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In a seminar held at the University of Sydney on 16 May 2011, four speakers were invited to consider 'The Future of Private International Law in Australia' from different perspectives - judge, lawyer in government, practitioner and academic. Unsurprisingly, given the breadth of the topic, the subject matter of the presentations varied widely. Justice Paul Le Gay Brereton of the New South Wales Supreme Court addressed the difficulties inherent in the proof of foreign law, and recent developments in New South Wales practice in this area. Thomas John of the Commonwealth Attorney-General's Department considered Australia's approach to the regulation of private international law issues at an international level. Dr Andrew Bell SC of the New South Wales Bar looked at recurring themes and likely future trends in Australian case law in the area. In the final presentation, based on this paper, the author considered two related topics. First, the development and recognition of a unified body of Australian private international law. Second, the case for reform of the currently diverse regimes regulating the personal jurisdiction of courts in Australia. The author argues that the subject has now developed and matured to a point where the label 'Australian private international law' is justified in two of the three key areas: applicable law and the recognition and enforcement of judgments. He urges reform of federal and state rules governing personal jurisdiction, by a process of harmonisation, in order to complete the last side of the Australian private international law triangle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A conference paper about the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law (UNIDROIT) Principles of International Commercial Contracts based on the Australian law perspectives. It discusses domestic contract law of Australia and its sources including common law, Commonwealth statute and equity. It further discusses the need of amendments in the contract law and the role of the High Court as custodian of common law. It also discusses international trade and renegotiations.

This is an edited transcript of observations made by Andrew Bell SC in the course of a seminar on 16 May 2011 on 'The Future of Private International Law in Australia'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents several research studies related to the field of clinical medicine in Australia. One of these studies entails the prognosis of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) which is a chronic disease affecting Veteran populations using the Flinders Chronic Disease Management Program. Another is a study on the strategies used in reducing cognitive impairment associated with sedative and anticholinergic agents among older people with dementia. Models of care for OSA are also being studied.

This article mainly responds to Professor Bonell's three proposals (on page 177 of this volume) to expand usage of the UNIDROIT Principles of International Commercial Contracts (UPICC). As UPICC are primarily opt-in rules, they can be more ambitious than the United Nations Sales Convention (CISG). They also needed to be, being designed for all commercial contracts--including many more relational contracts. This imparts a somewhat different 'vibe' to UPICC, creating one impediment to the proposal for a UN Declaration urging interpretation of CISG in light of UPICC. As a formal reasoning based legal system, particularly in contract law, Australia also still struggles with such soft law initiatives. More promising will be law reform clarifying that courts, not just arbitrators in proceedings with the seat in Australia governed by the UNCITRAL Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration, are free to apply 'rules of law'--including UPICC--as the governing law. Elevating UPICC into a Model Law for International Commercial Contracts would also be useful. Australia could then adopt or adapt provisions as the basis for more comprehensive reform of its contract law. This would better mesh with burgeoning relational transactions, and many norms (such as good faith) could also extend to domestic dealings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article considers how the UNIDROIT Principles of International Commercial Contracts ('UPICC') respond to the typical form of commercial contract--the relational contract. Relational contracts provide a 'framework' for relationships, allowing them to develop over time. The temporal element gives rise to peculiar issues, including: the need to accommodate changed circumstances; whether to keep the contract alive or terminate it in response to changed circumstances; contractual discretions and the role of fault and good faith; the role of contractual mechanisms for dealing with supervening risks. The article considers various of the provisions of the UPICC dealing with these issues and concludes with a consideration of possible new directions, including the proposal for a future edition of the UPICC that certain contracts can be terminated for 'just cause'. As Australian commerce becomes more international in nature, we need a common framework--a 'new law merchant'--by which contractual relations are maintained. The Australian case law on relational contracts is thin. The UPICC will prod Australian courts and practitioners to grapple with these issues. However, that effort might stall if commercial parties believe the rules in the new law merchant are too open-textured, allowing too much judicial intervention in contracting practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Australian Defence Force (ADF) aspires to provide high-quality medical care to personnel deployed on operations. Medical procedural specialists are key enablers of this capability. In the late 20th Century, the ADF relied upon Reserve clinicians to staff deployed health facilities. Though generally successful, this approach is limited in the extent to which it can guarantee the availability of specialists at short notice or for prolonged durations. Consequently, from the early 2000s, the ADF has worked to create a more robust, high-readiness specialist staffing model. As a result, several schemes were established, culminating in the extant Medical Specialist Program (MSP). This paper examines the evolution of the MSP and the contemporary employment of its members. Consideration is also given to challenges encountered during the MSPs early years and how these challenges may be overcome. Particular issues include the imbalance of MSP specialties, refinement of command frameworks and formalising career pathways for procedural specialists. If these challenges are met, the MSP will continue to grow as a repository of corporate knowledge and generate value beyond the contribution of its individual members. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The disruptive and at times traumatic nature of military service can create mental health issues among veterans Wounded, injured or ill personnel, even if their physical and psychological rehabilitation goes well, can experience an acute loss of purpose and structure that is provided during their military service, especially post-discharge It is also increasingly recognised that contemporary veterans have unique requirements, and in this context, military personnel often find their traditional medical and psychological treatments are insufficient to address their needs Fortunately, there is growing evidence that a range of exercises, such as physical activity as well as animal- and art-based activities can serve as worthwhile adjuncts to more familiar programs of rehabilitation and reintegration There is growing evidence that these activities reduce anxiety, depression and PTSD symptoms -- all of which are relevant to military personnel The theoretical basis concerning symptom reduction includes behavioural, cognitive and neurophysiological theories Tests of these theories may result in enhanced treatment This paper will describe these adjunct activities and how they are being implemented with Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel, with particular focus on the evidence and theories surrounding art-based endeavours as an adjunct to established therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) marched in lockstep with the Australian Army in most, if not all, its overseas campaigns during the twentieth century. Gonorrhoea and syphilis, bacterial infections spread most commonly through sexual intercourse. This article illustrates through reference to the Australian Army's major overseas deployments; from the Boer War at the beginning of the century to the war in Vietnam, which ended in 1975. The primary purpose of the paper is to demonstrate the scale of STD infections in the Army's overseas deployments. There is, of course, a 'human' or 'sociological' aspect as well. When investigated, every STD episode can be seen to be a little disaster of its own; a mini-tragedy for the soldier contracting the STD, for the person who most often transmitted it to him and, beyond them, for their families. Subsequently, there is the medical aspect: the measures taken by the staff of the Army Medical Service to prevent the STDs and to treat those who contracted STDs. Significant though the sociological and medical aspects of the Army's experience of STDs are, this article does not dwell on them. Instead, the focus is statistical, showing the large scale of the STD problem during the Army's overseas deployments of the twentieth century. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The 2009 Dunt Review of Mental Health in the Australian Defence Force (ADF) led to the establishment of the ADF Centre for Mental Health in Sydney. One of the programs developed at the Centre was a mental health Second Opinion Clinic. The aim of the Second Opinion Clinic is to provide specialist assessment and management recommendations for patients with complex and treatment-resistant mental disorders. Purpose: This paper describes the practices of the Second Opinion Clinic, the clinical outcomes and satisfaction as reported by patients and referrers, based on the first 58 patients seen at the clinic. Method: Clinic databases of patient demographics, diagnoses, and patient and referrer satisfaction surveys were reviewed. Results: Among the findings, it was found that the diagnosis was revised in half the patients seen, with resultant implications for treatment and management within the ADF. The clinic's practises and clinical outcomes were well regarded by both patients and referrers. Conclusion: This paper contributes to the small body of literature reporting on mental health tertiary referral or second opinion clinics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Dunt Review into mental health services in the Australian Defence Force (ADF) enabled significant investment in programs and initiatives across the defence environment in Australia. The subsequent attention to long standing mental health issues for our veteran community is both timely and admirable, and has indeed begun to address mental health stigma, education and community support around this country. Arguably, the overwhelming focus of these programs has been on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder as it relates to the physical and mental trauma of operational deployment. However, this paper will attempt to redirect at least some of this focus onto potential issues of compassion fatigue in uniformed health professionals arising from their care of traumatised (physical and/or psychological) clients. The paper will also highlight burnout as a similar possible consequence of stressful defence health work/life experience. This literature review based paper identified myriad peer reviewed references relating to research and programs for international healthcare systems and overseas forces on these conditions. However, at least within the published domain, very little can be identified for the Australian military context or in the ADF's current mental health strategies to specifically address these mental health issues for our uniformed health professionals. This paper introduces these relevant concerns for the broader military/veteran's health peer group, leadership and academic audience to consider as worthy of greater attention in Defence and Veteran's Affairs research and policy agendas. The paper will encompass: 1. An introduction, background and definitions of 'Compassion Fatigue', being vicarious traumatisation of clinicians as a consequence of caring for traumatised people. 2. A similar discussion of Burnout' as a wider but still significant workforce issue that reduces the quality of care provided to patients, and the morale, quality of life and physical and mental health of sufferers. 3. A brief outline of a 'Four Stages of Burnout' model, being (1) Physical, Mental and Emotional Exhaustion, (2) Shame and Doubt, (3) Cynicism and Callousness and finally (4) Failure, Helplessness and Crisis. 4. Identified issues for military health services from compassion fatigue and burnout as identified in the literature. 5. Recommendations that individual practitioners and the defence health organisation should consider to address issues identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Concussion or mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is associated with long-term impairments in military personnel. Diagnosis of the condition remains clinically challenging. Neurological examination and cognitive symptoms may not accurately map the nature and severity of underlying brain injury. Neuroimaging techniques, such as diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), show promise as an effective tool in delineating the microstructural neural changes and corresponding clinical consequences following mTBI. This paper discusses the diagnosis and management of concussion, in the military context, using two cases of veterans who suffered blast-related mTBI. Insights on an integrated approach to concussion in the military, incorporating thorough neurological and neuropsychological examination and application of advanced neuroimaging are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Figures from the Department of Veterans' Affairs indicate there may be over 30,000 Australian veterans that have or may yet develop some form of service-related mental illness. There is a growing body of evidence that there is a spiritual dimension to soldiers' wounds. Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to understand the causes, symptoms and healing pathways for spiritual wounds, Method and materials: Firstly, exploration of the nature of veteran spirituality, Secondly, how a veteran's spirit can be wounded and what form these wounds take will need to be understood, Finally, approaches to healing these spiritual wounds. Results: There is a strong and growing body of empirical evidence highlighting linkages between diminished spiritual functioning and mental health issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Properly trained and accredited medical and psychological practitioners are required to deliver treatment in their space. Conclusion: There is limited evidence of any spiritual institution or facility of any nature making a significant contribution in the support of veterans whose Defence service has led to mental health issues with a spiritual or faith basis. Determining what role spiritual institutions or facilities should take will need to be a major area for further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the origin and development of the Australian Society of Hypnosis Ltd from its inception in 1971, as the Australian Society of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis with a handful of members in four States, to its high point in the mid nineteen eighties when the membership was more than 1200 and the gradual decline in numbers since that time. Various aspects of the Society are discussed, including its goals and objectives, financial structure, educational and training programs, along with legal and political considerations which have influenced its development. Reasons for the decline in membership numbers are addressed and some suggestions for future growth are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improvements in clinical governance in Australian Army health services in recent years have reflected and drawn upon developments in the civilian sector. This paper describes how 2 GHB adapted and incorporated key civilian health system measures to drive improvements in the quality and safety of clinical care. Health restructure initiatives included optimisation of corporate and clinical governance by introducing a Director of Clinical Services to assist the Commanding Officer, a similar structure for technical and command authority to that found in modern civilian hospitals. A Clinical Governance Framework was introduced to provide a platform for identifying and addressing areas for improvement, acknowledging that the delivery of health care endeavours to meet the expectations inherent in the Australian standards while taking place in a unique and often austere environment with no readily comparable Australian civilian benchmark. The framework included a dedicated process to evaluate and improve clinical services based on the National Standards promulgated by the Australian Commission for Safety and Quality in Health Care with a view to achieve external certification of a deployable R2E capability. Clinical governance measures were intensified in 2015 as part of preparations for the deployment of a R2E to Operation OKRA, Australia's support to Iraq in combating Da'esh. These measures included intensive, realistic clinical training and collective certification exercises (HOSPEX) evaluated by expert independent assessors. During Operation OKRA the Clinical Governance Framework was tailored to meet the challenges of health care in a specific operational setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Education, training and employment have been identified in the last decade as a key priority for improving Indigenous outcomes. A huge gap exists in the relationships between the social determinants of health and the health outcomes experienced by Indigenous Australians. If we are to close the gap on these inequalities, and improve health and wellbeing, key strategies must include more Indigenous representation in social and emotional wellbeing training. As the second paper in a three-part series, this paper describes the opportunities and challenges associated with the process of gaining personal empowerment and training to better help Indigenous communities. After I took the difficult first step of deciding to commit to the pathway of education training and a better job, I trained as a Family Wellbeing (FWB) facilitator and I am now involved in passing on these skills to others. The Aboriginal-developed Family Wellbeing Program works toward improving self-esteem and confidence of participants. Taking control and responsibility of one's own health and wellbeing is a necessary precursor to taking responsibility in education and training. Additionally, control is a determinant for improved benefits, such as having more representation in education, training and employment for Indigenous people. This paper is based on reflections written during Family Wellbeing training and facilitation processes and draws upon data collected between 2007 and 2010. I used thematic analysis to code the reflections and evaluation feedback. I reviewed the resulting themes and created a mind map to see how the themes related to each other. This paper describes the cyclical process of my getting help and giving help to improve Indigenous education, training and wellbeing outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of Australia's strategy to Close the Gap on Indigenous disadvantage in employment, this paper tells my personal story as an example of the challenges that Aboriginal people face in moving to new jobs and to face new responsibilities. In my case, I became employed as a researcher in the Empowerment Research Program of James Cook University (JCU) in Cairns and a facilitator in the related Aboriginal-developed Family Wellbeing Empowerment Program. As the first paper in a two-part series, this paper explores why change and the unknown had a large part to do with my reluctance to move to new jobs, and the rewards of facing my fears. The second paper will describe the opportunities and challenges associated with facilitating the Family Wellbeing program. Both papers are based on reflections written during the training and facilitation processes over the last couple of years. I used thematic analysis to code the reflections and identify themes. I reviewed the themes and created a mind map to see how the themes related to each other. This paper concludes that becoming personally empowered through meaningful employment is an ongoing process involving both personal courage and a supportive environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genetically Modified crops were first grown commercially in 1996. This paper explores what genetic modification is, what crops are GM and which traits these crops have. It also shows how GM crops are tested, regulated and monitored in the US and Australia. It details some of the scientific controversy about GM. It clarifies how GM food is labelled in Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peer outdoor support therapy (POST) is one approach utilised in Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom to address mental illness and distress amongst contemporary veterans. In the current paper several areas of veteran psychological therapeutic treatment are reviewed. Research studies for therapist-led treatments and standard practice recommendations are summarised, then critiqued within the wider literature taking into account unique veteran need and known challenges to treatment which can impact responsiveness, reluctance and retention. Research review results regarding peer support interventions and outdoor therapy interventions for nonveteran and contemporary veteran populations are outlined, alongside an overview of known POST programs for veterans. The implications of the reviewed literature and research are discussed, particularly the need for further research into the role outdoor peer support may play for the Australian veteran population alongside other veteran mental health services . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

More than 2500 trained Australian army nurses served overseas during World War I. Many were called upon to act outside their normal nursing practice and one new area was that of anaesthetics. Due to a lack of medical officers in the latter part of the war, a number of Australian theatre sisters trained and worked as nurse anaesthetists in Casualty Clearing Stations in France. The British Army provided three months' training for Australian, British and New Zealand nurses in the use of chloroform and ether. Australian nurses were enthusiastic volunteers as trained nurses at home had already carved out a small but unofficial place for the profession in this role. In addition, Canadian and American army and civil nurses were already trained and used as nurse anaesthetists. While nurses were successfully used without recorded incident, at the end of the first training course, the Director General of Medical Services, Australian Imperial Force, decreed that the nurses would not be further trained or used. This was out of step with the other countries participating, and this paper examines some possible reasons for the change of heart. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a seminar held at the University of Sydney on 16 May 2011, four speakers were invited to consider 'The Future of Private International Law in Australia' from different perspectives — judge, lawyer in government, practitioner and academic. Unsurprisingly, given the breadth of the topic, the subject matter of the presentations varied widely. Justice Paul Le Gay Brereton of the New South Wales Supreme Court addressed the difficulties inherent in the proof of foreign law, and recent developments in New South Wales practice in this area. Thomas John of the Commonwealth Attorney-General's Department considered Australia's approach to the regulation of private international law issues at an international level. Dr Andrew Bell SC of the New South Wales Bar looked at recurring themes and likely future trends in Australian case law in the area. In the final presentation, based on this paper, the author considered two related topics. First, the development and recognition of a unified body of Australian private international law. Second, the case for reform of the currently diverse regimes regulating the personal jurisdiction of courts in Australia. The author argues that the subject has now developed and matured to a point where the label 'Australian private international law' is justified in two of the three key areas: applicable law and the recognition and enforcement of judgments. He urges reform of federal and state rules governing personal jurisdiction, by a process of harmonisation, in order to complete the last side of the Australian private international law triangle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indigenous health workers are considered as main providers of primary health services to our indigenous communities especially in remote and rural areas. This paper explores benefits of supporting Indigenous health workers through health informatics, education and training programs in their practice location and more specifically in the use of a culturally appropriate self-paced CD ROM. It also explores the different learning approaches that will be adapted and their effects on the development of a continuous training program for Indigenous health workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, access to oral health care is complicated by a maldistribution of dentists in regional areas. To address this problem in Far North Queensland, a volunteer dental program 'Filling the Gap' was established in 2006 in partnership with the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community controlled primary health service. This paper reports on the program's first formal evaluation and its findings. Methods: The program's operation over a two-year period was investigated using multiple methods including a literature review, examining patient characteristics (n=50), and exploring episodes and types of care, patterns of volunteer recruitment, and stakeholder perceptions of the program through collection and analysis of both quantitative and qualitative data. Results: Key findings revealed that 79 weeks of dental care were provided by 68 volunteer visitors addressing patient needs satisfactorily and eliminating waiting lists. Stakeholders believed that the program met a pressing need, enhanced workforce development, provided a quality service with continuity of care, and enabled cross-cultural relationships to thrive, with the familiarity and trust felt by patients towards the wider health service and its Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander dental staff extending to the shortstay volunteers. Conclusion: Whilst at the same time highlighting the critical importance of dental care within the community controlled primary health care service setting, the evaluation of 'Filling the Gap' found the program to be both effective and appropriate. Its success, however, should not take the place of sustainable, accessible oral health care services in regional and remote Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 1888, the South Australian Museum purchased an ethnological collection from New Guinea that had previously been sent by Theodore F. Bevan and Messrs Burns, Philp & Co. for display at the New South Wales Court of the Queen Victoria Jubilee Exhibition in Adelaide in 1887. The identity of this collection subsequently became obscure prior to commencement of systematic registration of the Museum's collections in 1911. This paper reviews photographic, archival and published evidence to restore the identity of this collection, to uncover its indigenous cultural context and to relate it to comparable collections in Australia and overseas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses the effective application of a mobile flu clinic to a number of vulnerable Indigenous communities across a large rural/remote area of NSW Australia. We discuss the effect of H1N1 09 (Swine Flu) from a world Indigenous perspective with particular reference to the application of the Indigenous notion of healing and importance of indigeneity to health protection and cultural safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tri-service post-graduate vocational education in Medicine has not previously been available in the Australian Defence Force (ADF). Introduction to Military Medicine (IMM), originally designed as an introduction to the practice of medicine in the military, ran for the first time in 2008 as an on-line postgraduate course in the Master of Public Health (Defence) program provided by the Centre for Military and Veterans Health. This paper recommends that the course should be a core component of the MPH (Defence) Program for Medical Officers, rather than an elective; however, greater opportunities to develop IMM exist in blending it into existing programs to train new military Medical Officers to a deployable standard (Competency Level 2). Introduction to Military Medicine also supports military clinical supervisors to apprentice new Medical Officers facilitating their passage through civilian vocational training towards becoming competent and confident military and civilian general practitioners. A broader student scope is also recommended to accommodate military medicine training needs for Reserve Force and Civilian Contract Medical Practitioners. Improvements will now require expansion of the teaching staff and exploration of new delivery methods in closer collaboration with the ADF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Australian Defence Force Garrison Health Support operate in a complex relationship between a geography-based National Support Area (NSA) health care model, in which most of the medical resources and staff are owned by the single services; deployable capabilities, also owned by the Single services; and a National health care system that provides primary, secondary and tertiary health care both to the NSA and to deployed forces. The Alexander Review, amongst other things, was required to inform the development of a command and technical control structure for health units that optimizes operational efficiency and effectiveness, and clarifies accountability to the Service headquarters and other Groups in the ADF. The RAAAKERS™ (Responsibility, Authority, Accountability, Awareness, Knowledge, Experience, Resources and Systems) framework was used as an analysis tool to assist in understanding the main command and control stress points in the Defence Health Services Division (DHSD). Structured interviews with many of the key staff of DHSD allowed the RAAAKERS™ construct to probe into the alignment of elements related to command capability, such as the Responsibility, Authority and Accountability attributes, and those associated with elements of control, such as the KERS attributes. In particular the paper shows how data from the interviews enabled construction of RAAAKERS™ metrics to highlight problematic areas related to technical control and to a lack of alignment in Responsibility, Authority and Accountability in some areas of DHSD. The Viable Systems Model (VSM), developed by operations research theorist Stafford Beer, is a model of the organisational structure of any viable or autonomous system. As an additional analysis tool for the Alexander Review, VSM techniques were used to study Garrison Health Support and to determine the structure of the five internal systems needed for viability. This preliminary study also indicated stress points in the technical control aspects of Garrison Health Support and provided some support to the findings of the RAAAKERS™ investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In essence, the concept of mental health for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is very broad. The capacity to achieve good mental wellbeing rests largely with the individual's relationship with family and community and connection to land, as well as spiritual and physical wellness (Australia. Department of Health and Ageing 2004). Recent research into the social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal students from eight universities, revealed a large number of them had a diagnosed mental health issue. This paper with explore the students' mental health issues and their relationship to the university experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mental health, or more broadly, social and emotional wellbeing (SEWB) is dependent on many factors, both internal and external. The external factors such as socioeconomic disadvantage are fairly well documented and generally their link to SEWB are fairly easy to understand, although the degree of impact they have may be debated. The internal factors such as motivation are much more difficult to explain. One framework that is still used to explain motivation since it was first published in the 1940s is that of Maslow's hierarchy of needs. Put simply, this framework suggests that people are motivated by different needs that can be classified in a hierarchy with the lower level needs having to be fulfilled before the higher level needs can be. Better understanding of the link between cultural disconnection and SEWB may offer clear solutions to how it can be addressed. This paper will argue that those higher level needs are closely linked to culture and that consequently any disconnection from culture can impede, if not make impossible, their attainment. If this link can be demonstrated it becomes possible to explain how the SEWB of people who have been disconnected from their culture such as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians is at greater risk of impairment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses various papers published within this issue including one by Williams and colleagues on the psychophysiology of hypnotic-analgesia mechanisms, one by David Kraft on hypnosis in psychiatry, and one by Eugen Hlywa and Lynda Dolan on the role of spirituality in therapeutic practice.

The article discusses the treatment of patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). It cites several papers on IBS presented at the May 2012 Nutrition in Medicine conference held in Melbourne, Victoria including the ones from doctor Jane Muir, professors Peter Gibson and Gerard Holtman. It also relates the author's personal experience of managing IBS.

The article offers updates about the journal, which is about military medicine in Australia. It talks about the resignation of Russ Schedlich as the journal's editor-in-chief, as well as the return of Leanne Bleathman. It offers information about the content of the journal which include fourteen research and practice related papers in the forms of original research articles, short communications, review articles, case studies and abstracts from the literature.