Nauru Says No

Mental health workers caring for refugees and asylum seekers on Nauru have left the island, after being told their presence was ‘no longer required’.

 

On Wednesday, the Medecins Sans Frontieres, also known as Doctors Without Borders, confirmed that its international staff left the island, five days after being told their services were being terminated.

 

The organisation are deeply concerned for the health and wellbeing of its patients on the island, describing their mental health as ‘beyond desperate’.

 

Spanish Island washed away

A flash flood in the Spanish island of Majorca has killed at least 10 people, including at least three foreigners.

 

A wave of muddy water engulfed the town after heavy rain broke the banks of nearby river. Vehicles were swept away as water gushed through narrow streets.

 

A five-year-old is missing as a result of the flood. Hundreds of emergency workers and sniffer dogs are involved in the search-and-rescue effort.

Patient safety at the cost of free speech?

The Australian high court is hearing appeals from activists who say that laws banning protests outside abortion clinics infringe on their rights to free speech.

 

Currently, Victoria has active legislation that establishes a 150 metre zone around abortion clinics where protesters are barred from protesting which is designed to reduce harassment and intimidation of potential patients when entering clinics.

 

NDIS changes to help those who need it most

Australians experiencing severe mental health issues will be better catered to, as a result of changes to the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

 

NDIS social services minister, Paul Fletcher, says among the changes will be better linking of mental health services and the authority who runs the NDIS; this is aimed to benefit around 64,000 Australians with psycho-social disabilities.

 

Mr. Fletcher says we need to make sure those who are eligible for coverage within the scheme are given the support they need.

 

Learning from High in the Sky

Brisbane’s first high-rise childcare centre has opened in the city, where lawyers and children can co-exist alongside each other.

 

The Little Scholars School of Early Learning occupies the second floor of a 34-floor building; it offers preschooler activities from yoga and dance classes to visits from hairdressers and dentists.

 

Urban planning academic, Tony Matthews, says high-rise daycare centres and schools are on the rise due to a shortage of available urban land.

 

End of the Eagle Era

One of Brisbane's most popular markets, for almost a decade, has decided to shut down on the 28th of October this month.

 

The Market, which began in 2010 became a sunday tradition for the people of Ascot—providing the area with fresh fruit, vegetables, live music and exposure for charity and community groups.

 

With the last market being on the 28th of this month, this marks the end of ‘the Eagle Farm Era’.

Earthquake rocks the boat

Pupua New Guinea authorities are trying to work out whether a earthquake which hit New Britain caused a Tsunami in the region.

 

Cities within the region are still questioning whether damage has been caused, however many cities have reported no significant damage or casualties.

 

Seismic (Sizemic) Activity such as this is not uncommon in the region, as it sits above active tectonic plates which are the cause of earthquakes worldwide.

Wind Turbine’s noise may be threat to our health

Wind turbines can cause health issues if someone is exposed to their excessive noise levels, according to new guidelines for Europe that the World Health Organisation (WHO) has published.

 

These guidelines suggest exposure to wind turbines should not exceed 45 decibels during the day. For a comparison, soft music has 50 decibels.

 

WHO Europe chief, Zsuzsanna Jakab, says more than being a nuisance, excessive noise is a health risk that can contribute to cardiovascular diseases for example.

Abortion Activists seek to Abort South Australia’s Abortion laws

The South Australian Abortion Action Coalition is pushing to repeal South Australia’s abortion laws, lobbying for state parliaments to remove abortion from the state’s crime act.

The coalition wrote to politicians last month, after securing support from over 20 professional and community organisations. The group wants abortion to be covered under the state's health laws and to introduce laws mandating a safety zone around abortion clinics.