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Daily Tip:

NYE my way

12.31.05 (6:36 pm) [edit]

i spose to go to my property last night. and on the way thought i'd stop at the beach.. from the beach me and my friend walked like 3 klms to the ferry and went to the foreshore. hung around a bit.. then we went down to the underground rock tarunga bar.. it was maddd down there.. mmmmmm... club.. from there...

blank blank blank

oh yeh.. at 4.30am i woke up next to the pool at the casino..

this is what i looked like from anyone that was there.. as my frienmd would have seen it..

sprawled out on the deckchair.. holding my friends hand.. i had a heluim balloon tied to my hair.. i have a small burn on my neck .. hmm looks like a rope burn but anyway.. i have a little cut on my arm.. and a green poker chip and $100 in my pocket.. i have lost my favourite shirt :( .. i knew then i had bought in the new year with a bang..

since i woke up at 4.30 i was sick like every half hour until 7am.. we rang up my ex bf and he drove out and picked us up.. since he was still on the beach with the boys in their swags.. i came home and have had a sleep.. for about 6 hours. and i'm up. writing this.. my stomach is cramped.. ..

the one night a year i do powder .. and yeh i dont know why.. but no alcohol.. therefore no headache :)

i hope your new years was just as big..

Genie's Opinion

what a shitfulness

12.30.05 (5:55 pm) [edit]

well this morning was great. i went for a run.. about 5kms.. just cross country through the bush past the farms, over the grear hill.. and ran over the bike jumps. just for the fun of it.. looking forward the whole time to getting home and start straightening my hair for tonight.. being new years eve..

i came home.. settled in and straightened my hair. i have long thick blonde curly hair.. of yeh.. so straightening was a bigggggg job.. but its done now. and i will kill anyone who touches it.. all crisises everted..

so...... i was sitting out the front on the back of the B & S ute.. catching some rays.. and if my exbf of like forever years together.. wanders over to see my cousin who is a guy and lives here.. ok so we only lives together for like a year.. but we were together since i was like 12 and him 17.. now i'm 20 and hes 25.. and earlier this year his trades you in for a younger, blonder, bigger breasted chick.. it kind of crushes you.. and wellll.. it was a hard feat for him to do.. because i'm pretty young, pretty blonde and wll i have hugeeeee "accessories" .. lol big enough to rack in $450 a pic for people mag shoots.. anywhoooo...

so.. hes like 25 and shes like 16.. which i cant complain about being wrong.. since everything thought it was wrong of me to be with as 20 year old when i was 15.. but yeh.. its wrong.. there i said it.. lol..

after all that the story is he was sporting this ring.. i wasnt sure it was the wedding finger. so i kept my cool didnt say anything.. and looked down my nose at him.. over my big sunglasses.. he now lives with my cousins sister and her fiance.. but still news doesnt travel fast in my family.. everyone is sop busy they dont care for other ppls news..

i came in side and asked sweet sue what hand was the wedding hand and sure enough that was it..

welllllllll... i'm kind of in shock, and upset, and happy, and surprised and worried and .. omg i have no idea.. inside me i know it wont work for them.. and i know i havent let go of him.. but hmmmmm.. it just hurts..

i wanted to reach out and run my fingers through that little curl that falls down the side of his forehead. and trace my nose over the outline of the tattoo on the back of his shoulder.. but i just kept quiet and watched him walk back to his ute..

i dont think was one word in the whole english language that would have been fit to say to each other at that moment.. i just came inside..

Genie's Opinion

my morning today

12.29.05 (4:22 pm) [edit]

this morning i awoke at 6am. god knows why. but anyway.. jumped into my swimmers and grabbed my bag.. headed down to the pool. for my daily laps.. i pushed myuself so hard. and now my thighs are hurting. but thats ok.. just shows i tried :)... then home to cook up a brekky.. this morning i decided.. a eggflip would be on the cards.. so.. 2 raw eggs, milk. and vanilla.. essence.. give that a quick whip.. and then out to the porch swing to sip my favourite milkshake. while reading the paper.. nothing that really took my fancy.. ok. with all that done.. i decided i deserved a ride..
soooo.. out came the 125cc pit boss (mini motorbike. which my mum just bought for me :P .. it was only $1190 but i'm still grateful.. its cute.. i woke my cousin. and got him to get them out of the shed and get packed up.. we marked out the best bush tracks to the top of the mountain where the lookout was best.. i really enjoy the lookout. its a 360 viwe of the city and the bush.. it took us like a hour up there an hour back.. my cuz got a burn on his leg from the exhaust hey.. its not that bad.. but its still worse thasn i'd like to have.. i say no sympathy. he was doing donuts on the paddock.. tut tut..
well now its 11am.. and i just came in from washing it done and reoiling the air filter and all that.. and well i'm tired and its a bit hot. so i'm vegetating in front of the airconditioniner. listening to a CD and chatting :)..

genie's opinion

my assignment abotu a reflection on the clinical utlilty of the CMOP

12.29.05 (1:09 am) [edit]

Introduction
People are affected by illness and disease everyday and at an increasing rate. Many of the diseases that are becoming more prevalent are lifestyle diseases. Research is starting to investigate stress as having an impact on people's disease management. One of the diseases in which stress may be a contributor, is diabetes, decreasing the effectiveness of treatment and therefore exacerbating the symptoms. Diabetes was chosen as an example as, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (2001), 3.9% of Australians suffer from this disease. This means there are 798,000 people in Australia, who are living with the affects of this disease everyday.
What is Stress?
According to Reuter, (2001) stress is a response in the body, involving all body systems being modified in order to respond to a perceived or actual danger. Reuter (2001) states that stress can be either internal or external. External Stressors are those that are outside the limits of the body, such as work pressure, pain and hot or cold temperatures. Internal Stressors are those that can affect the body from the inside, either mentally, such as worry, or physically like infections and inflammation.
Reuter (2001) also explains that chronic stress is an ongoing occurrence and is not short lived. Reasons for chronic stress may be any of the following; work pressure, personal relationship problems, loneliness and isolation, or financial debt. Reuter (2001) lists the stress response as involving changes to the consequential body parts; brain, lungs, hearts, circulatory system, immunity, metabolism, skin, and gastrointestinal problems. There are physical symptoms as well as internal affects. University of Minnesota Health in 2005 described the physical symptoms of stress as increased heart rate, headaches, sweaty palms, indigestion, rashes and breakouts, shortness of breath and cold hands. Other symptoms include sleep disturbances, fatigue, diarrhea and pain.
What is diabetes?
According to Morita (2004), Diabetes is a metabolic disease. There is more than one type of diabetes including Juvenile or insulin dependant known as Type 1 and late onset or lifestyle related diabetes known as Type 2. Diabetes occurs when the body no longer is efficient in regulating the amount of glucose or sugar that’s in the blood stream. Morita (2004) says glucose is a source of energy for the blood. It comes from the food that we ingest on a daily basis. It is converted in the liver. Many hormones including that of insulin regulate Blood Glucose Levels. Insulin is produced in the pancreas and allows for transportation of glucose from the blood to the muscles, organs and connective tissues to be utilized as an energy source for the body (Martini, 2004). Mamashealth (2005) has described the physical symptoms of diabetes as increased thirst, excessive urination, infection proneness, increased hunger, changes in weight, fatigue and vomiting.
If we use our knowledge of stress, disease and diabetes we can start to develop a theory as to the possibly of a correlation between the two.
How Does Stress Affects Diabetes?
By using diabetes as an example of a disease it is possible to clearly illustrate the relationship between stress and disease, with the ideas being parallel to the broader concept. When stress occurs the body initiates the fight or flight response to prepare the body for action. As the hormone levels shoot up the stored glucose becomes available to the cells (Martini, 2004). The American Diabetes Association (2005) states that it people who have diabetes this response stops working or doesn’t work very well. Insulin is not able to convert this extra energy so glucose accumulates in the blood. Normally the body would recover after a short time, but in people who suffer from chronic or persistent stress the glucose levels will remain dangerously high and could present itself with a variety or symptoms from dizziness to coma.
The American Diabetes Association (2005) states that, as well as stress hormones physically altering the blood glucose levels directly; people's behaviour can also be of influence to diabetes management. People who are experiencing chronic stress may not take proper care of themselves. As a generalization, they may be ignoring essential healthy living and may drink excessive amounts of alcohol, work harder and longer hours, participate in very little physical exercise. They may also forget to check their blood glucose levels at regular intervals or plan good balanced meals. People who are stressed tend to eat more for comfort and those foods are normally high in carbohydrates and sugars. This further increases the uncontrollable glucose levels. According to Surwit, et al. (2002) stress has been found to increase Blood Pressure. For people with diabetes there is already an increased risk of stroke and with increased blood pressure their risk is further increased.
Articles, textbooks and reports have stated that stress and disease, and in particular diabetes are closely related, but to make sure the information is accurate it is essential to check the hypothesis through tests and studies.
Case Study 1
This study was done in August this year with the goal to compare the effect of acute psychosocial stress on glucose concentrations in people who have type 1 diabetes. Weisli, et al, (2005) describes the experiment as following. 40 people were exposed to moderate psychosocial stress by undertaking the Trier Social Stress Test. The test involved a 5 minute preparation task, a 5 minute speech, and a 5 minute mental arithmetic task. To enhance stress the test session was video taped, the panel was trained to appear emotionless and the panel wore white coats. To make sure the test was valid Weisli, et al. (2005) made sure the participants were equal in terms of their anxiety or depression levels, their proneness to chronic stress, their emotional reactivity and personality traits. In the control group made of healthy volunteers showed that after a Trier Social Stress Test there was a significant increase in cortisol secretion followed by a steady decline. However, when a Trier Social Stress Test was administered with the participants with diabetes, they showed a delay in the decrease of glucose concentrations. Weisli, et al. (2005) concluded that elevated levels of cortisol, which occurred following a stressful event, could increase insulin resistance. Further investigation is required to obtain a more exact deduction regarding the timing of food and the different types of stress that elicit the strongest response. This is the first of three examples that supports the idea that stress and disease are related and intertwined. Although there was a small sample population this study was valid and controls were monitored and variable factors were measurable. It provides a good demonstration in favor of the theory there is a relationship between stress and disease.
To stop the concern of a small population size a second study of a different type has been done over quite a large sample population.
Case Study 2
This study was conducted by Sepa, et al, (2005) to identify if psychological stress was associated with the development of auto immunity diabetes in infants. Kordella (2005) explains that the study was done of 4.400 1 year old children. The researchers took blood samples from the children when they were born and then the following year and then the samples were analyzed.
Sepa, et al (2005) believed that psychological stress in families may affect children through a disturbance in hormonal levels and nervous system interactions, leading to insulin sensitivity and dependency. A questionnaire was given to the childrens parents within a week of when they were born and again one year later. The questionnaire measured various types of parental stresses. The result Sepa, et al. (2005) came to was that psychological factors effecting parents such as experiencing a serious life event like a death, low parental education or mothers being of a foreign origin, are associated with diabetes in the child. This is regardless of family history of diabetes. This shows that regardless of age there is a relationship between stress and disease. This was done with a Caucasian population and an investigation covering different ethnicity was needed to validate the findings further.
Case Study 3
This study consisted of 80 respondents from different groups including African American, Mexicans, American Indians and Caucasians. Schoenberg, et.al (2005) explains that each participant was interviewed in regards to their experiences and insights dealing with diabetes. Schoenberg, et.al (2005) states that the interviews were recorded, transcribed and analyzed. The results showed that regardless of ethnicity stress can accelerate the onset of diabetes and stress may impair optimal self-care practices. This showed that as well as the earlier described physical changes such as hormonal imbalances and cortisol levels creating an increased diabetic state, peoples opinion towards their condition, broader social and political issues, impact on stress and coping styles leading to intensified diabetes.
Future Direction
There needs to be more specific studies done with a quantitative nature to find more definite changes and exact timing and types of food, along with types of stress applied, to create the biggest impact. This could mean that people can make changes to their lifestyles, food and stress management. As the studies have concluded that stress exacerbates diabetes, then relaxation must decrease diabetes onset or progression. People with Type 2 diabetes are recommended that they undertake relaxation therapy. As stress blocks the body from releasing sufficient insulin, cutting stress through relaxation could improve their condition (American Diabetes Association, 2005). However, no further research has been completed as to the affect of relaxation on diabetes. A study done by Coen, et al, (1996) reviewed the effect of relaxation therapy on asthma. They investigated the effects of biofeedback relaxation on asthma symptoms and when practiced daily among the 20 participants, showed a decrease in asthma severity compared to the effect on the control group. Similar studies need to be done in regards to relaxation methods assisting diabetes. For changes and improvements to occur in research and disease management there needs to be a boost in public awareness and patient education.
Implications for Occupational Therapy
This is where Occupational Therapists can assist with education and implementation of stress management. In a stressful society where pressure from work, family and government is increasing, the incidence of diabetes is going up. Occupational Therapists are progressively being employed in areas of primary care responsible for treating the already established problems. According to the American Occupational Therapy Association (2004) Occupational Therapists can provide education and equipment to compensate for changes in neuropathy, evaluate the need to have prosthetics or supports after an amputation caused by decreased circulation, they can develop methods to address changes in vision, can assist with strategies to change activities of daily living such as diet and exercise and can provide support to family members in need of guidance when dealing with someone who has undergone changes. As well as caring for those whose have experienced problems, we can prevent the progression of problems through teaching relaxation methods. The American Diabetes Association (2005) suggests ways of reducing stress may be breathing exercises, progressive tension therapy, exercise, and positive thinking.
Conclusion
There has been a lot of research has been done into the relationship between stress and diabetes finding that there is a larger interaction between stress and disease. Definitely forms of physical and psychological stress can be seen to make an impact on disease. Analysis of research shows that valid and reliable studies have provided supportive evidence to the theory there is a relationship between stress and disease.

my essay for psychology about the relationship between stress and disease

12.29.05 (1:06 am) [edit]

speech given about the sociological influences of a no lift policy

12.29.05 (1:02 am) [edit]

The aim of our presentation is to review the journal article entitled “Aged Care Facilities: Perceptions of the implementation of no-lift policies”. To do this we will use a sociological perspective. We wanted an article that’s relevant to Occupational Therapists. It identifies the perceptions that management, staff, patients & their families have about implementing no-lift policies, such as are now used in Hospitals.
This is relevant to us, because we’re going to come across these perceptions, we may be expected to man-handle patients in a way that’s detrimental to our safety.

The objective of our presentation is to share with you the Political, Economic, & Social ideologies behind the Occupational Health & Safety Act (2000) which is the umbrella under which the No – lift policy sits. We will discuss what influences have impacted on the policy, and whose interests are being served.

During our presentation we ask you to compare the perceptions identified in this article with the experiences you have had during placements. If you’ve had a relevant experience you wish to share with the class, we encourage you to do so at the end of our presentation.

The article identifies studies undertaken in Australian hospitals have highlighted the benefits of a no-lift policy. Residential & community care services within NSW & ACT canvassed their management and employees for their opinion on implementing the State Governments No-lift policies for hospitals within their workplaces.

We need to apply the questions of the sociological imagination to our article.
What’s happening?
Why?
What are the consequences?
How do you know?
How could it be otherwise?

In applying the 4 sensibilities of the sociological imagination we’ll start with the cultural aspects exposed in this article: These are the beliefs, values, ways of life & customary ways of doing things.

What is happening culturally?
Generally, the staff & residents agree that implementing the no-lift policy will be good. However they are concerned about staff compliance, and that the policy may not be well received by residents and their families.
Why do they feel this way?
***hand out the questions***

What are the consequences?
Staff compliance will need monitoring
Workloads will increase because it takes longer to use hoists.
Residents will feel like they aren’t getting that personal touch.

Structurally
Environmental barriers, such as lack of space will need to be addressed by redesigning facilities to accommodate no-lift equipment.
Cost-wise: Agree on a cost of $20,000 per 30 beds to implement the policy.
Responses were “depends on priorities” “ money better spent on more staff”
“Budgets are already under pressure”
Management opinion: The article reveals management report less favourably on implementing the policy. They disagree that a no-lift policy will prevent injuries. The consequences of structural influences are that the management must be motivated, committed & accountable for the successful implementation of the policy.

Historically
The article reports that Aged care facilities receive inadequate funding. They have high staff turnover which has led to critical staff shortages. This has encouraged sub-standard OH & S environments. This has led to high rate of manual handling injuries.

Prior to implementing the State Govt approved no-lift policy hospitals had:
more patient and employee injury,
higher associated costs,
more lost work time due to injury,
less job satisfaction,
lower cost effectiveness & productivity

All these are valid reasons for aged care facilities to implement the same policy.

Critically
The project was conducted by a large residential aged care provider in partnership with; a company who provide risk management & OH & S services to corporate & government. The author is from Dept of Psychology, Massey University, NZ.
We question the level of commitment because of the timing of the study, being during busy end-of year schedules and staff taking their annual leave. The response rate was less than 10%. Residents and their families weren’t canvassed for their beliefs. We have only the staff opinion of how the residents would react to the policy.

Now that we’ve applied the sociological imagination to the article, we have a better understanding of the issues. Lyn will now introduce the legislation that the no-lift policy sits under. Thank you.

Good afternoon, The OH & S Bill was tabled by Bob Carr’s Labour Govt in 2000, being legislated as the Occupational Health & Safety Act later that year. The No-lift policy adopted by NSW Hospitals comes under the umbrella of the OH & S Act (2000).
The primary objectives of the Act are to develop community awareness, & to secure & promote the health, safety & welfare of workers.

Political Ideology
Political ideological influences are reflected in 2 models.
These underpinning models that shape OH & S policy are the Scientism model & the Socio-participative model.
The Scientism model provides the foundation for the coalition Govt’s ideology which is based on scientific certainty & technological solutions. According to Daykin & Doyal it is undemocratic, unaccountable and has a ‘no public access to information’ policy.
The socio-participative model provides the foundation for the Labour Party’s ideology which is based on health promotion and the medical model. Daykin & Doyle state it has a preventative approach that uses the concept that just because there is no evidence, it doesn’t mean the issue isn’t real. However, John Germov insists that the focus of the medical model is on treating individuals’ once they are injured, rather than on prevention.

Ideology – Society
The ideological influences in society include the view that Aged care facilities are more ‘homelike’ or ‘cosy’ environments than hospitals. So they expect a more ‘nurturing & hands-on approach to be taken by the health care workers. According to our article there is a perception that the needs of the resident are more important than the safety of the staff.

Ideology - Workplace
According to Bates & Linder-Pelz there are 3 workplace ideologies that reflect the perspectives in occupational injuries:
Firstly The Conflict perspective:
Believes that occupational injuries are largely caused by either an unsafe working environment or unsafe organization of work. These issues originate in the organization, which is controlled by management.
Those who hold a conflict perspective believe that the interests of employer & employee are always in conflict – because one represents the capitalists/owners while the other belongs to the oppressed class. Employers are blamed for understaffing & increased work hours, with the aim of reduced costs and increased profit.

The Consensus perspective:
The consensus perspective regards workers own habits and risk taking as the main cause of occupational accidents. They also regard prolonged absenteeism after injury as malingering. They tend to assume that the worker should adapt to the workplace, believing that managers have made it as safe as possible, given the available finances & knowledge. Those who hold a conflict perspective label this victim blaming. Victim blaming is even perpetuated by the traditional ethos of the medical profession who treat each individual incident as an isolated case, unless they see a large number of similar cases in a short time.

Pluralist perspective:
The pluralist perspective attempts to understand & explain occupational injury, rather than blame either the worker or the managers. The problem needs to be studied as a ‘damaging occurrence’, a series of events, which have in the past culminated in damage to persons, & may do so again if no changes are made in the system.
The pluralist perspective examines the interrelations among the workers, the technologies, the work environment and the wider political and social environment. Pluralism assumes that some modifications are needed in all these areas, and will vary from one occupation to another.

According to Bates & Linder-Pelz, the various OH & S Acts are based on a Pluralist perspective; they mandate a tripartite agreement between unions, employers and government. Each group has a point of view that it will defend. Each group must make efforts to change the work, the workplace and the workers in order to reduce the cost and scale of occupational injuries. No one person or group is regarded as the perpetrator or the victim: all share the responsibility for bringing about change. Jeanie will now talk about whose interests is being served, in the relationship between the OH&S policy & the article. Thank you.

Interests
According to Willis, certain kinds of ill-health are effectively created by the social organisation of work. Germov states that the relationship between work & health is based on a fundamental conflict of interest between workers health & profit maximisation. The workplace has traditionally not been the focus of health policy. This is due to the various stakeholders who hold diverse interests.
OH & S is a State Govt responsibility, but few States monitor work practices or enforce legislation. John Germov believes this is because they don’t want to place extra costs on business, because they may relocate their business to a more ‘friendly’ State. Little headway has been made in the move toward uniform OH & S laws, with a lot of differences existing between the States. The Government has a financial interest in companies compliance with the OH&S Act, if someone is injured as a result of a failure to comply with such a statute, then the penalty may be a fine payable to the Govt.

Our article reports that facility owners are responsible to return a profit.

Managers are responsible for keeping within budget & deciding how allocated funds will be spent. Safety is often seen as a cost to be born by employers, & so precautions are avoided both by employers & by govts, who have been unwilling to impose an economic burden on employers. Managers are responsible for ensuring staff comply with OH&S policies, & it is in their interest to do so. If a person is injured in an incident, then the employer may be guilty of negligence. The injured worker may then sue the employer for damages under common law.

Healthcare Workers are concerned that their workload will increase to comply with the policy requirements.
They believe it will take longer to complete their duties.
They are worried about having to undergo re-training.
They think that the budget would be better spent on employing more staff.
It is in the healthcare workers best interest that numbers of injuries are reduced.

The residents will benefit from the more stringent manual handling protocol, because currently due to staff shortages & time-restraints unsafe lifting practices are more likely to happen. However the staff feels that the residents will miss the more hands-on techniques that are currently used. Society on the whole, has an interest here, when we’re all 50-60 years old. Who’ll be at home caring for their parents? In today’s society – we’ll all be at work. As workers, our reliance on these facilities will be greater proportionally, than it is today. At present many 50-60 yr olds are not in the workforce & are able to care for their elderly parents at home.

Future direction
In June this year John Della Bosca, NSW Minister for commerce, announced the review of the OH&S Act (2000). This is in accordance with section 142 of that Act, to determine whether its objectives remain valid.
There have been some significant reforms, such as the training of thousands of employees as health & safety reps, with the amended 2005 OH&S legislation giving employees the right to choose their own reps.
There has been reforms made to give workers the right to know about the health implication of their work – According to Biggins, there has been no marked decrease in work-related injuries over the last decade. Biggins argues that there is a need for greater democratic representation of workers interests through unions or through workplace-level employee participation in OH&S committees to ensure that substantial progress is made.

Conclusion
The future direction should be of concern to all healthcare workers. Aged care facilities are going to feel the effects of the burgeoning numbers in baby boomers over the coming years. The proportion of the population aged over 65 will cause a marked increase in people requiring residential placement.
The increased demand will place additional burdens on the facility owners, managers & workers that may result in an increased risk to staff & patient safety.
Due to the increase in the numbers of residents, we believe it will be beneficial from and OH & S perspective to implement the NSW State Govt approved No-lift policy within all aged care facilities throughout NSW & ACT.
Thank you for listening, any comments?

Economic Liberalism in Australia my essay

12.29.05 (12:59 am) [edit]

Economic Liberalism influences the Australian Health Care System in many ways. In Australia the current government in liberal and their ideology has influenced decisions they have made when shaping current health policies. The health policies that are in place will impact on how the health care system functions now and in the future.

These policies influence the make up of the health system, the direction of expenditure, the division of services and the ultimate level of health care to the Australian population. Policies, directions and outcomes may vary slightly as governments change but generally has a health care system taking from both economic liberalist and socialist methods. Using models from both left and right wing ideologies. (Allen & Unwin, 1999)

An ideology is the beliefs and values that guide people\'s interests. Factors that shape peoples ideologies are education, socioeconomic status and media. Economic Liberalism is a right wing approach that ultimately provides people with choice.
This belief suggests that people have the right to access health care on the basis of what they can afford to pay for as they have \'earnt\' it. Individuals and communities are then responsible to provider for their own needs. (Barcan, 1992)

The amount an individual or community can afford to purchase will determine their health. The rationale is that it will save money to the public and that individuals will become more self-reliant. This is the model of practice that the American Health Care System is based on. (Feldman, 2000)

An extreme form of Economic Liberalism presents itself in the American Health Care System where the whole system is deregulated and marketed. There is no safety net and individuals must be responsible for their own health. This aims to improve productivity and efficiency. Nearly all services are only accessible through fee-for-service. Most individuals rely on employer health insurance. (Mooney, 2004)

The Australian Health Care System uses a lot of these same principles including freedom for choice of doctor and a system of fee-for-service billing. Bulk billing is available for low-income earners but doctors are reluctant to use it. This encourages increased costs due to elective tests and the use of new technology. (Lawson, 2001)

This system has also skewed the direction of government health expenditure towards acute institutional care such as hospitals. This leaves only 5.3% of the health budget being spent on community care. (AIHW, 2002) The Australian Government with this view of economic liberalism encourages people to take out individual health insurance. This is promoted by a 30% health rebate through tax and the extra bonus if joining after the individuals 30th birthday. Through the influence of Socialism there is however a 1% Medicare levy taken from the taxes off all but the very poorest to cover a free at the point of delivery acute care service to all. (Mooney, 1998)

Economic Liberalism reinforces a medical dominance in the Health Care System where medicine exercises a power over its own profession, meaning they lead the way and are more highly recognized within their field and among other fields and influences how other professions such as Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy are practiced. It does this by controlling health policy to be shaped towards their needs and allocation of resources in their direction as well as defining health around the concept of ill health being disease, which isn’t always appropriate in some cases where occupational therapy is required in the treatment process. (Germov, 2002)

Due to this Medical Dominance a Biomedical Model is the predominant ideology. It believes the solution to all illness can be cured with medicine. It also beliefs bodily functions are separated from the mind. It has the notion of victim blaming and that the solution is individual. Therefore there is no room for health promotion. As well as the lack of funding for heath prevention and promotion the model beliefs that individuals should be responsible for their own exposure to risk factors and the economic liberalism approach says that therefore diseases can be avoided at a personal level. (Curtis, 1996)

Due to Economic Liberalism and its influences on health care their lies a Marxist Theory Of Power where power is concentrated into the hands of a few, namely, doctors. It is believed that these people are superior in skill and intelligence making them more powerful. The liberal ideology in the government has legitimated these power plays as doctors have been given the power to prescribe and diagnose. (Field & Taylor, 1998)

There is a fine balance between our right to health care and our responsibility to care for ourselves. Economic Liberalism as an influence on the Australian Health Care System argues for negative rights where individuals expect non-interference and the right to make their own choices. Intervention should only be carried out if the action or choice harms others. It highlights that importance for free market where inequality in expected but that is the individuals own fault for not making provisions for their health. (Turner, 2002)

There is a certain degree of socialism within our society that manages to balance influences of economic liberalism within the decision making process and therefore the right for all people to benefit equally and have access to health care stopping Australian from slipping into an American Health Care System.

The current Health Care System has an impact on occupational therapy. The 5.3% of the health budget that is spent on community care is where most of the OT budget comes from. This means there is very little resources to help as many people as needs these services. This ultimately pushes OT\'S into private practice reinforcing the consequences of an economic liberalist society towards more fee-for-service.

The Occupational Therapists working in the public system are forced to work in acute care to get funding. This leads to less quality of care for patients because of time constraints and decreased access to and lack of funding for equipment.

As Economic Liberalism, increasingly influences the health care system other impacts on occupational therapy may be health policy, so work practices that govern how OT\'s deliver their services and industrial relations that will individualize the profession. The medical dominance also impacts the worthiness that is placed on the values of the OT profession.

The Australian Health Care System is influenced through all strata\'s of its organization and funding structures by economic liberalism and effects all health professions including Occupational Therapy.

i'm on the hot blogs

12.27.05 (10:40 pm) [edit]

yes well everyone will laugh at me now.. because they are all like 5th and 10th and all on the hot blogs scale.. but i'm 60th.. and in the year that i've been blooging its my first time on the list.. so.. cool! .. hmm 16503 page views.. what could i possibly say that warrants so many visits.. ohwell. i'm happy :)

much ado about nothing

12.27.05 (6:46 pm) [edit]

what to say, what to say... i dunno.. i havent done anything exciting today.. i got up, pegged the clothes of the line swept the floor and went down the pool to do my swimming... then i came home and played some time crisis with my brother on the ps2.. then tried to set up the video player without much success.. i feel like doing some art.. but its hot.. too hot to paint my next wall.. i guess i'm just gunna sit here sipping my lime and rosehip water.. oh yummy :).. i might go down the pool for a second time later.. i hope your day is more exciting than mine.. may go to the drive in tonight.. with the boys :)

genie's opinion

The way christmas was in Australia

12.26.05 (5:51 pm) [edit]

ok.. now i'm not tired and all.. i will tell you about my christmas

on christmas eve's eve my sister came over and we had a baked dinner and swapped presents.. it was nice as she was going to take her son to see his father for christmas day.
on christmas eve we drove out to my auntys place and saw her and the family.. we had a barbeque and a swim in the pool.. that was fun.. havent seen them in ages.. we didnt get home til 11.30pm. but ohwell

on christmas morning we woke up about 7.30am and had breakfast.. mum was already in the kitchen and the table was set nice.. we had eggs and ham steaks toasts and juice and cherries..

after that it was into the loungeroom for present swapping and to see what santa left stuffed into our rather largeeeeeeee sacks ;) we snaffled unsder the tree and got our presents from each other.. lol then my brother ran around with a big garbage bag collecting up all the paper. so we could actually see what we got :)

we sat around playing our random boardgames that we had recieved and fitting batteries into everything.. mum was back uin the kitchen to cook up pork, beek, turkey, and peel the vegetables.. my brother decided he would try making the trifle.. lucky it is supposed to look messy. because it was.. hehe

soon our visits arrived.. and then we had present swapping again.. then i went outside with the 2 year old ansd sat on my porch swing while she played with the dog

soon it was time to have our big lunch.. mmmmmmmmmmm one of everything please.. hehee.. my cousin who is a 23 year old guy.. hadf a sulk and went to bed refusing to eat because mum chatted him about his smart mouth when he drinks too much rum... ohwell his loss

just after lunch i packed up my brother and we went over to my dads.. there was about 30 ppl over there.. and we sat around and all the boys played the traditional game of cricket in the back yard hehe the aunts had a few too many baileys to drink and they were giggling so bad.

we had a chicken, ham and salad dinner.. and then all gathered in the lounge room for the other side of the families present swapping.. it was good fun and everyone was happy with their collection of stuff :)

at about 8pm i went back home and had my desert which i was too full to eat at lunch time,, mmm cassata .. icecream with glazed fruit, nuts and lollies. in it..

then i was tired and got online for about 20 minutes to wish all those who were on here a merry christmas..

boxing day we got up at about 5am and drove down to the bay to meet to the grandparents and the other cousins and friends for a barbeque breakfast.. i got sunburnt. they went fishing in the boat and i played around on the jetski.. breakfast was at about 7am.. mum and nan cooked it as all the boys were out on the water.. it was great fun.. fried bread, sausages, bacon, potatoes and eggs.. then i laid in ths un on my blanket and threw things at the birds.. haha...

then i came home got here about 12pm. and went to the pool for a few kilometres of laps to work off all that food... thennnnnnnnnnnn... i came home to sleep.. and admier my presents...

that was my christmas in australia

Genie's Opinion

My present list

12.26.05 (12:58 am) [edit]

i will tell you about my day later when i get some energy.. for now i'm just going to write out as list of things i got.. i'm sure i will forget some anyway.. but here goes

green and blue funky sunglasses
550 gormet jellybelly jellybeans
an american oldfashioned gumball shaped jellybean dispenser
belgian chocolate
watermelon soap
watermelon showergel
make up bag
toileteries bag
billabong lipgloss
voucher for manicure
voucher for massage
the boardgame scattergories
movie tickets
dvd player
video player
black and red silk and lace lingerie
flippers
googles
swimming cap
swimming bag
cranberry body butter
oil of olay
so. kiss me? perfume
big fluffy towels
30 glasses
salt and pepper shakers
egg cup and spoon
candle holder
curtains
assorted dvds
fold up chair
incense
a heat up wheat pillow
money
pants
a necklace

thats all i can think of.. i'll get back to you

Genie's Opinion

christmas poem

12.23.05 (2:25 pm) [edit]

this is the one i was looking for..

The Spirit of Christmas

When the hour is late, the stockings are full,
The children asleep and the dog is in bed
Relax, rest for a moment
And look for the Spirit of Christmas.

The old angel on the mantelpiece
Despite her fuzzy hair, tinsel halo
And tarnished wings, smiles knowingly,
She knows the secret.

Be again that wide-eyed three year old
Mesmerized by the dancing figures,
The music, the jewels and the colours
Of a shop-front, fairy-tale window display.

Feel the delicious tingle when you woke during the night
And were too scared to look
In case Santa saw you looking
And left with your presents still in his sack.

Remember feeling as stuffed as the turkey
When your Grandma fed you, fit to bust,
With all the love she had to give
And no other way to show it.

Recall your smile at a baby's first Christmas,
The way the paper was better than the presents
And felt great when it was kicked and scrunched
And slobbered all over.

Relive that moment of absolute peace
When all the visitors, kids and grandkids
Rushed off for another Christmas visit
And left you washed up in their wake.

The Spirit of Christmas doesn't last a season,
A day, or even an hour.
But it's found in perfect moments
Shining in a lifetime of memories.

piece of grass poem

12.23.05 (2:24 pm) [edit]

I'm driving home from work
And it's started to rain
And there's a piece of grass
Under the wiper blade
And it's waving at me.
Maybe if I concentrate really hard
And look past it, I won't see it.
It's not working!
It's still waving at me.
I should stop and get out
And get it out
But I'm on the freeway
And it's really busy
And besides the rain's cold
And I didn't bring me jumper.
I should stop and get it out
Because it's probably wrecking
The rubber bit
And then I'll have to buy new ones
But they're a bit dodgy anyway
And I have to buy new ones anyway
And it's getting heavier
And now I've got to put the wipers on faster
And the grass is waving quicker.
Maybe, if I wind the window down
I can reach out and grab it.
Who am I trying to kid?
As if my short arms are gunna reach!
Not without crashing the car.
Anyway!
Oh, thank god, the rains stopping
And I can turn them off.

I'm driving to work
And it's started to rain
And….
Oh!
Bugger!
There's a piece of grass under the wiper
And it's waving at me!

by my mum

Genie's Opinion

Journey poem

12.23.05 (2:21 pm) [edit]

Journey

A baby of the city
At three years old
Is taken on a journey.
A journey to the outback.
Endless days of travel,
Roads so rough
The saltbush is easier.
Water tanks, wombats,
Salt lakes, no trees.
She is taught to survive
Which way is north?
How to get water?
Hunt, fish, skin a rabbit,
Light a fire,
Eat duck and kangaroo,
Swim in a dam.

A child of the planes
At seven years old
Is brought back to the city.
Small city blocks.
Where is the horizon?
Don't play in the street!
Roads are for cars and buses.
Town water, television,
Food comes from a supermarket
Fish and chip shop,
Corner store.
Rabbits are white and fluffy,
A child's pet next door.
Don't light fires!
Swim in the lake
"Watch out for sharks!"

A woman of the suburbs
At forty years of age
Longs for the quiet,
Enjoys her own company.
Needs to get away and be alone
Has claustrophobia in small places
Measures distances in time traveled
1½ hours to Sydney,
8 hours to Brisbane.
The bush keeps calling.
When the children grow up
She'll answer the call.

written by my mum

Genie's Opinion

just chilling

12.23.05 (2:13 pm) [edit]

hey.. its christmas eve and i'm home alone taking it easy why my whole family runs around getting things from the shops or whatever.. i'm here in the airconditioing.. just had a cool shower. and did my hair.. now i'm sitting here in my short black short and red singlet.. lol stuff underwear noones here.. i've got the fauith hill CD ranking.. and singing.. its nice to just chill out hey

oh.. a hi to craig.. lol.. i know your reading this

Genie's Opinion

a walk through my memories

12.22.05 (11:01 pm) [edit]

was having a christmas clean up and found the cd that holds all my photo from my childhood.. i put it in and started scanning through them.. i got caught up in it and it took me about as hour to look at them.. it was a great trip through my head.. i was at home by myself with trisha yearwood album songbook playing and i even cried a few times..

oh yeh . i alwasys made some purple organza cvurtains today.. for my closet.. mmmm pretty.. and i'm suitably impressed with myself

i also put streaks in my hair last night... 2 blue and 2 purple.. HAHA just want to freak my dad out when i go visit him on christmas day.. ooooo. i'm a stirrer.... hehe

i put one purple one in my brothers hair too.. hehe hes a cutie...

this afternoon i got all inspired and got out my artbook and charcoals.. and did a few pics.. you can see them on my deviantart site..

peace out

Genie's Opinion

yes i think i know you but

12.21.05 (9:28 pm) [edit]

i asked a friend to write a poem about me so i could add to the poetry anthology launch of "Who r u" so knowing what he does abotu me this is what DJ came up with ,... feel free to comment on the style or content

If the sun isn"t shining then let my love be the light that shows u the way
I know your hidding because your afraid that true love doesn"t exsist
And your afraid to let go of the dream in case its not real
Then you wont beable to find what you have left behind
Looseing your faith and lost inside with no place to go
Every door seems to be just another empty room
Why couldn"t this be a rageing fire to burn away this icey stare
But it always fades away like the moon does when the sun is born
Yet your mind drifting searches for a sacred moment
Of which to steal a smile to wear as a mask for the role
Pretending so no one will see the tears falling from her souls mourning
Like a princess she saves those tears in a bottle, whose label is pain.
Disguised she greets the day and trudges on like a good soldier
She doesnt even know she is broken inside her mind
A beautifull rose that doesnt even know she is so beautifull
Face down in abuse from a cruel mouth that spews savage lies
Feeling looked over, unseen, underestimated
Enticed and tempted by the truth of hidden passion
It shields you from the poison arrows.
Pretty eyes that bleed only cold silence
Looks on in pity, whose kept company by an image in the mirror
A caged queen of the angels whose bolted down
Running towards an emotional carnage
learning to be invisible always looking down
One of them steps on you, someone who pretends to care
You know all about plastic people and their plastic toys
They could care less and you prefer it this way
You know yourself very well and know not to trust others
You try to find that special person to talk to, to touch,to be with.
And you found that, that person really doesnt exsist
You spend alot of time just dreaming and off in a daze
you feel self involved, self absorbed, selfcentered.
But they dont know how you medicate yourself
So you could imagine someone holding you .
The hours of self doubt and deep dark depression,
For you life seems to escape away and returns when you sleep
Solitude and darkness is your canvas to color
As the birds sing to you at night .
Yes I think I know you............................Then again maybe I only know myself.

B for Bitch, i mean B for Bel

12.19.05 (10:35 pm) [edit]

hmm my sister told me today that if i didnt have a nice set of tits i wouldnt have any guys.. woe.. what a bitch.. haha its because shes a 31 and a size B haha.. jealous but still uncalled for..

hmm work today.. was ok.. but my back freakin hurts for no reason.. ohwell

this guy has been messaging me too.. lol i havent replyed to any of them but my phone keeps beeping.. he's such a sweetheart.. my sister said he was "too full on" .. but hes just such a darling.. although maybe the messages are too much
8.00am : hey baby, hope your well, i love you so much, i just cant stop thinking about u, hope you have a great day gorgeous, mwah
9.08am : love you i really do
10.16am: you are so beautiful
12.04pm: sorry for running off, busy, cya later sweety
2.36pm : sorry for being a jerk
4.50pm : what are you wearign today
soooo... i'm a tad over it :P ... haha i finally responded.. hehe i cant stay angry at that.. lol

i watched thirteen today.. it was good.. i like it.. reminded me of me a few years ago..
i also watched ghost world.. it was just weird.. oh yeh i watched white noises too.. lol
bahaha.. i watched alot this afternoon

thats do me

Genie's Opinion

24 beach party.. freakin stuffed

12.15.05 (8:36 pm) [edit]

well i'm home and had too showers.. i still have sand in my hair.. haha

i went to a 24 hour beach party down stockton beach.. it was crazy.. big fire.. sand angels. volleyball.. running around dancing :)..

wooooooohoooooooooooooooo ooo... butttttttt.. theres sand everywhere..and i'm so tired yet i cant sleep.. i'n hyped.. haha toooo many cinderellas, man juices and freckles..

well.. nooo.. your not getting the goss about it... and it wasnt even cold there.. and taking into account my shirt was tiny.. i thought i'd freeze

developed a nice tan too.. :) my feet hurt.. *pouts* .. but i got a freat work out on my calves and butt... yippee

Painting , Uni's over

12.12.05 (3:55 pm) [edit]

University course finished for the year and results in. i'm not too happy. i got an all round 75% .. maybe thats because my lecture was a super bitch and failed me on my 35 minute speech and i opted not to resit. so yeh.. no uni til march now..

i've been painting my room for a week or so.. it used to be purple. and now well its going to be purple. just different.. lol i even made myself a selving unit.. i used a jigsaw, router.. screw driver and hot glue gun.. i was super proud.. lol.. for a little blondie i worked hard..

oh yeh .. i finished my 4hed my 50 km swim. and started my 60 km swim club :) .. its great..

mother finally became a published poet.. shes happy and i'm glad for her..

well christmas is upon us.. just gunna pop out and do some things..

tata ppl

Genie's Opinion