Nice money if you can get it

[The Hen]

Damn good point, well made.

[Gob]

Wealthy and healthy?

ACT residents live longer than other Australians and most Canberrans are in good or excellent health.

But the Territory’s Chief Health Officer is concerned about levels of chronic disease, falls among the elderly and deaths and injuries related to alcohol.

Chief Health Officer Paul Kelly’s latest biennial report was tabled in the Legislative Assembly today and gives an overview of the health of ACT residents.

Dr Kelly said the life expectancy for males was the highest in the nation at 80.5 years.

The life expectancy rate was 84.3 years for women – equal highest with NSW. The life expectancy rate for women and men was expected to improve over the next decade.

“I can definately say that the health of the ACT population is generally very good. We compare very well on many of the standards including immunisation, life expectancy rates and rates of various illnesses,’’ Dr Kelly said.

“There’s more work to be done around obesity, physical activity and good nutrition, particularly in children.’’

[Gob]

and (relatively) drug free ..

It's official; Canberra has Australia's most sensible population when it comes to booze, smokes and drugs.

The latest snapshot of the city's bad habits supplied to the ACT government's health authorities show us drinking, smoking and taking drugs much less than our fellow Australians.

But the fourth edition of the extent and nature of alcohol, tobacco and other drug use, and related harms, in the Australian Capital Territory, also shows that alcohol is the most harmful drug on Canberra's streets, accounting for 77 per cent of drug-related hospital presentations and 42 per cent of overdoses.

Although the report's author David McDonald found Canberra had fewer teetotallers than the national average, the proportion of ACT residents 14 years and older drinking daily was 5.4 per cent, well below the national rate of 7.2 per cent.


Fewer Canberrans were found to be ''risky drinkers'', those downing two or more standard drinks a day, with 19.5 per cent of the city's adults thought to be drinking too much alcohol compared to a national average of 21 per cent.

But our overall per-capita consumption of alcohol cannot be estimated because the ACT government stopped collecting figures on overall sales, although plans are in place to resume collection of the data.

Nearly 13.9 per cent of ACT survey respondents aged 14 years and above reported using illicit drugs in the 12 months before the survey, compared with the national rate of 14.7 per cent.

Cannabis was the most commonly used illegal high in the territory, as elsewhere in Australia, with 9.5 per cent of ACT residents reporting recent use of the drug.

''Prevalence of use of the other illegal drugs is very low,'' Mr McDonald wrote.

He concluded that the damage done by mood-altering drugs was decreasing.

''On most indicators the prevalence of harms related to psychoactive substances in the ACT are stable or falling,'' he wrote.

[The Hen]

But how does Norway compare to the other Australian cities?

[Gob]

Norwegian oil workers who work 16 weeks a year have even less drug use when on oil rigs, so there!!

[Crackpot]

and (relatively) drug free ..

It's official; Canberra has Australia's most sensible population when it comes to booze, smokes and drugs.

The latest snapshot of the city's bad habits supplied to the ACT government's health authorities show us drinking, smoking and taking drugs much less than our fellow Australians.

But the fourth edition of the extent and nature of alcohol, tobacco and other drug use, and related harms, in the Australian Capital Territory, also shows that alcohol is the most harmful drug on Canberra's streets, accounting for 77 per cent of drug-related hospital presentations and 42 per cent of overdoses.

Although the report's author David McDonald found Canberra had fewer teetotallers than the national average, the proportion of ACT residents 14 years and older drinking daily was 5.4 per cent, well below the national rate of 7.2 per cent.


Fewer Canberrans were found to be ''risky drinkers'', those downing two or more standard drinks a day, with 19.5 per cent of the city's adults thought to be drinking too much alcohol compared to a national average of 21 per cent.

But our overall per-capita consumption of alcohol cannot be estimated because the ACT government stopped collecting figures on overall sales, although plans are in place to resume collection of the data.

Nearly 13.9 per cent of ACT survey respondents aged 14 years and above reported using illicit drugs in the 12 months before the survey, compared with the national rate of 14.7 per cent.

Cannabis was the most commonly used illegal high in the territory, as elsewhere in Australia, with 9.5 per cent of ACT residents reporting recent use of the drug.

''Prevalence of use of the other illegal drugs is very low,'' Mr McDonald wrote.

He concluded that the damage done by mood-altering drugs was decreasing.

''On most indicators the prevalence of harms related to psychoactive substances in the ACT are stable or falling,'' he wrote.

So how much do you throw off the average?

[Gob]

Not at all any more I'm afraid, I gave all that stuff up...




...will take it back up again when I retire...

[Gob]

We've got smart kids too!

Canberra students take the prize for being the best in the nation, according to the latest report card on Australian schools.

The ACT topped the scale for reading, numeracy, and grammar and punctuation at all year levels.

Canberra's year 3 students lead Australia in all categories tested.

The preliminary results of the latest round of testing of students in years 3, 5, 7 and 9 under NAPLAN - the National Assessment Program, Literary and Numeracy - gives a breakdown for states and territories.

From next week, schools and students will receive their own individually tailored results.

The full report will be released later this year and individual school information will be published on the next version of the My School website early next year.

Of the classes tested, Canberra's year 3 students return the highest score, being first in the nation on reading, spelling, numeracy and grammar and punctuation, and equal first on persuasive writing.

The ACT's year 5 students were first on numeracy, reading, and grammar and punctuation, and equal first on spelling.

For year 7, the ACT came in first in reading, numeracy, and grammar and punctuation.

Canberra's year 9 students were first in reading, spelling, numeracy, and grammar and punctuation, and second in persuasive writing.

ACT Education Minister Chris Bourke said the results confirmed Canberra's students continued to be among the highest performing in the country.

''Our students continue to excel in reading as the highest performing jurisdiction in Australia, a position held every year since 2008 and significantly ahead of the national mean,'' he said.

''We have been ranked first or equal first in grammar and punctuation and numeracy across all year levels since 2009.

''ACT mean scores for years 5, 7 and 9 students in writing were equal highest in the country, and while there were decreases in writing performance, these were consistent with changes in the national writing performance.''

But not as smart as the kids of Norwegian oil rig workers, when extrapolated from a 16 week work year.

[The Hen]

No wonder the rest of Australia, and Rubato, hates us.

[Gob]

Of course it's not all fun and games here...

More than 600 people were subjected to emergency detention in the ACT's mental health system in 2011-12 and 16 applications for electro-convulsive therapy were authorised during the same period.

Chief Psychiatrist Peter Norrie's annual report reveals that the number of emergency detentions under the Mental Health (Treatment and Care) Act rose from 499 in 2008-09 to 614 last financial year.

''In 2011-12, 942 people were apprehended and brought to the Canberra Hospital for assessment. This is an increase of 4 per cent from the previous year. Of the 942 apprehended, 614 were detained for further assessment for up to three days,'' Dr Norrie said in his report.

In 389 cases, emergency detention was revoked or lapsed within 72 hours. Applications were made for the extension of involuntary detention in another 22 cases.


''Community psychiatry is proactive in management without orders where possible,'' Dr Norrie said.

The ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal made 864 psychiatric treatment orders, of which 148 were subsequently revoked and 76 were breached.

''There were 16 electro-convulsive therapy applications authorised, a negligible decrease from the previous year,'' Dr Norrie said.

No applications for emergency electro-convulsive therapy were made. The ACT Magistrates Court made 54 referrals for assessment under the Crimes Act, more than double the pervious year.

Dr Norrie said 38 people required Adult Mental Health Unit assessment, with 16 returned to court the same day.

Health Directorate statistics showed that 2.1 per cent of psychiatric inpatients were subjected to seclusion or isolation, compared with a target for the year of 3 per cent and a long-term aspiration of no patients being secluded.

Sixty-six per cent of mental health clients admitted to hospital via the emergency departments waited less than eight hours, compared with a target of 85 per cent.

In their annual report, the Official Visitors, who monitor psychiatric inpatient facilities, praised the new Adult Mental Health Unit and reported that ''the new layout seems to lend itself well to a calm and pleasant atmosphere''.

Of my current client list, 60% are subject to treatment orders, and 40% have been taken into hospital against their will in the last 12 months, (normally by me and the cops.)

[The Hen]

Don't forget that ear wax made the top ten ailments seen by the medical walk-in centre.

Damn waxy ears. there should be a law against them.

How do off-shore oil riggers cope?

[dales]

WHAT?

[oldr_n_wsr]

2011-12 and 16

Sounds like a cricket score

[Gob]

Live long and prosper!!

Canberrans have the highest life expectancy rates in Australia, with a baby born here likely to live well past the age of 80.

The latest Australian Bureau of Statistics publication on deaths shows life expectancy in the ACT reached 82.9 last year, a significant step up from the national average of 81.4 years.

Boys born in the ACT in 2011 are expected to live until their 81st birthday and girls until they are 84.8.

The Northern Territory in contrast has the lowest life expectancy rates, with males expected to live to 74.9 and females until 80.5.

Can someone get me the life expectancy figures for Norwegian oil workers? I keep forgetting to include them in this comparison.

[Gob]

The ACT has the best cancer survival rate in Australia and there has been a dramatic increase in the number of patients beating the disease, a new report shows.

A record number of Australians are expected to have been diagnosed with cancer by the end of 2012 but the chances of patients surviving more than five years after the disease has been detected has never been better.

Between 1991 and 2010, the five-year mortality rate from an all cancers in Australia dropped from 210 to 174 per 100,000 people, according to statistics published on Tuesday by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. In the ACT, the age-standardised cancer mortality rate was 163 per 100,000 people, compared with a national rate of 177 per 100,000 and 215 per 100,000 in the lowest-performing Northern Territory.

How do Norwegian oil rig workers fare?

[MajGenl.Meade]

I think it's 48 krone one way or 88 cheap-day return, isn't it?

[Gob]

Canberrans still have the nation’s biggest pay packets and they are growing faster than anywhere else in the country, new figures show.

The latest Australian Bureau of Statistics data shows average weekly ordinary time earnings in the ACT are $85,545.2 a year, or $1645.10 a week.

Nationally, average weekly earnings were up 5 per cent over the past year to $72,592 a year or $1396 a week.

“The Australian Capital Territory recorded the highest annual movement in Full-Time Adult Average Weekly Ordinary Time Earnings, at 6.2 per cent. This was 0.4 of a percentage point higher than the next highest, New South Wales (5.8 per cent). The lowest annual movement was in the Northern Territory at 2.8 per cent,” the bureau said.

“Those employed in the Australian Capital Territory had the highest Full-Time Adult Average Weekly Ordinary Time Earnings at, $1645.10, followed by Western Australia ($1590.60). The Australian Capital Territory has a high proportion of Public sector workers, who on average earn more than those in the Private sector.”



Read more: http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-new ... z2LVyssSLc

We don't need any oil workers though...

[oldr_n_wsr]

People work at their skills and where the labor force is needed. How they fare is objective. I fare quite well in cold climates, outdoor work and don't mind being chilly. However, I can't stand sweating 24/7. As far as environmental concerns, all of us encounter some things during our jobs that may affect our health. As long as that is stated up front or somehow known, then we take our risks. Not one "job" (nor any house) can be made 100% safe.

[dgs49]

I wonder if it would even be possible to determine which locale is truly the best, economically speaking.

If wages are sky-high and so is the cost of living, what is the benefit of that? An acquaintance of mine recently bought an apartment in NYC for US$400k, and it's less than 300 ft2. My fucking family room is bigger than that, and you could buy my house and everything in it for less than $400k. But she is very self-gratified because she makes "a lot of money" working in Manhattan.

Really?

The only people who really seem to benefit from this sort of "prosperity" are the ones who are long-time owners of real estate with low or no mortgage payments, but are still benefitting from the high wages. But for someone considering moving in to one of these "prosperous" places, it would be stupid.

[Gob]

Dave, the cost of living here is relatively high, mainly due to Aus's location, and the strong Aussie dollar. Not quite as high as NY it would appear...

Expatistan's Cost of Living Index
Ranking City Price Index *
1 Oslo (Norway) 267
2 Zurich (Switzerland) 246
3 Geneva (Switzerland) 245
4 London (United Kingdom) 234
5 Sydney (Australia) 225
6 Singapore (Singapore) 223
7 New York City (United States) 216
8 Tokyo (Japan) 214
9 Hong Kong (Hong Kong) 214
10 Melbourne (Australia) 213
11 Perth (Australia) 210
12 Brisbane (Australia) 205
13 Paris (France) 202
14 Stockholm (Sweden) 200
15 Amsterdam (Netherlands) 188
16 San Francisco (United States) 187
17 Copenhagen (Denmark) 184
18 Washington D.C. (United States) 183
19 Dublin (Ireland) 179
20 Adelaide (Australia) 169
21 Toronto (Canada) 167
22 Vancouver (Canada) 166
23 Boston (United States) 163
24 Calgary (Canada) 161
25 Brussels (Belgium) 161
26 Ottawa (Canada) 161
27 Auckland (New Zealand) 160
28 Moscow (Russia) 158
29 Munich (Germany) 158
30 Rome (Italy) 156
31 Los Angeles (United States) 155
32 São Paulo (Brazil) 155
33 Tel Aviv (Israel) 154
34 Seattle (United States) 154
35 Milan (Italy) 153
36 Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) 153
37 Miami (United States) 152
38 Dubai (United Arab Emirates) 149
39 Montreal (Canada) 147
40 Chicago (United States) 144
41 Philadelphia (United States) 144
42 Vienna (Austria) 142
43 San Diego (United States) 142
44 Madrid (Spain) 141
45 Berlin (Germany) 140
46 Athens (Greece) 138
47 Denver (United States) 138
48 Barcelona (Spain) 137
49 Portland (United States) 137
50 Atlanta (United States) 135


Price Index:
To calculate each cities' Cost of Living Index value, we start by assigning a value of 100 to a central reference city (that happens to be Prague). Once the reference point has been stablished, the Price Index value of every other city in the database is calculated by comparing their cost of living to the cost of living in Prague.

Therefore, if a city has a Price Index of 134, that means that living there is 34% more expensive than living in Prague.