Public perceptions of general practice and the allocation of funds/Reply

The Taskforce aims include: 'improving patient access to general practice and GP-led multidisciplinary teams, making primary care more affordable, improving prevention, and reducing pressure on hospitals',3 and these data suggest that increasing general practice funding to support the Taskforce's aims is consistent with community expectations. The use of market researchers to rapidly access data is innovative and highlights the value of consumer input into health policy decision making, reinforcing the need for sharing of routinely collected data to better understand allocation of health system expenditure. Authors Michael Wright MBBS, MSc, PhD (UTS), GAICD, FRACGP, Research Fellow, Centre for Health Economics Research and Evaluation, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW;Clinical Associate Professor, Sydney University Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW Roald Versteeg BBusMan, Chief Policy Officer, The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, East Melbourne, Vic (at time of submission) References 1.

The China Alternative. Changing Regional Order in the Pacific Islands

The presence of China poses a challenge to the dominance of Western powers and their allies, who have set the agenda in the Pacific since the end of the Second World War. [...]today, the region has been characterised by (post-)colonial power structures. In her opening remarks, Dame Meg Taylor clearly states that the Pacific Island states regard the presence of China in the region as a positive development because it gives PIF countries access to markets, technology, financing and infrastructure. The Boe Declaration of the PIF meeting in 2018, which states that "climate change remains the single greatest threat to the livelihoods, security and wellbeing of the peoples of the Pacific" (ix) - is the principal element of efforts by Pacific Island state leaders to implement the "Blue Pacific" concept and stands in stark contrast to the environmental and security policy of PIF member country Australia as well as that of the previous Trump administration. In Australia alone, economic damage caused each year by Beijing's punitive actions in response to bans on Huawei equipment (Australia excludes the Chinese company from the country's 5G roll-out) and COVID-19 demands (Canberra's call for an independent investigation into the origins of the virus) runs into the billions annually.

Facebook as an official communication channel in a crisis

Digital platforms have become valuable resources to citizens as they allow immediate access to quality information and news. Staying up to date with information and news is particularly vital in crises such as bushfires. The 2019–20 bushfire season in Australia was extreme, resulting in widespread devastation and loss of life, property and wildlife. Communicating with affected communities is a critical component of community response and resilience in a disaster. Organisations, such as ACT Emergency Services Agency and the NSW Rural Fire Service, need to provide timely, accurate and reliable information. This study investigated official communication using Facebook during the Orroral Valley bushfires from these two emergency services agencies and considers to what extent messaging demonstrated the characteristics of effective crisis communication, including application of the National Framework for Scaled Advice and Warnings to the Community. A content analysis of over 600 posts revealed marked differences in approaches. The study revealed the benefits of using a combination of text, images and infographics in communication activities. Suggestions are provided about how social media could be used more effectively by truly connecting with communities to improve community preparedness and resilience.

The postnatal period

A lack of adequate knowledge and training in breastfeeding may be felt by many GPs,3 and to increase the understanding of these common issues, an article featured in this issue discusses the essentials of expressing and supplemental feeding.4 The postnatal period provides an opportune time for health promotion and prevention, especially considering that nearly half of all women who delivered babies in 2019 were overweight or obese.5 Promoting a healthy lifestyle, with good nutrition6 and physical exercise,7 is fundamental for subsequent healthy pregnancies and for the prevention of non-communicable diseases. Nearly half of maternal deaths occur soon after birth and in the first six weeks, with the current leading cause in Australia being pre-existing cardiovascular conditions, followed by suicide.9 Mental health conditions are more likely to develop following birth than at any other stage in a womans life,10 and supporting women who may be at risk of or are vulnerable to mental health conditions is crucial to providing high-quality postnatal care.8 Regardless of your breadth of practice in managing women in the postpartum period, this is a time when we can have a significant impact on health outcomes. [...]what matters to women is a positive experience, which includes GPs listening and being responsive to individual needs, managing expectations and arranging support for both parenting and adjustment to the changes that occur within their intimate and family relationships and their roles as mothers.11 References 1.