POST-FEDERAL BUDGET RESPONSE: AUSTRALIAN THYROID FOUNDATION 1 million Australians with undiagnosed thyroid disorders remain at risk of irreparable damage
At the Post Budget Breakfast hosted by AIPS and Medicines Australia, the Honourable Mark Butler MP, Minister for Health and Aged Care spoke about the health priorities of the Federal Budget 2024-25.
As with all Federal Budgets, there is a submission process to lodge requests by January of each year. For the Federal Budget this year, there were 788 submissions lodged, one of which was by the Australian Thyroid Foundation (ATF).
The ATF is a national not-for-profit organisation with charity status aimed at patients and the healthcare community. The ATF’s focus is to support and educate its member base and promote our Good Thyroid Health Messaging throughout the Australian Community.
Australian Thyroid Foundation, CEO Beverley Garside attending the breakfast gave her response to the Federal Budget and the Foundation’s pre-budget submission, which was not granted.
The 3 requests for funding were for,
1. Education tool kit for health care professionals, to use during patient presentations
2. Broad media campaign aimed at young families moving away from standard dietary choices and awareness about the importance of iodine and thyroid health
3. Dietary book for senior Australians with an iodine slant to improve health outcomes, with healthy living choices.
According to the Australia Thyroid Foundation, over 1 million Australians are living with an undiagnosed thyroid disorder. These disorders can affect children, pregnant women, families and the elderly.
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Lasers in dental treatment without needles and drills
In 2017, Dr. Omar Zuaiter and Alaa Habeb launched Dentroid, a dental technology startup with a mission to make dentistry a kinder and friendlier experience for patients and dentists using photonics (using laser technology) and robotics, as alternatives to needles, drills and sprays. The vision for the startup is to have dentistry adopt laser technology, addressing the root causes of dental pain & anxiety, and create a pain-free dental experience.
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Brain cancer Professor mentors Tasmanian researchers
Rosemary Harrup trained in Victoria and Tasmania in Medical Oncology and Clinical Haematology, completing a dual Fellowship in 2001. She is the current Director of Cancer and Blood Services at the Royal Hobart Hospital (RHH), a role she has held since 2009.
Australian Health Journal spoke to Rosemary about her journey in medicine and specifically her work in Clinical Trials in Brain Cancer and the value she placed on her senior clinicians as mentors and how she now mentors others.
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Thyroid health into pregnancy
‘Without an adequate amount of thyroid hormone mothers can be exposed to hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, including gestational hypertension and preeclampsia or eclampsia, which affect around 10% of pregnant women and are the leading causes of maternal and neonatal mortality worldwide. Mothers who suffer from hypertensive disorders during pregnancy are at increased risk of long-term cardiovascular consequences and hypertensive disorders in subsequent pregnancies. Evidence also indicates a risk of reduced cognitive ability to their offspring.
‘Knowing if you are genetically predisposed to Hashimoto’s or Graves’ Diseases, which are both thyroid autoimmune disorders is important to be aware of, to ensure all appropriate tests are ordered. Autoimmune disorders may predispose mothers to a thyroid problem during pregnancy’, says Professor Creswell Eastman, who also serves as the ATF’s Principal Medical Advisor.
