If you make it a point to create an online social community, you want to make sure you get the most out of it, right? Of course you do! And we totally understand why. So to help you out, we’ve put together a few tips for increasing engagement through social communities. Take a look!

Take advantage of status updates and wall posts

One way to spur conversation and really generate online member engagement is by taking advantage of status updates and wall posts. As an association leader, you should be posting status updates on a fairly regular basis. Two to three times a week is a pretty good number - it shows that you’re engaged with the community, without being a total pain. And if you see other members posting within your social community, be sure to comment back. This shows that you’re actively listening to what it is they’re saying and helps build that overall sense of community.

Embrace photo galleries

Photo galleries are a great way to showcase your organization’s personality. They show that you’re a real person, and not just a faceless organization. Plus, by making it a point to post pictures of your own, you’re setting an example for what you’d like your members to do. The more pictures you post, the more likely they are to contribute.

Experiment with short videos

Remember, not everyone likes to consume content in the same form. Rather than just posting status updates and wall posts, try throwing in a few short videos as well. This may encourage some of your more visual members to engage with you.

Not sure what to even film short videos about? Here are a few ideas:

• Interview the founder of your organization. People love to know how things all began.
  
• Talk about an upcoming event or conference. Provide your members with packing tips or advice for conference newbies.
  
• Repurpose an existing blog post. Take out the top three bullet points and convert them into video form.
  
• Put together a compelling holiday video. (Publix’s holiday commercials immediately come to mind.)
  

Offer topic-specific, opt-in e-lists

E-lists are great for members who don’t log in to their accounts very much. They allow for members to still receive updates without having to log in or take any action.

Now let’s rewind for a second. What are e-lists in terms of social communities? Well, just as a member can subscribe to your organization’s newsletter, they can also subscribe to the different components of your organization’s social community. So for example, if someone uploads a photo to one of their circles, all of the people who are in that circle and subscribed to that e-list will get an email notification - perfect for encouraging online member engagement.

This article was sourced directly through Member Clicks and can be viewed online here.

The Grattan Institute report, Chronic failure in primary care, released today, is an unfair attack on Australia’s hardworking GPs, according to the AMA.

Chair of the AMA Council of General Practice (AMACGP), Dr Brian Morton, said that the Report paints an unduly pessimistic picture of the care that GPs are providing to patients with complex and chronic disease.

“The Report is a welcome contribution to the ongoing national discussion about how to best deal with the rapidly growing number of people suffering from complex and chronic conditions, but it is blatantly wrong for the Institute to blame GPs for any perceived failings in primary health care delivery,” Dr Morton said.

“The Grattan Report singles out diabetes care as being one area where Australia is performing poorly, but other data contradicts this.

“For example, hospital admission rates per 100,000 population for uncontrolled diabetes in Australia are among the best of the OECD countries at 7.5 - well under the UK at 23.9 and the OECD average of 50.3.

“The Report even acknowledges that there is a lack of hard evidence and data to assess the performance of our primary care system in managing complex and chronic disease, which makes the attack on GPs even more surprising.

“The Institute also admits that the evidence base for what works is still slim, so clearly its analysis and conclusions need to be treated with some caution.

“The Government established the Primary Health Care Reform Advisory Group to consider potential reforms to help improve care for patients with complex and chronic disease.

“The AMA has made a range of recommendations to this group, including:

• The need to retain and support the GP-led model of primary care to support continuity of care and reduce the potential for fragmentation of care.
  
• Support for blended payment models, complementing FFS.
  
• Reform of existing Medicare chronic disease items to strengthen the role of the patient's usual GP, cut red tape, streamline access to GP referred allied health care services, and to reward longitudinal health care.
  
• The adoption of pro-active models of care-coordination for patients with higher levels of chronic disease and who are at risk of unplanned hospitalisation - similar to the Coordinated Veterans' Care program that has been established by the Department of Veterans' Affairs.
  
• The introduction of an incentive payment through the Practice Incentives Program to support quality improvement, informed by better data collection.
  
• The introduction of non-dispensing pharmacists in general practices to help improve medication management, particularly for patients with chronic disease.
  
• An enhanced role for private health insurers to fund targeted programs that support general practice in caring for patients with chronic disease.
  
• The utilisation of Primary Health Networks to support GPs in providing care for patients, particularly in improving the connection between primary and hospital care.
  
• Better use of technology, including the use of point of care testing.
  
• Principals that should underpin the operation of the medical home, if the Government decides to adopt this model in Australia.
  

“The burden of complex and chronic disease in this country continues to grow, and the Government needs to take a long term view if it is to tackle this problem effectively.

“The Government needs to invest significantly in general practice, preferably in the upcoming Budget, in the knowledge of savings in later years, better patient outcomes, and less pressure on our hospital system.

“Government measures to address this impending crisis must include immediately lifting the current freeze on the indexation of Medicare patient rebates.

“It is important that when new models of care are considered, they are carefully designed in consultation with the profession, and thoroughly tested through pilots and trials.

“What may work overseas may not be relevant in the Australian context, and we need to make sure we get things right so that patients can access the services they need.

“In the meantime, coordinated efforts to develop and implement workable solutions to meet the growing demand for chronic disease care can do without unfair and unnecessary attacks on dedicated primary health care professionals, especially GPs,” Dr Morton said.

This article was sourced directly from the Australian Medical Association online here.

For immediate release Friday 4th March 2016 – The Australian Logistics Council (ALC) and GS1 Australia have officially launched the new Australian Transport Standards for Freight Labelling and EDI developed by the ALC Supply Chain Standards Work Group for the Australian Transport & Logistics Industry.

The standards were launched at the ALC Forum 2016 in Sydney with Michael Kilgariff, ALC Managing Director and Bonnie Ryan, Industry Manager – Trade and Transport from GS1 Australia in front of approximately 250 senior industry and government leaders attending Australia’s premier freight logistics event.

The Australian Transport Standards include the ALC endorsed Australian Freight Labelling Guideline and Australian Transport EDI User Guides to provide one common label format to identify freight and one common file format to exchange data throughout the freight transportation process. A new Australian Industry Glossary will also assist as an easy reference to common industry and GS1 standards terminologies.

Speaking at the ALC Forum 2016, Bonnie Ryan, Industry Manager – Trade and

Transport from GS1 Australia said the Australian Transport Standards for Freight Labelling and EDI is an extensive body of work in consultation with the ALC Supply Chain Standards Work Group.

“The Australian transport industry’s freight system is at the heart of our economy. The adoption of the Australian Transport Standards for Freight Labelling and EDI will give us the opportunity to improve freight efficiency and better connect all modes of transport in the Australian transport and logistics sector,” said Ms Ryan.

Based on GS1 global supply chain standards and best practice, the Australian Freight Labelling Guideline provides guidance to industry on how to physically identify and label logistic and transport units to support efficient transport management processes from point of origin to destination. To support the physical identification of freight, the accompanying Australian Transport EDI User Guides define the necessary data exchanges required to effectively execute the physical delivery.

Combined, the suite of standards outline a roadmap for industry to move from costly manual processes to full automation. “This new roadmap will be a game changer in the efficiency, interoperability, visibility and productivity of freight movement across the supply chain,” said Michael Kilgariff, ALC Managing Director.

“With ALC research showing that a 1% increase in supply chain efficiency would increase GDP by $2 billion*, the implementation of the Australian Transport Standards for Freight Labelling and EDI package will support industry’s efforts to achieve that goal,” Mr Kilgariff added.

David McNeil, Chair of the ALC Supply Chain Standards Work Group and eCommerce Manager for OneSteel says, “The labelling and EDI initiative provides an innovative and effective integration roadmap for the Australian Transport & Logistics Industry, now and into the future. It will be of benefit to all Australian businesses to work together seamlessly and efficiently to grow our economy.”

To learn more about the Australian Transport Standards for Freight Labelling and EDI, contact us today or email Bonnie Ryan, Industry Manager – Trade and Transport at GS1 Australia at bonnie.ryan@gs1au.org

About GS1 Australia
GS1 Australia is the leading provider of standards and solutions for over 20 industry sectors.

We introduced barcoding to Australia in 1979 and today we enable more than 17,000 member companies, of all sizes, to become more efficient by implementing the GS1 system.

We bring businesses, associations and industries together. This blended community comes to GS1 Australia for advice, networking and solutions to their supply chain challenges. For more information visit http://www.gs1au.org/

About Australian Logistics Council. 

The Australian Logistics Council represents the major Australian logistics supply chain customers, providers, infrastructure owners and suppliers. Their members span the entire supply chain, incorporating road, rail, sea, air, sea ports and intermodal ports.

ALC works with all levels of government to ensure it considers the needs of the logistics industry in its investment and policy decisions. Visit www.austlogistics.com.au

This Media Release was sourced directly from the Australian Logistics Council online here.

The Australian orthopaedic community has contributed over $200,000 over the past four years to OzHarvest's efforts to feed Australians in need.

AOA CEO Adrian Cosenza proudly participated for the fourth year running in the OzHarvest CEO Cookoff. The generosity of the Australian orthopaedic community has contributed over $200,000 during these four years, meaning nearly half a million meals delivered to some of the most vulnerable members of the Australian community. To find out more about OzHarvest, or to donate, head to www.ozharvest.org

This article was sourced directly from the Australian Orthopaedic Association online here. 

A national registration system for social workers is being urged by the South Australian Government in the wake of damning coronial findings after the tragic death of Adelaide girl Chloe Valentine.

Coroner Mark Johns investigated the child's death in 2012 after she crashed when forced to ride a small motorbike in her backyard as her mother and then-partner watched on.

Mr Johns recommended formal registration for social workers as part of the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme because he found shortcomings in the handling of the Valentine case by workers at government agency Families SA.

SA Health Minister Jack Snelling will put the registration proposal to next month's Council of Australian Governments health council meeting in Perth.

"It does require unanimity on the council because obviously you can't have different states with different registration systems," Mr Snelling, who chairs the health council, said.

Chloe Valentine's mother and then-partner were jailed for criminal neglect over the child's death.

The inquest was told social workers had been inadequately trained and relied on emotion rather than professional knowledge in their work.

Mr Snelling conceded any legal registration of social workers could still be years away.

"When South Australia agitated for a national accreditation scheme for paramedics it took some years before we were actually able to get all the states to agree to do that," he said.

Social worker registration could ensure adequate standards 

The Association of Social Workers said it had sought a registration system for two decades.

SA branch president Mary Hood said not all people who called themselves social workers were qualified as such and a registration system would lead to greater accountability.

"We would also be able to hold those qualified social workers to standards that we set up as a professional association, so that certainly is something that we think would raise the bar," Dr Hood said.

University of South Australia child protection expert Elspeth McInnes agreed with the association that universities could help boost the calibre of social work.

Current degrees covered such things as working with the elderly and homeless, but Dr McInnes said there was a case for introducing undergraduate electives or post graduate degrees with a focus on child protection.

Dr McInnes said people from a range of different professions potentially had something to contribute to child protection.

"Lawyers who work in that area and that whole criminal justice system could benefit from understanding child protection more concretely," she said.

"There are others like medical workers, the whole health workforce, that come into contact with children who have experienced abuse."

Uni SA and Flinders University said existing courses covered child protection, but the content could be boosted.

This article was sourced directly from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation online here.

The Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees (AIST) today welcomed the Government’s move to begin the process of enshrining the objective of the superannuation system in legislation.

AIST CEO Tom Garcia said the setting of a super system objective – as recommended by the Financial System Inquiry and long-called for by AIST – would provide a framework to protect the integrity and sustainability of the nation’s retirement income system.

“Setting an objective for super will provide a much-needed framework to protect the super savings pot – now worth more than $2 trillion – from endless ad hoc policy changes,” Mr Garcia said.

Mr Garcia said it was vital that the objective recognise the role of the Age Pension in supplementing many people’s retirement incomes.

“We need to recognise that super will deliver different outcomes for different people,” Mr Garcia said.

“Some people will be self-funded in retirement, some will draw their retirement income from a combination of super and the Age Pension, while others will qualify for the full Age Pension”.

Mr Garcia said AIST would recommend that the objective also establish that super was for retirement purposes only and not a wealth creation tool for estate planning purposes.

“Setting an objective will be an important step to improve the fairness in the super system, particularly around the way super is taxed and what it is meant to be used for,” said Mr Garcia.

Mr Garcia said agreement on super’s objective would also help restore confidence and certainty in the compulsory super system.

“Just about every week brings a different proposal for super which must be causing great uncertainty for Australians saving for their retirement,” he said. “Since the start of this year alone, we’ve had calls for super to pay off university debt, for super to save the agricultural industry, for super to pay off home loans and for low-income earners to opt out of compulsory super altogether. Without a clear objective, these calls will keep coming.”

Mr Garcia said he hoped the Government would resist making ad-hoc changes to super in the upcoming Federal Budget, now that the process of setting an objective had begun.

“Any Budget changes to super would be putting the cart before the horse,” Mr Garcia said. “A key purpose of the objective will be to road-test proposed policies to ensure they deliver on agreed outcomes.”

Further media enquiries: AIST Executive Media Manager Janet de Silva: 0448 000 499

This article was sourced directly from Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees (ASIT) online here.

Tourism, Hospitality and Recreation faces unprecedented opportunities and challenges according to Westpac who have released their Tourism, Hospitality and Recreation Industry Insights Report. The mood among businesses they spoke with was overwhelmingly buoyant, but some sub-sectors are being forced to reinvent themselves.

New Zealand’s tourism performance has been driven by demand from China, softness in Australia bringing visitors here instead of further afield, new airline capacity and routes as oil prices plummet, a weaker New Zealand dollar, and New Zealand’s reputation as a safe haven. But businesses catering mostly to local residents, such as the performing arts, museums, and sports venues, are finding the going a lot tougher.

Unlike Accommodation and Air travel, Food and Beverage services, the largest employer in the Tourism, Hospitality and Recreation sector, primarily provides services for local residents.

The food and beverage sub-sector has grown strongly since 2000 although rates of growth have stuttered in recent years, with most growth in percentage terms being in Takeaways.

The outlook for Food and beverage services

There are a number of disparate but important trends that will continue to affect the sub-sector:

Flexibility of menu and customer demands: Customers are demanding a wider variety of menu options, and variations on existing menu offerings. Several fast food chains, for instance, have formally introduced options that allow customers to customise their orders. Menus will need to be reviewed more regularly to keep up with customer preferences. “Healthier” options need to be offered as well as traditional staples.

Transparency: Customers want to know more about what they are eating. This will be reflected in a number of ways, from Food and beverage businesses providing nutritional information on their products, to highlighting whether their products are organic or fair-trade, to redesigning stores so customers can see how clean and organised the kitchen is.

A bigger role for technology: From allowing customers to order their meal online before picking it up, or using technology to select an order in-store, to proactively creating or responding to publicity in the media, Food and beverage businesses will need to be digitally savvy to succeed.

Risks over security of tenure: Strong growth in commercial property values in Auckland in particular, but also in some other parts of the country, will likely see large increases in rents for some Food and beverage businesses. Redevelopment of commercial space to increase gross lettable floor area may also reduce security of tenure for the sub-sector.

In the years ahead, the sub-sector will need to face these challenges, and deliver to a customer-base that is increasingly diverse, and demands a wider range of product and service offerings.

Click here for a copy of the full report.

This article was sourced directly from Restaurant Association of New Zealand online here.

The New Zealand Medical Association (NZMA) welcomes the release of data on unmet need for elective surgery, and looks forward to the Government taking the next steps—analysing the data and developing a transparent, consistent and equitable selection system.

"In 2014 we asked the Government to put numbers around the unmet need," says NZMA Chair Dr Stephen Child. "We are pleased that this is now being done. What is needed now is the analysis that will help ensure consistency of clinical decision making.

"As we noted in 2014, there is no certainty that the 'right' patients are always seen and treated in the appropriate order. While the volume of elective surgery has increased and those who do get surgery do so more quickly, we still need a system that can demonstrate national consistency and equitable outcomes.

"Where a need can be shown, it should not matter where in the country a patient is. If they meet the guidelines, their need should be met."

This article was sourced directly from New Zealand Medical Association online here.

The benefits of marine tourism must be recognised in plans to create marine protected areas around New Zealand, the Tourism Industry Association New Zealand (TIA) says.

Establishing marine protected areas will help attract both international and domestic visitors, TIA Chief Executive Chris Roberts says. A network of marine protected areas would increase visitor numbers to adjoining regions, growing local economies.

However, more consultation with the tourism industry is needed, particularly if a concessions system is introduced, Mr Roberts says.

“Tourism operators such as whale watch operators, seal swimming operators, diving and snorkelling operators, kayak operators and recreational fishing charters have strong links and interest in marine protected areas. We are of the opinion that tourism and the sector’s interests are strongly under-represented in the proposal.”

In its submission to the Ministry for the Environment, TIA says the proposal shows a lack of understanding of the potential impact on the tourism sector.

Seafood exports are worth $1.38 billion a year to New Zealand but international tourism adds $11.8 billion to the economy.

So it is vitally important that any legislation for Marine Protected Areas take the tourism industry into consideration, Mr Roberts says. It must also consider the needs of the cruise sector, which is worth $436 million a year to New Zealand’s economy.

The benefits of marine reserves to communities has been proved, with Northland’s Poor Knights Islands being an excellent example, he says. Since the Poor Knights received Marine Reserve Status in 2008, there has been significant growth in dive/snorkel adventure tourism to the area.

Dive! Tutukaka, a dive charter/eco-tourism operator on the Tutukaka Coast, estimates that the direct value of their tourism attraction to the local community over the last 20 years exceeds $50 million. During the height of the season, they directly employ over 60 people, all due to activities generated from having the Poor Knights Islands Marine Reserve.

Research has shown that dive visitors to Tutukaka spend considerably more than other visitors. This success could be replicated elsewhere, Mr Roberts says.

“The proposal to establish Marine Protected Areas could bring benefits to New Zealand for years to come and will support the tourism industry’s Tourism 2025 goal of growing total annual tourism revenue to $41 billion over the next decade,” Mr Roberts says.

To read the full submission, go to www.tianz.org.nz/main/policy-issues/

This article was sourced directly from Tourism Industry Association New Zealand and can be viewed online here.

“If any good can be said to have come from the Kawerau shooting of four police officers, it is that the public of New Zealand and, more importantly, the politicians are becoming aware of the extent of the firearms situation in our country,” Police Association President Greg O’Connor said today.

“The Association has for some time now been voicing the concerns of frontline police officers around the proliferation of firearms in the hands of offenders and calling for an inquiry into the reasons for that.

“This week’s shooting of police officers in the Bay of Plenty, and the discovery of military-style firearms in Auckland are symptoms of a much larger problem,” Mr O’Connor said.

“Politicians should be wary of stop-gap measures, which are unlikely to make a difference in the long term, before we fully understand the reasons why so many people in New Zealand who should never have access to firearms are in possession of these weapons.

“The onus falls on firearms users, owners and others in the firearms industry to support such a call before there is a more serious incident involving multiple deaths and which would necessitate just such an inquiry taking place, but in an emotionally and politically charged environment,” he said.

This article was sourced directly from New Zealand Police Association and can be viewed online here.