Events and Resources

Education at The Jean Hailes Foundation - sharing what we know so that you can make better decisions about your health.

For women Brand new…online shop!

http://shop.jeanhailes.org.au

The Jean Hailes website now has an online shop facility, enabling you to purchase a range of health resources.

A sample of items available include:

Color Me Healthy by Rita Erlich and Dr Alice Murkies
This book offers a new and easy approach to healthy eating. Using a multi-colour approach to food, each chapter focuses on foods of a particular colour and outlines the nutritional benefits of each food, with easy recipes and suggestions.
$35 (incl GST) + P&H $5.80*

If Not Dieting, Then What? By Dr Rick Kausman
The book explores how to:

• Enjoy food without feeling guilty

• Increase your eating awareness

• Improve how you feel about yourself

• Fit activity into your day

• Achieve and maintain a healthy, comfortable weight for you, without being deprived of food or quality of life

$29.95 (incl GST) + P&H $5.80 *

If not dieting Pedometer
This is a simple to use, discreet pedometer, which counts steps, making us more aware of our current level of physical activity.
$24.95 (incl GST) + P&H $4.20*

These resources can also be purchased by contacting the Education Unit on 1800 151 441.

*Postage varies by state and country as applicable.

For health professionals

The Jean Hailes Education Unit and the Rural Health Education Foundation (RHEF) are seeking input and ideas from health professionals for future women's health topics to be presented on the RHEF satellite television network. You can complete a survey by logging onto www.jeanhailes.org.au

The Jean Hailes Foundation has developed a Women in Midlife RACGP Check Program (April 05). Five case studies cover topics on menorrhagia in the menopausal transition, premature menopause, assessment and management at midlife, menopausal symptoms in a woman with past history of breast cancer and osteoporosis.

Successfully working with women and their health will be held on:
16 July Werribee Park
15 October Melbourne
Topics covered include: assessment of the well woman, hormone therapy - risks& benefits, diet & lifestyle, depression in women, violence against women & contraception. Implanon training is available at the end of the day.

Train the trainer workshops
Training days to facilitate the use of a national Jean Hailes Foundation midlife education resource across regional Australia titled: Midlife: a resource for Health Professionals.

Active Learning Modules (ALM)
A variety of ALMs are currently being developed for GPs and will be available as distance education packages. These include:

• Midlife: A resource kit for health professionals.
  The ALM will cover strategies for developing education sessions for community and health professionals whilst giving an update on midlife health issues.

• Osteoporosis.
  The ALM will use the Bone Health For Life website (www.bonehealthforlife.org.au) developed by The Jean Hailes Foundation and combine a variety of online activities with practical education that GPs can use in their everyday clinical care.

• Successfully working with women and their health
  Will be produced as a Distance Education ALM. This program is specifically designed for international medical graduates and is particularly useful for rural practitioners who find it difficult to access updated information on women's health.

For further information on any of the above programs please contact the Education Unit on 1800 151 441 or visit the Health Professional section of the website.

Research Studies

Women Wanted for Ovarian Health Study

Are you a healthy woman, at least five years past your last menstrual period? A new study will set the parameters for a health program to be available to postmenopausal women to check their ovaries. Women who qualify for the study will have a blood test and a highly sensitive gynaecological ultrasound test of their ovaries on entry into the study and one year later.

The study is a collaboration between the National Australia Bank Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation, Monash University, Prince Henry's Institute and The Jean Hailes Foundation. It is funded by the National Australia Bank Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation, Diagnostic Systems Laboratories Inc and Inhibin Pty Ltd. For more information contact 9544 0599 or go to www.ocrf.com.au.

Have you had a spinal fracture?

The University of Melbourne needs volunteers for our Osteoporosis studies. To be eligible you must be over 50 and at least 5 years post menopausal (if female), have been diagnosed with osteoporosis and have had one or more fractures in the spine in the last 2 years.

You may receive free physiotherapy treatment and/or a free bone density scan. Contact Andrew Briggs or Alison Greig on 03 8344 0423.

Exercise Training Study for Women struggling to manage their weight with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Background

In Australia 7 in 100 women suffer from Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). A key feature of PCOS is an abnormal metabolism, and many women struggle to manage their body weight problem. Women with PCOS often also have irregular periods and fertility problems. They are also at risk of developing type 2 diabetes and potentially heart disease. Exercise training is a well established lifestyle intervention that is successful at preventing and treating these conditions, but little is know about the role of exercise training for the treatment and management of PCOS.

We are looking for women with PCOS to participate in a 12 week training study:

Are you:

• A premenopausal female aged 18-40 years

• Diagnosed with PCOS > Not participating in any regular exercise

• A Non-smoker? Level of involvement:

• Trial lasts up to 6 months (during which time no medication for the condition can be taken)

• Two sets of strength tests and two fitness tests

• Two insulin clamps with four muscle biopsies

• Two measures of cardiovascular function

• Two DEXA and CT scans

• 12 weeks of professionally supervise exercise training (1 x 1 hour session 3 times a week)

For further information please contact:
Dr Nigel Stepto Department of Physiology, Clayton
Tel. 03 9905 2543,
Email. This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Farewell to Professor Susan Davis and Team

By Professor Henry Burger Chair, Research Committee

At the end of 2004 we farewelled Professor Susan Davis after eight years as our first director of research, and more recently as the first Chair of Women’s Health in the Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Monash University. Professor Davis and her research team have relocated to the Monash University Department of Medicine at the Alfred Hospital . This change is to ensure the ongoing development of her research through additional insurance provision and academic support and accommodation.

Professor Davis has been a highly successful research director. She is a widely recognised authority on the role of androgens in female sexual dysfunction. In addition to writing many articles on this topic, she has been the Principal Investigator for a number of therapeutic trials involving androgens for women with low libido. In addition, she and her team have contributed to knowledge in a variety of areas of women’s health, including the reproductive function of indigenous women, the role of Chinese herbs in menopause management, the role of oestrogens and androgens in vascular function and coronary artery disease in men and women, the characteristics of Tibolone, an agent used for menopausal therapy, and the roles of phyto-oestrogens.

A particularly significant milestone in Professor Davis’ career at The Foundation was the award of a NHMRC Centre for Clinical Research Excellence (CCRE) Grant for five years. She and her colleagues are studying various aspects of the role of hormones in women’s health. Publications in major international journals have resulted and team member, Dr Sonia Davison, subsequently won three international and national awards for her work during 2004.

Professor Davis’ Deputy, Associate Professor Robin Bell, has made extremely important contributions to the team’s work, bringing a wealth of expertise in epidemiology and statistics.

The Foundation wishes Professor Davis and her team every success in their new department.

The Foundation will move forward with a new, diversified and exciting research program in collaboration with Southern Health and Monash University.

Partnerships: making a difference to women's health worldwide

Sue Ismiel & Daughters Together with The Jean Hailes Foundation

Sue Ismiel, successful Sydney businesswoman and mother of three, has made a tremendous contribution towards the future health and wellbeing of Australian women. Sue’s passion for her business (Nad’s Hair Removal Gel) is matched by her vision for a healthier community. Through her generous $600,000 donation, the Sue Ismiel International Study into Women’s Health and Hormones is investigating the role hormones play in women’s health and wellbeing and finding out the link between hormones and depression.

The study has aimed to:

• Establish a base platform for hormone levels for women at different ages and different stages of life

• Examine the relationship between women’s hormones and various health concerns, most notably depression and emotional and physical wellbeing

• Develop biochemical and clinical definitions of hormone deficiency in women

The results so far The Sue Ismiel International Study into Women’s Health and Hormones has examined extremely important aspects of women’s health and will set new benchmarks in international research. Results have been presented at major international scientific meetings and endocrinologist Dr Sonia Davison has won three prestigious awards in 2004 for her work on the Sue Ismiel Study.

New Jean Hailes director of research Dr Helena Teede has explained that “the results of this study are very exciting and will be released to the general public as soon as they’re published in the international medical literature. This study is an excellent example of how a private charitable donation can contribute to important knowledge on women’s health that can impact women globally”.

Our Donors

The Jean Hailes Foundation actively seeks grants, sponsorship and corporate donations to support our key programs in research and education. However, grants and donations are only accepted on the basis of full academic freedom to publish all results deriving from the studies and complete editorial control of education material.

Study results are published in international peer reviewed scientific journals that ensure objective scrutiny and assessment of all information before results are released publicly. Donors have no influence over what information is published or released.

Tetley tea and The Jean Hailes Foundation join forces to inspire women

Tetleywellbeing4life.com.au

Tetley tea and The Jean Hailes Foundation have joined forces to present Tetley Wellbeing 4 Life, a new website offering loads of useful tips about staying healthy and happy in today’s busy world.

With advice on everything from attitude and lifestyle to diet and disease, it’s a powerful resource for women of all ages.

Uncle Tobys Healthwise for women 40+

A partnership created specifically to help women achieve a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle

Healthwise for women 40+ has been developed with the scientific and nutritional help from The Jean Hailes Foundation.

Created specifically with the 40+ woman in mind who may not be getting enough key nutrients like fibre, zinc and calcium and may also benefit from soy phytoestrogens, antioxidents, folate and vitamin B6.

These nutrients are vital to maintaining a healthy weight, cardiovascular health, immune function and bone health. Research indicates that it is important to obtain these nutrients from a diverse range of foods rather than supplements.

Privacy Statement 

Due to recent changes in Australian privacy laws your permission is required for The Jean Hailes Foundation to continue sending you information about our activities. You will continue to receive information unless you indicate otherwise. If you wish to be removed from our mailing list, or would like to make changes or additions to your contact details, please contact us on 03 9562 6771 (1800 151 441 tollfree).

The Jean Hailes Foundation magazine is designed to be informative and educational. It is not intended that The Jean Hailes Foundation magazine provide specific medical advice or replace advice from your health professional. The Jean Hailes Foundation does not accept any liability to any person for the information or advice (or the use of information or advice) which is provided in this magazine or incorporated into it by reference. Information is provided on the basis that all persons reading the magazine undertake responsibility for assessing the relevance and accuracy of its content. 

© The Jean Hailes Foundation. Apart from fair dealing for the purposes of private study, research, criticism or review, as permitted under copyright legislation, no part may be reproduced or reused for any commercial purposes.

Note: This article is an archive. Whilst the Jean Hailes Foundation for Women’s Health has made every effort to ensure this information was accurate at the time of publication, the article content has not been updated since the date listed below.

Content created May 30, 2005