Maggie Beer has an urgent financial deadline for her aged care mission
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Perth Now
6 hours ago
- Perth Now
Shock sector driving the Aussie economy
Australia's economy is getting a surprising boost from the wellness sector, which has quietly grown to one of the nation's leading sectors. According to a new report by Global Wellness Institute, Australia ranks seventh in the world when it comes to spending on their healthcare. In total this added $194.4bn in 2023, up 10.9 per cent year on year or around $7,402 per person. Wellness now makes up seven per cent of Australia's GDP, placing it behind the construction sector. Currently the construction industry accounts for around 9 per cent of GDP and employs more than 1.3 million people. Australians are spending billions to stay fit. NewsWire/Sarah Matray Credit: News Corp Australia Anytime Fitness managing director Simon Thompson says the results show the wellness economy is doing its share of the heavy lifting when it comes to Australia's economy. 'When you consider our population, Australia is punching above its weight and has pioneered many wellness communities that support healthy lifestyles, vibrant social connections, and sustainable living in its growing housing markets,' Mr Thompson said. Mr Thompson said the push was coming from younger Aussies. 'Gyms, instead of pubs and clubs, are now often the number one choice for weekend outings, and even dates,' he said. 'Gen Z now spends seven times the amount of money on getting fit than Gen X.' According to the report, Australia's overall wellness growth is coming across a number of sub-sectors. Wellness tourism has swelled by 32.9 per cent between 2019 to 2023 while thermal/mineral springs are up 21.5 per cent. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (left) and federal Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen talk about the benefits of building things in Australia Dan Peled / NewsWire Credit: News Corp Australia Wellness real estate, mental wellness and physical activity round out the top five sectors. The report comes as prime minister Anthony Albanese separately spruiks the benefit to Australia reviving its building and manufacturing sectors. During a doorstop in the electorate of Bonner in Brisbane the prime minster and Energy Minister Chris Bowen talked up the home battery incentive and solar panel uptake. 'It's good for everyone because what it does is take pressure off the grid during peak times, and that's why this is such good public policy, good for households … of course, good right throughout Australia,' Mr Albanese says. According to the ministers, 28,000 Australian homes have installed a home battery under the government's policy. But Mr Albanese wants more Australians to take up the scheme and for the panels to be built in Australia. 'Chris (Bowen) was at the South Australian factory producing solar panels earlier this week, or at the end of last week, that's expanding by nine times,' Mr Albanese said. 'We also want to produce more things here. We have everything that goes into a battery. One of the progress we have is for battery manufacturing.' Mr Albanese went further calling for more large infrastructure projects such as trains and boats to be built in Australia. 'We want things made here and here in Queensland. I want more manufacturing, more jobs to be created here.'
Sky News AU
10 hours ago
- Sky News AU
Alert issued by SA Health after Bali traveller returns to Adelaide with measles
A Bali tourist has returned home to Adelaide with measles, leading health authorities to issue an urgent warning of a potential spread of the deadly disease. SA Health advises Australians who aren't fully immunised to be alert for symptoms over the next few weeks and to see a doctor if they become ill. Measles is a highly contagious infection which can lead to complications severe as pneumonia and encephalitis. The locations listed at the times below is when measles was exposed to the public: Kings Park Clinic, 309 Goodwood Rd, Kings Park on August 7 from 12.30pm to 1.15pm. Adelaide Airport on August 5 from 1.30pm to 2.30pm. Flight JQ499 from Gold Coast to Adelaide on August 5 departed at 11am. Flight JQ498 from Adelaide to Gold Coast on August 5 departed at 7.30am. Adelaide Airport on August 5 from 6.15am to 7.45am. Adelaide Airport on August 4 from 6.15pm to 7.15pm. Flight JQ126 from Denpasar to Adelaide on August 4 departed at 11.35am. Flight JQ125 from Adelaide to Denpasar on August 3 departed at 6.15am. Adelaide Airport on August 3 from 4.45am to 6.15am. Symptoms of measles begin with fever, cough, runny nose, and sore eyes, followed by a blotchy rash which typically starts on the head and spreads down the body. SA Heath warned those who become ill should call a doctor first to avoid spreading the disease to others before visiting healthcare facilities. Four cases of measles have been detected in South Australia this year. Six were recorded last year. 'There has been an increase in measles cases reported in Australia over the past six months. Most of these cases have occurred in persons who have recently travelled overseas,' SA Health statement read. 'The best way to avoid measles is vaccination, with two doses needed to provide the best protection.' Free measles vaccines are funded through the National Immunisation Program for children from 12 months of age, people aged under 20 years needing catch-up vaccination, and refugees and humanitarian entrants of any age. In July and August eight cases of measles were locally acquired across Western Australia, all linked to a returned overseas traveller. In June, an alert was issued for Sydney after a person from Vietnam returned with the highly contagious virus sparking large outbreaks in the city's Inner West. In addition to outbreaks continuing to occur across Australia, at one stage the country eliminated measles by March 2014. From January 1 to May 27 this year, 77 people were diagnosed with measles.
9 News
14 hours ago
- 9 News
Maggie Beer has an urgent financial deadline for her aged care mission
Your web browser is no longer supported. To improve your experience update it here Maggie Beer has a financial deadline for her culinary mission to transform food at thousands of aged care homes . The effusive celebrity chef, 80, is using her reputation and influence to head up the Maggie Beer Foundation and has been working to put delicious food onto the plates of vulnerable elderly Australians. Speaking at the National Press Club in Canberra today, Beer said the government cash injection to her foundation for first-of-its-kind specialised chef training in aged care homes will run out in 2026. Maggie Beer, Founder of the Maggie Beer Foundation addresses the media at the National Press Club. (Getty) "We simply have not got the capacity to meet demand and our current funding ends in September next year," Beer said. "[We've had] 135 homes will be through this program. Every day, we get a new inquiry. 135 homes doesn't sound much, but believe you me, the filtering down effect is there. "We, the foundation, myself, personally, are advocating fiercely for it to continue." Beer is building a roadmap for a future model of aged care and food is at the heart of it. Part of the mission is to bridge the training gap in cook and chef roles across the nearly 2700 Commonwealth-subsidised homes in Australia. Her message has been simple: lovingly-prepared, nutritious food equals better wellbeing. She told the press club that an ageing population urgently demands more skilled chefs, kitchen hands and staff with a passion for food. "Beautiful food will make such a difference to the wellbeing of residents and pride of the teams," she said. "Without those equal amounts of flavour, goodness and pleasure, food becomes a commodity. "Food becomes institutionalised, and leads to residents not eating well, or not eating enough. And that leads to malnutrition." Beer is building a roadmap for a future model of aged care and food is at the heart of it. (Getty) Beer said meals shouldn't be an "afterthought" in aged care homes. But she acknowledged that underfunding is rampant. In 2021/22, an average of just $14.46 was spent on food per resident per day at aged care providers. "Fresh real ingredients provide flavour that frozen never can, and we can show aged care homes that cooking fresh actually does not cost more," she added. "However, only if supported by the skill set, passion and knowledge and support of management, it is all possible and because I know there's so little money to spare within aged care homes." Aged care facilities are home to some of the most vulnerable members of Australia's elderly population. According to Dementia Australia, there are an estimated 433,300 Australians living with dementia in 2025. And over half of the 245,000 people in aged care were living with dementia as of 2022. Beer said good food can be a familiar, safe space for those enduring the sometimes traumatic transition of moving into care. "One of the most evocative things is a sense of smell that stays with us and smell that links to good memories," Beer explained. "Living with dementia is so hard but I can tell you those instincts are still there. "It's never going to be easy, but all those things can make such a difference." The celebrity chef said meals shouldn't be an "afterthought" in aged care homes. (Maggie Beer/Instagram) In a submission on the Aged Care Bill 2024, The Maggie Beer Foundation Trainer Mentor Program asked for an extension to its funding beyond September 2026. The Maggie Beer Foundation has petitioned for $15.3 million across three years to fund its program to improve food in aged care and solutions for older people recieving care at home. Beer also issued a plea to the Federal Minister for Ageing and Seniors Sam Rae, who was sitting in the room in Canberra today, for more funding. "We run a very lean show. And there's no money for us to be funded," she said. "I can't bear to think of it as being lost. It's so very valuable. "So you can be sure I will be advocating fiercely again to the government to support the program." national food Australia Aged Care federal politics CONTACT US
