevent it.

The trouble is the perpetrators in this scenario are Australian governments themselves – federal and state and of both political complexions.  And the scenario is real.
 

Keep positive and be proud of your achievements

Success is not something that comes out of no-where and sometimes the most successful people can make it appear almost effortless. Jeremy Liddle says maintaining a positive attitude goes a long way.

Giving a voice to the community

In a democratic society, every voice should have equal weight. Peter Fritz argues that it is not the institutions or formal titles that give individuals the power to make a difference, but an active participation in policy discussions.

Established some 12 years ago as a company endeavouring to help small medium sized enterprises to get access to large companies, GAP found in the first year or two that there were good reasons for the divide between small and large.

Contrary to entrenched wisdom that small companies are little big companies we found that in fact the small and medium sized world is populated by its own particular and peculiar habits and life.  It’s a  different environment from the space that the big companies live in.

A life of quiet suffering – the dairy cow

When most people pour milk onto their cereal each morning they don't think about where the product came from. Dr Deidre Wicks argues the modern dairy cow is the victim of market-driven exploitation.

What is the Value of Philosophy?

Each year on the third Thursday of November, UNESCO celebrates World Philosophy Day to highlight the importance of philosophical reflection and encourage people across the world to share their philosophical heritage with one another. Albert Atkin explains how it has influenced his activism and aspirations.

High IT prices costing people with disability

The Australian Government recently launched an inquiry into the cost of IT products in this country, the results of which will be closely watched by everyone but particularly Australians with disabilities. Erin Turner says technology is particularly important to the disabled community.

Australia’s organ transplant success high, but donation rates too low

Australia has world-leading transplant outcomes, but very low rates of organ donation. If Australia had matched the world leader, Spain, more than 2,200 lives could be saved and transformed, says kidney/pancreas transplant recipient Brian Myerson.

Self-sustaining leviathan

When Presidential hopeful Mitt Romney spoke off the cuff about American welfare recipients not paying tax he drew a lot of criticism, even though he was factually correct. Robert Carling looks at the situation in Australia.

Has Australia’s welfare state become so large that it can now sustain itself and grow through the ballot box? This is the key issue raised by recent controversies in the United States and the United Kingdom.