SATURDAY 4 FEBRUARY, 2012

While cancer incidence rates are increasing, it is estimated that around one third of cancer cases worldwide are potentially preventable.

This World Cancer Day, Cancer Australia is urging Australians to commit to some lifestyle changes to help reduce their risk of cancer.

In Australia, one in two men and one in three women will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime, and cancer remains a leading cause of death.

Cancer Australia is advising Australians to:

• Quit smoking
• Be sun smart
• Get active
• Maintain a healthy diet
• Limit alcohol consumption
• Get to know your body

With the theme, ‘Together it is possible’, World Cancer Day 2012 is focused on collaborative efforts to reduce the burden of cancer globally.

Audio grabs available:

DR HELEN ZORBAS - CEO of Cancer Australia

SATURDAY 4 FEBRUARY, 2012

A staggering 605,700 Australian children are living in jobless families and are unable to access the same educational, health or life opportunities that many of us enjoy and often take for granted. 

Today Colgate launches its Smile for Change campaign in partnership with The Smith Family and swimming legend Susie O’Neill to help make a difference.  Kicked off at Sydney’s biggest iconic smile, Luna Park, the campaign is set to help kids in need create better futures for themselves.

Audio grabs available:

SUSIE O'NEILL - Australian swimming legend and campaign Ambassador

SCOTT WALTERS - Head of Strategic Partnerships at The Smith Family

DR PHILIPPA SAWYER - Paediatric dentist

CHRIS PEDERSEN - VP & GM South Pacific, Colgate Palmolive

EMBARGOED: 12:01AM THURSDAY 2 FEBRUARY, 2012

A new economic report commissioned by the Sleep Health Foundation released today reveals sleep disorders cost the Australian economy more than $5.1 billion a year in health care and indirect costs.

In addition, the reduction in life quality caused by sleep disorders has a further cost equivalent of $31.4 billion a year. The report, ‘Re-awakening Australia – The Economic Cost of Sleep Disorders in Australia’ highlights more than 1.5 million Australian adults, 9% of the adult population, now suffer from sleep disorders.

Audio grabs available:

PROFESSOR DAVID HILLMAN - Chair of the Sleep Health Foundation and director of the West Australian Sleep Disorders Research Institute

EMBARGOED: 12:01AM EDT WEDNESDAY 1ST FEBRUARY, 2012

The Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has approved VICTRELIS for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C, genotype 1, the most common form of the condition affecting 55% of all sufferers. The approval of VICTRELIS provides another option in the treatment of hepatitis C, a condition that has been without another treatment option in more than 10 years.

Chronic hepatitis C is a major public health burden in Australia and affects around 220,000 Australians, with 10,000 new cases reported annually. Without other treatment options and appropriate intervention, estimates of new cases stand at approximately 500,000 by 2020. If left untreated, hepatitis C can cause serious liver disease including cirrhosis, liver cancer and even mortality.

Audio grabs available:

PROFESSOR GEOFF MCCAUGHAN - Head of the Liver Immunobiology Program,
Centenary Research Institute and Director, AW Morrow Gastroenterology and Liver Centre, Sydney

TUESDAY 31 JANUARY, 2012

Optus today celebrates its 20th birthday and the beginning of competition in the Australian telecommunications market.

Optus began commercial operations on 31 January 1992 having been awarded Australia’s first competitive carrier licence on 19 November 1991.  From the early days Optus’ primary purpose was to provide customers with choice, better value and improved customer service, a focus which remains true to this day.

From its humble beginnings in 1992, Optus has grown to become a company which today supports more than nine million mobile services, one million fixed and broadband customers and thousands of businesses across Australia every day. 

Vicki Brady, Divisional Managing Director, Optus said, “The name Optus was derived from the phrase “opt for us” demonstrating that customers now had a choice in telecommunications for the first time in Australia’s history."

Audio grabs available:

VICKI BRADY - Divisional Managing Director, Optus

STEVE FENECH - Technology expert and editor of TechGuide.com.au

SUNDAY 29 JANUARY, 2012

A third (33 per cent) of the Australian workforce is planning to return to further study in order to help them make some important job changes in 2012, according to new research released today.

The research, commissioned by SEEK Learning, also found that ambitions extend beyond progression in current roles with just under a quarter planning a change of career (23 per cent) and 14 per cent looking to start their own company within the next five years.

Further figures showed just how driven Australians workers are, with 87 per cent citing career success as a strong personal focus. A third (38 per cent) attribute this to the need for job satisfaction, which provides a stronger motivational driver than financial gain (34 per cent) or social status (two per cent).

Audio grabs available:

EMMA ISAACS - Entrepreneur and CEO of Business Chicks

TONY BARRETT - General Manager of SEEK Learning

WEDNESDAY 18 JANUARY, 2012

Australians all let us rejoice, for we now have our own tea! 

Joining the ranks of other famous Twinings blends of English Breakfast, Irish Breakfast, New Zealand Breakfast, Russian Caravan and even Prince of Wales, the soon-to-be iconic tea was born after a competitive celebrity blending competition that saw the Hon Kevin Rudd MP being named as the master blender after a fiercely fought battle.
 
The Foreign Affairs Minister launched the new Twinings blend, Australian Afternoon Tea, at a press conference in Brisbane yesterday.

More than 80,000 Australians cast their vote following a series of public tastings of the Top 5 blends in Sydney, Melbourne, and Perth and online during 2011.

The other finalists included radio legend Alan Jones, television icon Kerri-Anne Kennerley, seven-time world surfing champ Layne Beachley and country music star John Williamson.

Ten cents from each sale will go towards Mr Rudd’s chosen charity, the RSPCA.

Audio grabs available:

HON KEVIN RUDD MP - Foreign Affairs Minister

MARK TOWNEND - CEO RSPCA Queensland

TUESDAY 13 DECEMBER, 2011

Not for profit community organisation, the YMCA, is excited to announce its first ever national Swimathon fundraiser which will see more than 100 YMCA-managed pools countrywide simultaneously host Australia’s biggest pool-based swim on Sunday 11 March 2012.

With the theme Dive In. Help Out, the inaugural YMCA Swimathon is an opportunity for Y members across the country and the broader community to come together for a day of healthy, physical activity while raising money for YMCA benevolent programs in each Centre’s local community.

Registrations officially open today with Australians of all swimming abilities invited to visit www.ymcaswimathon.org.au or their local YMCA pool to sign up and start their fundraising efforts. Registration is free and will be open up until 11 March and on the day of the Swimathon.

The YMCA also announced today it was delighted to have the support of current World 100m Freestyle Swimming Champion, James Magnussen, as an official event ambassador.

Audio grabs available:

RON MELL - YMCA CEO

Embargo: Sunday, November 20, 2011

Children living with systemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (sJIA), a rare and aggressive form of arthritis, now have access to an approved biologic treatment for the condition.

Actemra® (tocilizumab) has recently been approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) for the treatment of sJIA in patients two years of age and older. This approval for juvenile patients follows its current availability for adults with severe active Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

The belief that arthritis only affects older people is a myth. Worldwide, juvenile arthritis is one of the leading causes of paediatric acquired disability. In Australia, it is estimated that one child in every 1,000 has juvenile arthritis. sJIA is one of seven types of juvenile arthritis and is considered to be the most difficult sub-type (of juvenile arthritis) to treat.

The symptoms of sJIA affect the whole body and can include fever, rash and inflammation of internal organs. Some children experience complications of long lasting systemic inflammation which can include joint destruction, functional disability and growth impairment.

Audio grabs available with:

Dr Jeffrey Chaitow. Head of the Department of Rheumatology. The Children's Hospital, Westmead, Sydney