Meaning of Health

Ep 147 - Dental Public Health w/Dr Mohammed Junaid

Meaning of Health — Fri, 22 May 2026 05:31:46 GMT

Ingrid and Craig chat with Dr Mohammed Junaid from the UWA Dental School and Oral Health Centre of Western Australia. Junaid is a practicing public health dentist, lecturer and researcher, who trained in India and obtained professional qualifications from Royal Colleges of Glasgow and England before completing his PhD at UWA. As part of his role, he organises the Clinics to Communities program in Perth. His previous clinical work has seen him travel different regions in India. Junaid discusses the importance of oral health, and the impact it can have on other aspects of a person’s life if it is not taken care of. He also talks through his philosophy of treating the person rather than just their teeth, as many people have a range of life challenges that impact on their oral health, and need to be understood before helping them make decisions about their oral health care. Junaid also shares his thoughts on the oral health system generally in Australia, and challenges created by funding and resourcing issues, in part due to the fact that oral health care is not funded by Medicare for a majority of Australians. You can read more about Junaid and his work here: https://research-repository.uwa.edu.au/en/persons/mohammed-junaid-2/ As always, if you want to get in touch with the podcast, you can contact us at: meaningofhealth@outlook.com Instagram Twitter/X Bluesky @healthmeanswhat FaceBook @MeaningofHealth Visit our website: https://meaningofhealth.com.au/

Episode 146 - Managing Health Ageing w Jo-aine and Cheng

Meaning of Health — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 05:36:45 GMT

Continuing our aged care series, Dorina chats with Jo-aine Hang, a research fellow at the University of Western Australia and private physio therapist, and Cheng, a Health sociologist at the University of Western Australia. They speak on healthy aging, managing fall risks and keeping up cognitive function. Interestingly, they discuss how hospitals can be a cautionary environment for elderly patients, as well as individual issues that arise with aging and considering cultural dimensions for exercise recommendations and diets. Research is fundamental into allowing people with concerns with activity and being stationary to find a balance. They further talk about the aging population in Australia and the importance of understanding ageing in Australia. You can read more on Jo-aine Hang and her work here: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Jo-Aine-Hang#:~:text=About&text=Dr%20Jo%2DAine%20Hang%20is,University%20of%20Notre%20Dame%20Australia. You can read more on Chang and her work here: https://research-repository.uwa.edu.au/en/persons/cheng-yen-loo/ As always, if you want to get in touch with the podcast, you can contact us at: meaningofhealth@outlook.com Instagram Twitter/X Bluesky @healthmeanswhat FaceBook @MeaningofHealth Visit our website: https://meaningofhealth.com.au/

Ep 145 - Ageing, Dementia & Music w Dr Simone Marino

Meaning of Health — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 03:50:54 GMT

We kick off our series looking at aged care and the health of aging populations with a conversation with Dr Simone Marino, a researcher at Edith Cowan University. Simone’s work is at the intersection of aging, dementia and cultural anthropology. Simone also serves as a Music & Cultural Engagement Consultant for WA InCasa Aged Care. Simone discusses his background working with migrant communities, and the role that music plays in helping people from these communities who live with Dementia, as well as family caregivers. You can read more about Simone and his work here: https://www.ecu.edu.au/schools/arts-and-humanities/staff/profiles/sage-futures/dr-simone-marino As always, if you want to get in touch with the podcast, you can contact us at: meaningofhealth@outlook.com Instagram Twitter/X Bluesky @healthmeanswhat FaceBook @MeaningofHealth Visit our website: https://meaningofhealth.com.au/

Ep 144 - International Women's Day 2026 [women's health series]

Meaning of Health — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 00:00:26 GMT

We celebrate International Women’s Day in this special live episode, recorded at the University of Western Australia on 9 March 2026. The panel was hosted by Prof Fiona McGaughey, Pro Vice Chancellor Academic Advancement & Diversity at UWA. The panel featured UWA academics Prof Pat Dudgeon, Prof Caitlin Wyrwoll, Prof Tanya Fitzgerald and Dr Dani Barrington. You can read more about the panellists here: https://www.uwa.edu.au/news/article/2026/march/meet-the-panellists-for-international-womens-day The conversation covers a range of issues that have created challenges for women in public and private life over several decades, and contributed to a gender imbalance which has made it more difficult for women to advance in their careers and across society generally. The panel share their own experiences, and their thoughts on where they would like meaningful change to be made to address the historical gender imbalances that still persist today. The event was supported by Graduate Women WA: https://graduatewomenwa.org.au As always, if you want to get in touch with the podcast, you can contact us at: meaningofhealth@outlook.com Instagram Twitter/X Bluesky @healthmeanswhat FaceBook @MeaningofHealth Visit our website: https://meaningofhealth.com.au/

Ep 143 - Narrative Therapy with Marnie, Mark & Greg

Meaning of Health — Fri, 06 Mar 2026 05:17:43 GMT

We continue our mental health series as Courtney and Craig chat with Marnie, Mark and Greg about their work using narrative therapy to help people navigate life’s challenges. Our guests compare and contrast how narrative therapy and western medical approaches can differ. The conversation covers themes such as respectful practice, group work, addressing violent behaviour and working with people with alcohol and other drug issues. Our guests also talk through how they working with clients can help therapists to reflect on their own experiences and lives. Some useful resources: https://www.metaphortraining.com/about-5-4 https://dulwichcentre.com.au https://dulwichcentre.com.au/product/telling-our-stories-in-ways-that-make-us-stronger-barbara-wingard-jane-lester/ https://dulwichcentre.com.au/product/collective-narrative-practice-responding-to-individuals-groups-and-communities-who-have-experienced-trauma/ https://dulwichcentre.com.au/holding-our-heads-up/ And some references that support the work being talked about: https://dulwichcentre.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/finding-the-voice-to-speak-by-Dion-Anderson-Bea-Anderson-Mark-Hammersley-Marnie-Sather-Greg-Smith.pdf https://dulwichcentre.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Crossing-the-River-A-Metaphor-for-Separation-Liminality-and-Reincorporation.pdf As always, if you want to get in touch with the podcast, you can contact us at: meaningofhealth@outlook.com Instagram Twitter/X Bluesky @healthmeanswhat FaceBook @MeaningofHealth Visit our website: https://meaningofhealth.com.au/

Ep 142 - Anxiety UK with Nicky and Jason

Meaning of Health — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 05:50:27 GMT

Leah and Craig are joined by Nicky and Jason from Anxiety UK as we continue our mental health series. Nicky and Jason talk us through how Anxiety UK came about, and the many and varied activities it carries out to help provide support for people living with various forms of anxiety in the UK. We discussed how as a peer-led organisation, Anxiety UK’s approach is informed by people who are living with anxiety themselves. We also touched on Anxiety UK’s leadership of the Global Anxiety Alliance, which brings Anxiety organisations across the world together with the aim of “furthering understanding of anxiety through sharing of good practice, knowledge, information, research, and where possible, resources”. Read more about Anxiety UK here: https://www.anxietyuk.org.uk/ Read more about the Global Anxiety Alliance here: https://www.anxietyuk.org.uk/global-anxiety-alliance/ As always, if you want to get in touch with the podcast, you can contact us at: meaningofhealth@outlook.com Instagram Twitter/X Bluesky @healthmeanswhat FaceBook @MeaningofHealth Visit our website: https://meaningofhealth.com.au/

Ep 141 - using iyarn for mental health and wellbeing w/ Lockie Cooke

Meaning of Health — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 02:41:43 GMT

As we return for 2026, we kick off our mental health series with a great conversation between Dr Ingrid Stacey and Lockie Cooke, founder and CEO of iyarn. iyarn is a digital platform designed to help to support people to keep track of their health and wellbeing across a range of domains, including mental health. Lockie talks through his inspiration for developing iyarn, and discusses how the platform works, and some of its many uses, both by individuals and organisation who work with people. Lockie also shares some of his experience living and working in remote parts of Western Australia, and the special bond he has formed with the Bardi Jawi people from the Kimberley. Lockie’s experience has shaped how iyarn manages individuals’ data ethically, and consistent with principles of Indigenous Data Sovereignty. Lockie also touches on the current technological landscape, and particularly some to the risks posed by the rapid rollout of AI, with some companies prioritising growth over quality assurance. The conversation does include discussion about suicide, so if that may be upsetting to you, this may be one to skip. If listening this conversation does raise any concerns for you, you can contact Lifeline on 131144. You can read more about iyarn and Lockie here: https://iyarn.com As always, if you want to get in touch with the podcast, you can contact us at: meaningofhealth@outlook.com Instagram Twitter/X Bluesky @healthmeanswhat FaceBook @MeaningofHealth Visit our website: https://meaningofhealth.com.au/

Ep 140 - Christmas 2025

Meaning of Health — Wed, 17 Dec 2025 00:00:43 GMT

This is our traditional annual Christmas episode, a rambling chat about the highs and lows of the year and some truly awful Christmas jokes with Ingrid, Leah, Dorinda and Craig, with a musical surprise from the 2025 edition of Let's Present. Wishing everyone a safe and relaxing festive period, and looking forward to brining you some more interesting conversations with people about different aspects of health in 2026. As always, if you want to get in touch with the podcast, you can contact us at: meaningofhealth@outlook.com Instagram Twitter/X Bluesky @healthmeanswhat FaceBook @MeaningofHealth Visit our website: https://meaningofhealth.com.au/

Episode 139 - Developmental Disability WA with James, Georgie & Justin [disability series]

Meaning of Health — Fri, 05 Dec 2025 03:29:15 GMT

For this episode Dorinda visited the offices of Developmental Disability WA (DDWA) with our practicum student Sumaya and speaks with 3 guests with experience living with developmental disability and navigating the health system as consumers. James, a member of the DDWA advisory council, discusses some positive experiences with hospitals and the support he received from his parents and doctors, as well as the need for improvements like reducing hospital wait times and providing separate areas for people with disabilities in emergency departments. Georgie, who manages a back injury along with a disability, discusses problems such as the lack of understanding and respect from hospital staff, emphasising the need for better communication and support. Justin, a disability advocate, calls for a specialised disability hospital to address the unique needs of people with disabilities, highlighting the current system's failures in providing adequate care and support, Justin calls for simple steps to be taken such as making documents such as information and consent forms more accessible for people with disability. Many thanks to Mary Butterworth, CEO of DDWA who helped make this episode possible. You can read more about DDWA here: https://ddwa.org.au As always, if you want to get in touch with the podcast, you can contact us at: meaningofhealth@outlook.com Instagram Twitter/X Bluesky @healthmeanswhat FaceBook @MeaningofHealth Visit our website: https://meaningofhealth.com.au/

Ep 138 - Complex Clinical Care & Disability with Caroline Yates [disability series]

Meaning of Health — Fri, 28 Nov 2025 01:38:53 GMT

Dorinda and Craig sat down for a chat with Caroline Yates, a registered nurse, educator and Director of SN Services for this episode. Caroline talks through her background as an RN, as well as an educator, and how she came to start a company that provides complex clinical care for people living at home with a disability. She also discusses the formation of the WA Complex Care Alliance, aimed at improving complex care in WA. Caroline and colleagues identified that disability support staff were being asked to handle complex clinical treatment for their clients with disability without having sufficient training or education. To address this, Caroline and her business partner decided to provide this upskilling themselves and started SN Training to help support workers develop the knowledge and skills they needed for these important tasks, culminating in SN Training becoming a Registered Training Organisation (RTO). Caroline discusses her thoughts on the NDIS, and how just simply improving communication between government departments, and listening to feedback from families and carers could make a world of difference in the outcomes experienced by people with disability. You can read more about: SN Services here: https://www.snservices.com.au SN Training here: https://www.sntraining.com.au The WA Complex Care Alliance here: https://www.snservices.com.au/wa-complex-care-alliance As always, if you want to get in touch with the podcast, you can contact us at: meaningofhealth@outlook.com Instagram Twitter/X Bluesky @healthmeanswhat FaceBook @MeaningofHealth Visit our website: https://meaningofhealth.com.au/

Episode 137 - Managing Complex Healthcare & Disability w/Barbara Goodwin & Mia Hagbro-Tedeschi

Meaning of Health — Thu, 20 Nov 2025 04:55:21 GMT

In this episode Craig and Dorinda sat down with Barbara Goodwin from Care Corner and Mia Hagbro-Tedeschi from Mechanical Rock to discuss the Care Corner app, which was designed to help with care coordination for individuals with complex disabilities. Barbara, a part-time UWA employee and mother to a son with multiple disabilities, discusses the many challenges that she and many families of people with disability face while trying to manage the care of their loved ones. Barbara’s experience was the motivation behind her idea to streamline care documentation and reduce the mental load on families, which led to the creation of the Care Corner app. Mia, Director of Client Strategy at Mechanical Rock, explains how she got involved in helping to design the app's features, including real-time updates, voice-to-text progress notes, and integration with NDIS goals. The app, which has over 300 users, aims to improve care continuity and reduce hospital visits for people with disability who are also managing complex health care needs in the home. Barbara also discusses how Care Corner has been funded (self-funding, an innovation booster grant, and support from Mechanical Rock), and shares some great news about a recent decision that means that people using Care Corner can have the cost of the subscription covered under their NDIS plan now. For further information about Care Corner, you can contact: Barbara – barbara@carecorner.net.au Mia – maria@mechanicalrock.io As always, if you want to get in touch with the podcast, you can contact us at: meaningofhealth@outlook.com Instagram Twitter/X Bluesky @healthmeanswhat FaceBook @MeaningofHealth Visit our website: https://meaningofhealth.com.au/

Episode 136 - Creating Opportunities for People w/Disability w/Erin Marshall [disability series]

Meaning of Health — Thu, 13 Nov 2025 00:32:50 GMT

In this episode Dorinda sits down for a chat with Erin Marshall, co-Deputy Chair of Disability Assembly WA. Erin discusses her experience living with cerebral palsy among other health challenges, as well as the impact that hidden disabilities and employment challenges can have on people living with disability more broadly. She highlights the need for better disability education and support for employers. Erin shares her journey of self-awareness and the importance of joining a disability employment provider. She emphasizes the role of the Disability Assembly of WA in advocating for better opportunities for people with disabilities, particularly in employment and housing. Erin also discusses the impact of her health conditions on her daily life and future goals, including the need for support to live independently and the desire to travel. You can read more about Disability Assembly WA here: https://disabilityassemblywa.org You can connect with Erin here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-marshall-jp/?originalSubdomain=au As always, if you want to get in touch with the podcast, you can contact us at: meaningofhealth@outlook.com Instagram Twitter/X Bluesky @healthmeanswhat FaceBook @MeaningofHealth Visit our website: https://meaningofhealth.com.au/

Episode 135 - Doing Things Differently in Disability w/ Mark Fitzpatrick [disability series]

Meaning of Health — Fri, 24 Oct 2025 00:00:49 GMT

In this episode we sit down for a chat with Mark Fitzpatrick, CEO of PeopleKind Group. Mark has an extensive career working in the disability sector, including roles as Deputy President of the Deafness Council and a member of the Executive of the Hearing Health Sector Alliance. This range of experience, along with previous CEO roles at Telethon Speech and Hearing and St Vincent de Paul Society has given Mark a unique perspective on how things can be done differently to achieve the best possible outcomes for clients with disability who have a range of disability and non-disability-related needs. This philosophy in part drives PeopleKind Group, who are a for-purpose company that act as a parent company for a range of different organisations that provide a range of different services including learning, behaviour support, housing and disability support. By taking this approach, PeopleKind Group are able to assist clients with multiple needs that they may have. Additionally, Mark discussed the importance of collaboration with others in the sector to ensure that client care remained person-centred regardless of the client’s needs. Mark also touched on the work that PeopleKind do with people who have had justice system involvement through Outcare, as well as providing us his thoughts on the NDIS in its current form. Read more about Mark here: https://peoplekind.org.au/about-us/mark-fitzpatrick/ Read more about PeopleKind here: https://peoplekind.org.au/about-us/ As always, if you want to get in touch with the podcast, you can contact us at: meaningofhealth@outlook.com Instagram Twitter/X Bluesky @healthmeanswhat FaceBook @MeaningofHealth Visit our website: https://meaningofhealth.com.au/

Episode 134 – Living w/ Hidden Disability, Supporting Carers w/ Chanel & Esme [disability series]

Meaning of Health — Fri, 10 Oct 2025 05:22:35 GMT

Dorinda is joined by Chanel & Esme as we continue our series on disability. Chanel talks us through her journey over the last few years since she acquired a brain injury due to a traumatic event, and discusses some of the challenges she has faced, both due to her injury and the symptoms she manages, including hearing loss and balance issues, as well as the complexities navigating the health system, often out in rural areas. Chanel also talks about the successes she has had, particularly in being able to return to her work working in film production. Esme discusses her experience as a leader and advocate in a range of sectors, including health (where she worked as a registered nurse), disability and road safety. She also shares her experience as a family member carer for Chanel and the mental and physical load that comes with this important, and often unrecognised role. She also reflects on her work as Chair of the Carers Advisory Council and the role they play advising the WA government on issues affecting carers. Both Chanel and Esme share their thoughts on weaknesses in our society currently when it comes to engaging with people with disabilities and their carers and provide practical advice (based on much experience) for navigating not just health and disability systems, but everyday life for people with disability. A particular focus is on people with disabilities that are “hidden” that may not be visually obvious to people they come into contact with. Read more about Chanel and her work as a Producer, Access Coordinator and Disability Advocate: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chanel-bowen-b629236b/?originalSubdomain=au Read more about Esme’s work with the Carers Advisory Council: https://www.wa.gov.au/organisation/department-of-communities/carers-advisory-council As always, if you want to get in touch with the podcast, you can contact us at: meaningofhealth@outlook.com Instagram Twitter/X Bluesky @healthmeanswhat FaceBook @MeaningofHealth Visit our website: https://meaningofhealth.com.au/

Episode 133 - Disability & Early Childhood Education & Care w Monique Power [disability series]

Meaning of Health — Fri, 26 Sep 2025 01:46:27 GMT

To kick off our new series that explores disability from a range of perspectives, Dorinda ‘t Hart sits down for a chat with Monique Power, founder and Director of Ripple Ability, a company set up to help families caring for young children with disability to navigate the National Disability Insurance Scheme to ensure that both the children and their families can lead fulfilling and healthy lives. Monique discusses her lived experience as a mother and carer of a child with a rare disability, and the gaps that currently exist for early childhood education and care for young children diagnosed with complex, lifelong disabilities. She also shares examples of some of the work being done to identify the issues, and potential strategies for improving the services on offer to ensure that people diagnosed with disability at early ages are given the best possible opportunities to lead fulfilling and productive lives in the community. Read more about Ripple Ability and Monique here: https://rippleability.org As always, if you want to get in touch with the podcast, you can contact us at: meaningofhealth@outlook.com Instagram Twitter/X Bluesky @healthmeanswhat FaceBook @MeaningofHealth Visit our website: https://meaningofhealth.com.au/

Episode 132 - Menstruation Goes Mainstream with Ina Jurga [women's health series]

Meaning of Health — Fri, 12 Sep 2025 00:08:30 GMT

In this episode we bring you a conversation with Ina Jurga, International Coordinator for Menstrual Hygiene Day and Technical Lead for Menstrual Health and Hygiene at WASH United. Ina joined hosts Leah Roberts and Dr. Dani Barrington to share her journey from working as a civil engineer to becoming a global advocate for menstrual health, shaped by her experiences in countries such as India, Uganda, and Burundi. Ina talked us through the creation of Menstrual Hygiene Day in 2014 and the importance of raising global awareness about menstruation. We discussed systemic approaches to menstrual health, including education, access to products, disposal solutions, and supportive policies. We also chatted about innovations such as reusable pads, menstrual cups, and period swimwear, and how conversations around menstruation are evolving in high-income countries. Finally, we reflected on engaging men and boys, and the importance of broadening the discussion to include perimenopause and menopause. Read more about Menstrual Hygiene Day: https://www.menstrualhygieneday.org Read more about WASH United: https://www.wash-united.org/mhm-guide/mhm-guide As always, if you want to get in touch with the podcast, you can contact us at: meaningofhealth@outlook.com Instagram Twitter/X Bluesky @healthmeanswhat FaceBook @MeaningofHealth Visit our website: https://meaningofhealth.com.au/

Episode 131 - Improving Understanding of Menopause with AProf Erin Morton [women's health series]

Meaning of Health — Thu, 28 Aug 2025 05:42:24 GMT

In this episode of The Meaning of Health, we’re joined by Associate Professor Erin Morton, CEO, and founder of Bespoke Clinical Research, to explore the often-overlooked topic of perimenopause and menopause. Erin shares her professional expertise and personal experiences navigating perimenopause, which inspired her to establish the Vital Perimenopause Registry—a project capturing community perspectives on symptoms, challenges, and priorities in women’s health. We discuss what menopause and perimenopause really mean, the wide range of symptoms beyond the well-known hot flushes, and the significant impact on mental health, work, relationships, and daily life. Erin highlights the stigma and silence that too often surrounds menopause, stressing the importance of open conversations, informed healthcare, and supportive workplaces. The conversation also touches on the need for better clinician training, especially in rural and regional communities, and the cultural and social factors that shape women’s experiences. Erin reminds us that while symptoms and treatments differ, what makes the biggest difference is understanding, empathy, and support—from healthcare providers, workplaces, families, and society at large. This insightful discussion is a valuable listen for anyone—whether you’re directly experiencing menopause or supporting someone who is. Learn more about Erin’s work here and get contact details: https://bespokeclinicalresearch.com.au/about-us/ As always, if you want to get in touch with the podcast, you can contact us at: meaningofhealth@outlook.com Instagram Twitter/X Bluesky @healthmeanswhat FaceBook @MeaningofHealth Or visit our website: www.meaningofhealth.com.au

Episode 130 – Diabetes Medication to Prevent Heart Problems w Dr. Juliana De Oliveira Costa

Meaning of Health — Thu, 14 Aug 2025 00:19:24 GMT

In this episode, Craig chats with Dr Juliana de Oliveira Costa, Research Fellow at the Medicines Intelligence Research Program, UNSW Sydney. Juliana is a pharmacist and pharmacoepidemiologist who uses big health data to study and improve medicine use across populations. They discuss SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP-1 receptor agonists—modern type 2 diabetes medicines now known for heart, kidney, and weight-loss benefits. Juliana explains how cardiovascular benefits were discovered by accident, leading to major changes in treatment guidelines and PBS (Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme) access. Topics include how these medicines work, recent PBS changes enabling earlier use in high-risk patients to be cheaper for patients, medication costs, private prescribing, and research showing underuse—especially in older adults—despite strong evidence of benefit. They also touch on safety concerns, long-term use, and the value of real-world data in guiding policy and practice. Learn more about Juliana’s work here and get contact details for the cardio-metabolic team: https://www.unsw.edu.au/medicine-health/our-schools/population-health/research/transforming-health-systems/medicines-intelligence/cardiometabolic-medicines Learn more about Juliana: https://www.unsw.edu.au/staff/juliana-de-oliveira-costa As always, if you want to get in touch with the podcast, you can contact us at: meaningofhealth@outlook.com Instagram Twitter/X Bluesky @healthmeanswhat FaceBook @MeaningofHealth Or visit our website: www.meaningofhealth.com.au

Episode 129 - PBAC Sub-committees with Prof Richard Norman and Prof Chris Etherton-Beer

Meaning of Health — Thu, 31 Jul 2025 06:27:57 GMT

In this episode we chat about the sub-committees that provide advice to the main Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee. We are joined by Prof Richard Norman from the Economic Sub-Committee (ESC), and Prof Chris Etherton-Beer, Chair of the Drug Utilisation Sub-Committee (DUSC). Richard is a health economist, so talks us through some of the health economic measures and considerations that go into ESC deciding whether to recommend that a medication should be subsidised through the Pharmaceutical Benefit Scheme (PBS). Chris is a clinician at Royal Perth Hospital and pharmacology researcher at UWA. Chris talks us through some of the questions that around expected utilisation of drugs that are being considered for inclusion on the PBS. These include how many people would be likely to use the drug, and the health needs of populations that the particular drug may help. You can read more about Richard here: https://staffportal.curtin.edu.au/staff/profile/view/richard-norman-6fd5494b/ Read more about Chris here: https://research-repository.uwa.edu.au/en/persons/christopher-etherton-beer For more information about the PBAC and its sub-committees: https://www.pbs.gov.au/info/industry/listing/participants/pbac As always, if you want to get in touch with the podcast, you can contact us at: meaningofhealth@outlook.com Instagram Twitter/X Bluesky @healthmeanswhat FaceBook @MeaningofHealth Or visit our website: www.meaningofhealth.com.au

Episode 128 - KeepingHearts Strong:NoongarWomen,Culture&CardiacHealthwProfAuntyVickyWade&ProfBepUink

Meaning of Health — Wed, 09 Jul 2025 07:08:23 GMT

In this special NAIDOC Week episode of The Meaning of Health podcast, Ingrid is joined by Associate Professor Aunty Vicky Wade and Professor Bep Uink for a discussion about the importance of heart health among Noongar women and Aboriginal communities more broadly. Together, they explore the central role of Noongar women as matriarchs, healers, and cultural leaders, and how these responsibilities connect deeply with physical, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing. Aunty Vicky shares her journey as a Noongar woman and cardiac nurse with over 40 years of experience, highlighting the significant burden of cardiovascular disease on Aboriginal women, who face much higher risks of heart disease and early death than non-Aboriginal women. Bep talks about her background in social and emotional wellbeing research and being appointed as the first woman and first Aboriginal Director of the Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet. Together they discuss how cultural safety involves recognising different worldviews and building genuine connections between healthcare providers and patients. Aunty Vicky and Bep share their hope and optimism for the future as part of this year’s NAIDOC theme The Next Generation: Strength, Vision and Legacy, and how they are inspired by the resilience and strength of Noongar women and the growing leadership of younger generations. They encourage Aboriginal women to prioritize their own health and seek heart health checks, reinforcing that knowledge and empowerment are key to creating lasting change. Listeners can explore NAIDOC week history and activities at naidoc.org.au The Australian CVD risk calculator discussed can be found at https://www.cvdcheck.org.au/calculator The heart age calculator is available at https://www.heartfoundation.org.au/heart-age-calculator The 2025 guidelines for the diagnosis and management of rheumatic heart disease can be found here: https://rhdaustralia.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Australian-ARF-RHD-Guideline-2025.pdf As always, if you want to get in touch with the podcast, you can contact us at: meaningofhealth@outlook.com Instagram Twitter/X Bluesky @healthmeanswhat FaceBook @MeaningofHealth Or visit our website: www.meaningofhealth.com.au