EMBARGOED: 06:00 AEDT THURSDAY MARCH 11, 2010

New research has revealed that 1 in 3 Aussies have experienced an embarrassing episode during conference calls and web meetings, as Aussie workers risk their professional reputations by doing too much and not paying attention.

The research, conducted by meeting experts Premiere Global (PGi), found that in fact 88 percent of Aussies multi-task during conference calls and web meetings.

With more and more Aussies using conferencing technology for their meetings, understanding and practicing good meeting etiquette is vital. Further findings were:

• 40 percent of Aussies will work on another task in tandem or go through their emails.
• Almost 1 in 3 have admitted to either watching TV, reading the news, checking social media sites or chatting with colleagues on an unrelated subject.
• Meanwhile, 15 percent of Aussies are happy to eat their way through a conference call.

Audio news grabs available:

JOANNE RIGBY – PGi spokesperson

WEDNESDAY MARCH 10, 2010

Commonwealth Bank, in conjunction with NATSEM (University of Canberra) today launched its inaugural economic vitality report, Viewpoint.

Created to act as a barometer of the economic health of the nation, and with analysis by NATSEM, a respected independent research institute at the University of Canberra, the first quarterly Viewpoint takes an in-depth look at the effect of the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) on Australian consumers by analysing the extraordinary volume of data managed daily by Australia’s largest bank.

Audio grabs available:

MICHAEL BLYTHE - Commonwealth Bank Chief Economist

EMBARGOED: 00:01 AEDT WEDNESDAY MARCH 10, 2010

Almost three in four (71%) Australians who use non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) found in common over-the-counter pain relievers, such as Nurofen or Voltaren, are not aware of the serious, long-term risks associated with taking these types of drugs, according to a new survey. 

“These results highlight that a significant proportion of people using NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen, are putting their health at risk through inappropriate use,” says Professor Terry Bolin, gastroenterologist and President of The Gut Foundation. 

“It is alarming that almost three quarters of Australians who use NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen are not aware of the potentially serious health impacts of these drugs, particularly for people with gastro-intestinal or stomach problems,” Prof. Bolin said.

Audio news grabs available:

PROFESSOR TERRY BOLIN - gastroenterologist and President of The Gut Foundation

EMBARGOED: 11:30 AEDT TUESDAY MARCH 9, 2010

A house fire is one of the most traumatic and devastating events a family can experience. To help victims know what to do after a house fire, GIO and the NSW Fire Brigades (NSWFB) have prepared a recovery kit to be carried in every fire truck in NSW.

The recovery kit, After the fire: What to do next, is an Australian emergency services first. Every NSWFB fire station will be provided with copies of the kit to put into their fire trucks, helping NSW fire fighters give practical next-steps advice to residents affected by a house fire.

Each recovery kit contains: a list of the critical items and documents that should be retrieved or replaced; instructions on how to protect the home after the fire from weather, theft or vandalism; a list of who to notify about the fire and how to start restoring or rebuilding the home. The kit also contains instructions on making an insurance claim to get the repair or rebuilding process started.

Audio news grabs available:

GREG MULLINS - NSW Fire Brigades Commissioner

MICHAEL COOK – Executive Manager GIO

EMBARGOED: 5AM MONDAY MARCH 8, 2010

Cyclist, Geoff Dittrich, and his cycling team are taking the fight against poverty across Australia with an 80-day bike ride from Sydney to Perth. The ‘Macro for Micro’ initiative aims to raise more than $50,000 for Opportunity International Australia, a non-profit organisation that uses microfinance to solve the problem of poverty.

Guy Leech, former World Ironman Champion and health and fitness expert, is supporting Macro for Micro, participating in the first leg of the ride from Sydney to Wollongong.

The trip will start in Sydney on 8 March 2010 and is scheduled to finish in Perth on the 29 May 2010. The 8th March was chosen as the start date for the ride as it coincides with United Nations International Women's Day. Approximately 85% of the people Opportunity International Australia help out of poverty through microfinance are women.

Audio grabs available:

GUY LEECH – former World Ironman Champion and health and fitness expert

EMBARGOED: 00:01 AEDT MONDAY MARCH 8, 2010

On International Women’s Day, the Westpac Women’s Markets survey has revealed:

• 47 per cent of all Australians argue with their partner over money
• 19 per cent of Australian women do not totally trust their partner with shared finances, compared to 10 per cent of men
•  47 per cent of Australian women believe their partner wastes money, compared to 40 per cent of men

Westpac’s Head of Women’s Markets, Larke Riemer, said women are in a great position to put an end to unnecessary budget barnies by starting a money conversation.

“International Women’s Day is the perfect day for women to have a conversation, not an argument, with their partner about their short and long term financial priorities.  Then, it’s just a matter of agreeing on joint financial goals and putting some simple systems in place to achieve them,” she said.

Audio news grabs available:

LARKE RIEMER - Westpac’s Head of Women’s Markets

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE. MONDAY MARCH 1, 2010

Six community leaders today launched a new national initiative that showcases how telecommunications is helping address national issues like diabetes, online safety and illiteracy.

The new Telstra funded initiative,  'Ideas for Good', describes how telecommunications is being deployed across six areas including the environment, health, Indigenous Australia, families, communities and the future. The Ideas for Good website provides people with information and insights on the six areas and people can hear from, and engage with, influential Australian community leaders and thinkers.

Audio grabs available with:

TIM COSTELLO - Ideas For Good supporter

DR MARTYN WILD - Cybersafety expert and Honorary Professor at La Trobe University (family);

RHODA ROBERTS - Creative Director, Awakening at Sydney Olympics and Board of Indigenous Tourism Australia (Indigenous Australia);

PAUL GILDING - Former executive director of Greenpeace International (environment);

GAIL O'BRIEN - Director of Lifehouse, the Chris O'Brien Cancer Centre at RPA hospital (health);

DR HUGH BRADLOW - Chief Technology Officer, Telstra (the future)

EMBARGOED: 05:00 AEDT MONDAY MARCH 1, 2010

Sony Foundation Australia, together with CanTeen, today launched a national fundraising campaign to raise $15 million to build youth cancer centres of excellence in Australia.

The campaign’s public appeal – ‘You Can’ – addresses the need for specialised youth cancer treatment centres for Australia’s ‘forgotten generation’, persons aged between 15 and 25 fighting cancer.

“The facts on youth cancer are staggering. One in 100 Australians is diagnosed with cancer before the age of 30, but in the last 25 years there has been virtually no improvement in survival outcomes for the 15 to 30 age group,” says Dr Louise Messara, Executive Director, Sony Foundation Australia.

You Can’s primary fundraising mechanism calls on Australians to recycle their old mobile phones (there are an estimated 15 to 20 million unwanted phones in Australian homes) to help raise funds for the proposed centres.

Audio news grabs available:

DR LOUISE MESSARA - Executive Director, Sony Foundation Australia

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 26, 2010

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd was today joined by the Governor of NSW Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir AC CVO, Premier Kristina Keneally and Minister Jenny Macklin to launch the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence, a unique and exciting new place for young Indigenous people from around to Australia to share their dreams, hopes and ambitions.

Funded and constructed by the Indigenous Land Corporation, the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence will foster talent and encourage excellence by providing young Indigenous and non-Indigenous people with the foundations they need to succeed in their future endeavours. Located in Sydney’s Redfern, the Centre will offer a safe environment for approximately 5,000 young Indigenous people from across the nation to be inspired and connect with the community. 

Sam Jeffries, Co-chair of the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence and Deputy Chair of the Indigenous Land Corporation, believes the launch marks a new chapter for Indigenous opportunity and achievement in Australia.

Audio news grabs available:

SAM JEFFRIES - Co-chair of the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence and Deputy Chair of the Indigenous Land Corporation

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 24, 2010

More than 88 per cent of Australian companies agree that the use of pirated or unlicensed software is a risk to their business, according to the inaugural Business Software Alliance (BSA) Software Piracy Sentiment Report, released today. The BSA suggests the other 12 per cent are still in the dark about the consequences of this illegal activity.

The report revealed that only 43.6 per cent of Australian corporate decision-makers believe that reducing the use of unlicensed software in Australia will improve job prospects and the economy, and 22.4 per cent don’t know.

“Australian IT managers may be unaware that reducing the software piracy rate in Australia by 10 per cent over four years could generate an additional 3,929 Australian jobs, US$438 million in tax revenues for Australian governments and an additional US$1.9 billion in revenues to local Australian IT vendors,” said Clayton Noble, co-chair BSA Australia Committee.

“The use of unlicensed software can be very costly to a company if caught, and may result in lawsuits, damages bills and bad publicity. Pirated software may also compromise information security and bring your network down,” Mr Noble said.

Audio news grabs available:

CLAYTON NOBLE – Co-chair BSA Australia Committee

EMBARGOED: 01:00 AEDT WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 24, 2010

Despite improvements in survival rates for ovarian cancer, the prognosis for women diagnosed with the disease remains relatively poor, according to the latest national report on ovarian cancer released today by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) and National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre (NBOCC).

The report, Ovarian cancer in Australia: an overview, 2010, shows that in 2006, there were 1,226 cases of ovarian cancer diagnosed in Australia, which equates to an average of three women being diagnosed with the disease every day.

The report shows that 40%of women who were diagnosed with ovarian cancer between 2000 and 2006 were alive five years after their diagnosis. This is in contrast to those diagnosed between 1982 and 1987, when only 33% survived five years after their diagnosis.

‘Improved survival rates give increasing hope to women diagnosed today, however, a better understanding of the biology of ovarian cancer, and the need for an effective early detection test remain key areas of focus for future research,’ said Dr Helen Zorbas, CEO NBOCC.

Audio news grabs available:

DR HELEN ZORBAS – CEO National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre

EMBARGOED: 00:01 AEDT THURSDAY FEBRUARY 18, 2010

Tougher economic conditions saw a jump in the number of frauds reported according to the Australian results of PricewaterhouseCoopers Global Economic Crime Survey. 

Released today, the results show that during the 12 months survey period, four out of ten Australian organisations reported at least one incident of fraud as compared to the global average of around a quarter (24 per cent). Just over a third (37 per cent) of the frauds reported by Australian organisations over the same period cost in excess of AUD$1 million, more than double the global average (17%).

Audio news grabs available:

MALCOLM SHACKELL – PricewaterhouseCoopers partner

PETER PRICE – CEO, Crime Stoppers

EMBARGOED: 06:00 AEDT TUESDAY FEBRUARY 16, 2010

A new Access Economics report – A Future Less Fragile – released today shows Australia needs to take osteoporosis much more seriously, with one-in-eight Australians (3 million people) predicted to be living with the chronic bone disease by 2020.

Of concern is the report’s finding that 41% of Australians currently receiving treatment for osteoporosis are failing to maintain their therapy after a year. If this continues into 2020, just over 19,400 preventable fractures and up to 1,097 avoidable deaths will occur, costing the Australian economy $1.6 billion.

Access Economics director Lynne Pezzullo says the report highlights that early diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis can dramatically reduce fracture rates, improve quality of life for those living with the disease and generate substantial economic savings.

Audio news grabs available:

LYNNE PEZZULLO – Director of Access Economics

NASEEMA SPARKS – CEO Osteoporosis Australia

PROFESSOR PETER EBELING – Medical Director, Osteoporosis Australia

EMBARGOED: 03:00 AEDT TUESDAY FEBRUARY 16, 2010

Engineers Australia, the country’s leading engineering body, is investing over $2.5 million in a new public awareness initiative which will launch nationally on Tuesday 16 February.

The initiative, called Make it so, aims to shift Australians’ perceptions and increase understanding of the engineering profession, whilst inspiring more Australians to consider careers in engineering.

A core component of the new initiative is a world first competition calling on everyday Australians to submit ideas with one lucky person having their idea ‘made so’ by an engineering team. People are encouraged to visit www.makeitso.org.au to submit, share and champion their ideas.

“A benchmark study revealed that whilst engineering had a high level of advocacy amongst Australians, there was a very low level of understanding about what the profession actually involves,” says Peter Taylor, CEO of Engineers Australia.

“We want to lift the curtain on what it is engineers actually do. We want to help Australians understand that from bridges to Blackberrys, drinking water to the Water Cube – engineers and engineering teams help ‘make it so’ in the community." 

Audio news grabs available:

PETER TAYLOR – CEO Engineers Australia

MONDAY FEBRUARY 1, 2010

Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir AC CVO, Governor of New South Wales, was joined by the Premier of New South Wales, the Honourable Kristina Keneally MP at Government House on Sunday to officially launch the Macquarie 2010 Bicentenary Commemorations.

The Macquarie 2010 Bicentenary is a year-long commemoration program to acknowledge the legacy of Governor Lachlan Macquarie and his wife, Elizabeth Campbell.

“Lachlan Macquarie was a courageous and visionary man who set the direction for a prosperous and egalitarian nation.  His contribution is seen in every aspect of our modern society,” said Governor Bashir.

Chair of the Macquarie 2010 Bicentenary Commemorations Committee, the Honourable John Aquilina MP, said the year would allow everyone to pay tribute to one of New South Wales’ most influential leaders. 

“The year will provide the entire community with an opportunity to celebrate the past, present and future, by participating in the Bicentenary celebrations through a state-wide program of local events, activities and initiatives.” Mr Aquilina said. 

Audio news grabs available:

HONOURABLE JOHN AQUILINA MP - Chair of the Macquarie 2010 Bicentenary Commemorations Committee