Does Current Policy Support Reproductive Health of Australian Defence Force Veterans? A Review of Australian Defence Force Policy
Introduction Reproductive health is of central importance to the structure of people’s lives and is fundamental to human identity. Increasingly, the importance of reproductive health is recognised at individual, societal and global levels. The issues encompassed are different for males and females and change dramatically over a person’s lifetime1. Infertility affects approximately 1 in 6 […]
Paramedics in the ADF – A Time For Change?
Commander Neil Westphalen, Royal Australian Navy 23 November 2018 Dear Sir, The July 2018 JMVH article regarding paramedics in the Australian Defence Force (ADF)1 requires further elaboration regarding its scope and conclusions. The article describes how the expanding professional profile of paramedics in the civilian health system is not being reflected in current career options […]
Compensation in the Australian Defence Force
Neil Westphalen Introduction This article follows previous papers by the author, regarding occupational and environmental medicine in the Australian Defence Force (ADF).1 They assert that high rates of workplace illness and injury indicate the need to improve the management of hazards associated with ADF workplaces, with better emphasis on prevention. They also advocated that the […]
Medical CBRN Defence in the Australian Defence Force
Major David J Heslop, Commander Neil Westphalen Introduction This article focuses on a specialist area of military medicine, following a series of recently published papers regarding occupational and environmental medicine in the ADF.1 They assert that high rates of preventable workplace illness and injury indicate the need to improve the management of occupational and environmental […]
Assessing Medical Suitability for Employment and Deployment in the ADF
Assessing Medical Suitability for Employment and Deployment in the ADF Commander Neil Westphalen, Royal Australian Navy Reserve Introduction This article follows previous papers by the author, regarding occupational and environmental medicine in the ADF.1 They asserted that high rates of workplace illness and injury indicate the need to improve the management of hazards associated with […]
Incorporating Reflective Practice as an Assessment Tool in the Training of New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) Medics
Incorporating Reflective Practice as an Assessment Tool in the Training of New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) Medics Wendy Maddocks Abstract The New Zealand Defence Health Directorate changed its strategic vision in 2016 in the way the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) provides medic training. This change provided an opportunity to analyse the value of using […]
Paramedics in the Australian Defence Force – A Time for Change?
Paramedics in the Australian Defence Force – A Time for Change? Lauren D’Arcy Abstract Paramedic practice is rapidly changing due to the ongoing pressures on health care systems. Paramedics are increasingly being integrated into primary health care roles, initiating interventions on scene and autonomously making clinical judgements based on operational guidelines. Evolving professional standards have […]
Primary Health Care in the ADF
Commander Neil Westphalen, Royal Australian Navy Reserve Introduction This article follows a previous paper by the author regarding occupational and environmental medicine in the ADF.1 The previous paper asserts that high rates of preventable workplace illness and injury indicate the need to improve the management of the occupational and environmental hazards associated with ADF workplaces, […]
Inicidence rates for work health and safety incidents and injuries in Australian Army Reserve vs full time soldiers, and a comparison of reporting systems
Rodney Pope, Robin Orr ABSTRACT Objective: To determine incidence rates of reported work health and safety (WHS) incidents and injuries in Army Reserve (ARES) and Australian Regular Army (ARA) personnel and assess the relative performance of the WHS incident reporting system, compared to ‘point-of-care’ systems. Methods: WHS incident data for a 24-month period were extracted […]
Occupational and environmental health in the ADF
Commander Neil Westphalen Introduction ADF personnel are arguably exposed to the most diverse range of occupational and environmental hazards of any Australian workforce. Controlling these hazards is complicated not only by the number, size and complexity of ADF workplaces but also by its workforce demographics. ADF workplace hazards significantly impact the physical and mental health of current and ex-serving personnel. High rates of preventable […]