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Championing confidence at the salon for those facing cancer

<div title="Page 1"> <div> <div> When it comes to facing cancer, it's can often be hard to find support and understanding from people when your physical appearance can be changing. A salon day can do the world of good for anyone, especially for people going through a hard time. But for those dealing with cancer, their wants and needs at the hairdresser can be different than other clientele. Thankfully, <a href="https://lgfb.org.au" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Look Good Feel Better Australia</a> are here to support those on their cancer journey to look their best in the face of their health battle, From August 1st, the team at Look Good Feel better Australia have launched their latest initiative; <a href="https://www.styleforcancer.org.au" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Style For Cancer</a>. Created to unite the beauty, grooming and styling industry as a force for good, the initiative will help raise vital funds for the Look Good Feel BeIer program while giving service providers the opportunity to build their knowledge and position as part of an invaluable support system to those undergoing treatment for cancer. The new initiative caters to both the consumer, or the “Style Seeker”, and the expert, known as the “Style Maker”. Style Makers who sign up to take part in Style For Cancer will be provided with materials to help them better understand the common side effects of cancer treatment, and advice on language to use and avoid, in order to more sensitively and compassionately support their clients as they navigate diagnosis and treatment. The directory of participating Style Makers will be available to all Style Seekers, allowing them to choose salons and service providers who have a better understanding of what they may be experiencing if they are undergoing cancer treatment, while also knowing they are choosing a business who is consciously supporting the important work of the Look Good Feel Better program. General Manager of Look Good Feel Better, Carol Kavurma, shares the passion and excitement around the launch of Style For Cancer which will provide a way for the industry to feel more empowered while further connecting with their local communities. “Having 34 years of incredible knowledge behind us, when looking at the Australian beauty, grooming and style industries, we saw an opportunity to make salon appointments less daunting and more comfortable for those undergoing life altering treatments,” said Carol. “Everybody deserves to feel excited and uplifted after a trip to the hairdresser, nail salon or when sitting in the makeup chair – it’s the whole premise of the Look Good Feel Better program – and those undergoing cancer treatment are no different." “To help service providers – or Style Makers - feel the same excitement and confidence when working with their clients makes the Style for Cancer initiative even more important, and one we hope will be welcomed with open arms within the industry and the broader community,” she said. Look Good Feel Better program participant and Style Seeker, Jodie Strong, who underwent an array of cancer treatments says the physical and mental sensitivities during treatment are challenging, and while there is some support for mental recovery, the information and resources available for physical recovery are far less abundant. “During treatment, particularly chemo, I didn’t have the confidence to book in any services. After my active treatments were complete, while most service providers were sensitive and careful in the way they approached me and their language with me, I was usually the one to share what worked and didn’t work for me in my recovery rather than the salon or styling professional. I think that’s from a lack of awareness in the industry around this area, so as I was never quite sure what the right thing to do or not to do was,” explains Jodie. </div> </div> </div> <div title="Page 2"> <div> <div> “An important part of recovery from cancer is your feelings of self-worth and being able to take care of your body both mentally and physically. There are a lot of resources in the area of mental recovery, however not as much is available on the physical side of things." “Style For Cancer is an important initiative to bring awareness and some education to the physical side of recovery and help patients both during and post-treatment access services to help them feel more comfortable in their recovery.” Michael Kelly, Founder and Creatvve Director at Salon HER believes there is room for industry professionals to improve conversation and bolster skills for listening, empathising and creating a safe environment for clients trying to navigate cancer diagnosis and treatment. “I think language and the wholistic therapy side of the conversation could definitely improve. Not everyone has the resources to be able to hold space for another human in a very vulnerable stage of their life." "Style For Cancer is an obvious cause for me to be part of as I have lost family members I love to cancer, I’ve had family members recover from cancer, and I’ve supported clients who I care for deeply through some of their darkest days. It’s an initiative close to my heart.” Style For Cancer fundraising activities will take place in participating businesses Australia-wide during the month of August, however the Style Maker directory and registration in the initiative are available year-round. All funds <a href="https://donorbox.org/styleforcancerdonations" target="_blank" rel="noopener">raised</a> through the Style For Cancer initiative will directly support the Look Good Feel Better program, with each $100 raised allowing one participant to benefit from the program, free-of-charge. Image credits: Shutterstock </div> </div> </div>

Beauty & Style

Stormy seas ahead: Why confidence in the cruise industry has plummeted

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jennifer-holland-969445">Jennifer Holland</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-suffolk-3830">University of Suffolk</a> The cruise industry has weathered many storms, including fairly regular brushes with disease. Outbreaks of <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/vsp/pub/norovirus/norovirus.htm">norovirus</a>, <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3294517/">H1N1</a> and <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/02/world/americas/measles-scientology-cruise-ship.html">measles</a> have all happened in the not too distant past. Despite this, a cruise has traditionally been regarded as a safe holiday – the kind where you don’t have to worry about a thing. COVID-19 has changed this. Cruise ships were a hotbed of transmission during the early stages of the pandemic, particularly the Diamond Princess, which was quarantined for six weeks in Japan in spring 2020. It had over <a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/369/bmj.m1632">700 confirmed cases</a>, and for a period was the world’s <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2020/feb/20/coronavirus-live-updates-diamond-princess-cruise-ship-japan-deaths-latest-news-china-infections?page=with:block-5e4ea39f8f0811db2fafb3ec#block-5e4ea39f8f0811db2fafb3ec">leading COVID-19 hotspot</a> after China. Coverage of this and other ships’ outbreaks has taken its toll. <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S259019822100035X">Research</a> that I conducted with colleagues in Australia shows that the pandemic has changed how people think of cruise holidays. We surveyed over 600 people in the UK and Australia, both cruisers and non-cruisers, to ask them about their willingness to cruise and future travel intentions, to explore how COVID-19 has affected perceptions of travel and cruise risks. Nearly 45% of interviewees had less belief than before the pandemic that cruise lines are transparent and honest about safety or health issues. Respondents were also fearful of going on a cruise, with 47% saying they don’t trust cruise lines to look after them if something goes wrong. This is staggering for an industry that depends on repeat customers. We further found that 67% of people are less willing to cruise as a result of the pandemic, while 69% said they feel less positive about cruising now. What’s most surprising is that even repeat cruisers said they feel nervous about cruising as a result of the pandemic, with this emotion coming up repeatedly in the survey’s open-ended questions. This is a gamechanger. Until now, loyal cruisers have always come back, with previous disease outbreaks having <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0261517716300309">little</a> <a href="http://ijbssnet.com/journals/Vol_4_No_7_July_2013/2.pdf">impact</a>. <h2>What went wrong?</h2> When the pandemic began, cruise ships immediately suffered high infection rates among passengers and crew. During the first wave, thousands were <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/27/stranded-at-sea-cruise-ships-around-the-world-are-adrift-as-ports-turn-them-away">stranded onboard</a> ships as they were held in quarantine or <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0160738320302103?via%3Dihub">refused entry to ports</a> as borders closed. By the end of April 2020, <a href="https://www.miamiherald.com/news/business/tourism-cruises/article241640166.html">over 50 cruise ships</a> had confirmed cases of COVID-19 and at least 65 deaths had occurred among passengers and crew. The story of one ship – the Ruby Princess – gained particular attention. Its passengers were allowed to disembark in Sydney in mid-March, with a number carrying the virus. The ship would go on to be linked to more than <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-53802816">900 COVID-19 cases and 28 deaths</a>. The state of New South Wales later launched a <a href="https://www.dpc.nsw.gov.au/assets/dpc-nsw-gov-au/publications/The-Special-Commission-of-Inquiry-into-the-Ruby-Princess-Listing-1628/Report-of-the-Special-Commission-of-Inquiry-into-the-Ruby-Princess.pdf">public inquiry</a> into the ship’s outbreak and found that the state’s ministry of health made a number of serious errors in allowing passengers to get off. It didn’t take long for cruises to be depicted as <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-03-24/virus-explosion-in-australia-exposes-cruise-ships-hidden-menace">places of danger and infection</a>, particularly in Australia. Lots of information about COVID-19 on cruise ships was published, especially about the <a href="https://cruiseradio.net/the-cruise-ship-story-mainstream-media-got-wrong/">Ruby Princess</a>, grabbing the <a href="https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=today%205-y&q=Ruby%20Princess">public’s attention</a>. Undoubtedly, this amplified people’s perceptions of risk around cruise holidays. Our study found that the many stories on COVID-19 also reminded the public of previous illnesses and outbreaks onboard cruise ships. Given the high intensity of media interest in Australia, we weren’t surprised to find that perceived risks were higher there compared with the UK, with willingness to cruise lower. This suggests that there could be regional differences in how difficult it is for the industry to recover after the pandemic. <h2>What happens next?</h2> Most respondents in the study said they would wait until it was safe to cruise again – and there’s probably a long way to go on changing the current perception of cruise ships as giant incubators of disease. It’s doubtful pent-up demand from loyal cruisers will be enough to fill cruise ships to capacity – which is critical for <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1057%2Fs41278-020-00158-3">long-term economic viability</a> – and so <a href="https://theconversation.com/can-the-cruise-industry-really-recover-from-coronavirus-144704">financial uncertainty</a> grows. The pandemic has been <a href="https://cruising.org/-/media/Facts-and-Resources/Cruise-Industry-COVID-19-FAQs_August-13-2020">catastrophic</a> for the industry so far, with financial losses of US$50 billion (£36 billion), 1.17 million job losses, 18 cruise ships sold or scrapped and at least <a href="https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/cmv-becomes-the-third-cruise-line-to-go-out-of-business-in-a-month">three cruise lines stopping trading</a>. Before the pandemic, a new cruise ship was built <a href="https://www.seatrade-cruise.com/news-headlines/golden-age-med-ports-need-prepare-new-generation-large-ships">every 47 days</a>, and off the back of the industry’s robust growth over the past two decades another <a href="https://cruising.org/en-gb/news-and-research/research/2020/december/state-of-the-cruise-industry-outlook-2021">19 ships</a> are due to enter operation in 2021, despite demand very likely to have fallen. To recover, the industry will need to address people’s perceptions of risk, which our research shows have heightened. Risk perception has a <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/004728759803700209">significant influence</a> on holiday decision-making, and it will be even more critical post-COVID. In the wake of the pandemic, would-be cruisers will need to think about health protocols, outbreak prevention plans, onboard sanitation procedures, social distancing measures and health screenings. Also, they’ll need to consider the implications of potential outbreaks during the cruise. These could result in being quarantined in their cabin, needing to access healthcare, or even the cruise being terminated. All of this creates uncertainty, which adds to perceptions of risk. The industry will need to provide reassuring answers on all of these points to entice holidaymakers back onboard. Cruise companies will also need to convince customers that they are trustworthy and accountable, given the concerns about honesty and transparency raised by our research. Overall, the sector has been devastated by the pandemic. Possibly no other area of tourism has been as widely affected. A return to the robust growth enjoyed previously is unlikely for many years, if ever. But for there to be any chance of this happening, the industry must understand how the pandemic has affected people’s perceptions of cruises and address their concerns.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/152146/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jennifer-holland-969445">Jennifer Holland</a>, Lecturer in Tourism, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-suffolk-3830">University of Suffolk</a> Image credits: Shutterstock This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/stormy-seas-ahead-confidence-in-the-cruise-industry-has-plummeted-due-to-covid-19-152146">original article</a>. </div>

Cruising

Mamma Mia! 3 receives confident update from producer

Mamma Mia! Here we go again! Judy Craymer, the creator and producer of the beloved musical comedies, has revealed there could be a third instalment. In an interview with Deadline, discussing the Mamma Mia! I have a Dream talent show on ITV, Craymer shared a confident Mamma Mia! 3 update. "It’s in its earliest stages... I don’t want to over-egg it, but I know there’s a trilogy there. There is a story there, and I do think Meryl should come back — and if the script is right, she would, I think, because she really loved playing Donna,” she said. Craymer’s comments come after a long line of remarks made about a possible third movie, with her saying in 2020 that it was always "meant to be a trilogy." Even though the producer said it's in the early stages of development, it’s unclear when there will be an official announcement from Universal. Familiar faces Stellan Skarsgård, Christine Baranski, Lily James, Dominic Cooper, Colin Firth, and Pierce Brosnan have all expressed interest in returning to reprise their respective roles. Craymer also revealed in her interview that she has come up with a way to bring back all the franchise’s favourite characters, including the iconic Meryl Streep. Bringing back every member of the franchise’s massive ensemble cast might be why the third instalment has made little progress in recent years, but Craymer remains confident that the next instalment will go ahead. Image credit: Getty/Instagram<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: #0e101a; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">

Movies

Jamie Lee Curtis on ageing in Hollywood

Hollywood star Jamie Lee Curtis has taken a swipe at society’s emphasis on youth, no more apparent than in her own industry. The 59-year-old, visiting Sydney to promote new movie Halloween, the sequel to the 1978 horror classic of the same name, spoke of her dislike of the term “anti-ageing”. “The term anti-ageing makes me crazy, the amount of marketing towards anti-ageing and making it a pejorative,” Curtis told <a href="https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/entertainment/sydney-confidential/actor-jamie-lee-curtis-on-why-the-term-antiageing-makes-her-angry/news-story/eec877ecef45fbb08670b1d872d2f8d5">The Daily Telegraph</a>. “(Ageing) cannot be the pejorative because it happens to everybody. It is like everything else, it is an evolution,” said the actor. Curtis’ comments come at an apt time in her career. She has reprised her iconic role as Laurie Strode, who took on serial killer Michael Myers 40 years ago on Halloween. Decades on, her character, now a grandmother, is still deeply affected by their battle but is as strong as ever and more than ready for the next round. The actress too, seems at the top of her game. The sequel is raking it in at the US box office, and not only is she a formidable performer in the film, but it was really Curtis doing many of the fight scenes too. “I am sitting here in my very nice red suit but this movie was obviously not a glamorous job and I am grateful that I get that opportunity,” she admitted to the publication. “Every fight is me.” “I am fit but I am not a gym rat. It is just what we do. It is the nature of the beast — it is physical and it is painful. I cracked a rib, that is what happens.” But Curtis, the daughter of Janet Leigh – who memorably starred in another iconic horror Psycho – and matinee idol Tony Curtis, has previously acknowledged her “struggle with my own self-esteem” when it comes to her body. She says she’s found a way to deal with it. “So I have a big secret: I don’t look in the mirror,” Curtis told <a href="https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/entertainment/a22993869/jamie-lee-curtis-confidence-secrets/">Good Housekeeping</a> in a recent interview. “I’m a 60-year-old woman. I am not going to look the same as I used to, and I don’t want to be confronted by that every day! When I get out of the shower, I have a choice: I can dry myself off looking in the mirror, or I can dry myself off with my back to it. I turn my back to the mirror and I feel great!” The actress, who also counts children’s author, entrepreneur and budding screenwriter on her resume, has an inspiring message about chasing and realising creative passions saying she has “no time to waste”. “On the very clear passage of 50s to 60s, I have no time to waste,” said Curtis. “None. If you have creative ideas and you don’t bring them out into the world in some way before you go, that is a tragedy.” Images: Getty

Movies

5 steps to help you speak your mind

Whether it’s at work, with friends, or with your family, saying what you really think often sounds like a bad idea. But holding back from telling people what’s going on in your head can also cause problems, as you are bottling up your emotions and never letting them out. So how do you speak your mind in a way that gets your point across, without hurting people’s feelings or alienating them? Try to remove the emotion This can be tough, but avoid crying or yelling (if you can!) and speak in a calm, clear manner. You are much more likely to get your point across if people can understand you and see that you are talking from a level head. When you act calm, even if you’re not, it makes other people see you as more confident. Shouting often has the opposite effect, as people can begin to tune out to what you are saying. You could try something like ‘I can see that your new girlfriend makes you happy. However I feel that you may be moving too quickly, and I don’t think you should have to stop seeing your friends just because you are dating somebody.’ Use positive words Try to steer clear of extremes like ‘You always…’ or ‘I never…’ Instead, focus on what you would like to happen, and be specific. So instead of ‘You only want to see me when you need me to babysit your children’ you could say ‘I would like to spend one afternoon a week together just the two of us, doing something special.’ Explain both sides It’s easy to get caught up with ‘I’ and ‘me’ when you are getting your point across, but thinking of the other person’s perspective can be very useful for being heard. People naturally think ‘What’s in it for me? Why should I listen to this?’ so tailor your argument towards that. So instead of ‘I think you work too much’ you could say ‘I’m worried that your hours are too long and you are going to get burnt out. We don’t see each other as often as we used to, and I miss spending time with you. How can I help you to see that money isn’t everything?’ Ask yourself what’s the worst that could happen At first you may be too worried about the ‘what ifs’ of speaking your mind. But ask yourself, honestly, what is the very worst thing that could happen if you do? Sure, people might initially feel upset or hurt if what you’re saying hits a nerve, but in the long run most would understand that you were saying how you felt so that you could make things better. Accept that it may not be worth it Sometimes you have to choose your battles, so if you know that speaking your mind will only cause ill-feeling and no good will come of it – let it go. Some things are not worth losing a friend over (like bad lipstick choices) whereas other things are too important to hold in (like issues with drugs or gambling). A good way to decide whether to speak up is to think ‘will anything change if I speak up?’ If not, perhaps let it slide. Image credits: Getty Images

Mind

How to build your grandkid's confidence at school and help them succeed

We know that grandparents understand that drive to be involved in their grandchildren's lives all too well: You watch them grow up, attend their sports days and music concerts, and when you find out they’re struggling at school, it's easy to feel helpless and concerned but there is something you can do to help. There is a way you can help them get the support they need. Cluey Learning is Australia’s leading online tutoring service that specialises in helping students in years 2 to 12 catch up, keep up or excel at school. We start by matching your grandchild with one of our expert, hand-selected tutors, and once the connection is made, your grandchild can get the help they need, safely online, from the comfort of home. Why matching matters Cluey’s approach to learning focuses on the needs of each individual learner, which is in contrast to the traditional classroom model we all know. With 20+ students in each class, teachers cannot possibly give each child the individual attention they need to thrive and sometimes the pace of learning in the classroom can mean children fall behind or become disengaged because they aren’t being challenged. Cluey Learning matches each student to a tutor that is right for them, to help them learn and grow at their own pace. <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/06/O60ClueyLearning02.jpg" alt="Cluey Learning" width="1280" height="720" /> How tutoring can help When you choose the right program, tutoring can serve to build confidence, increase test scores and instil a love of learning in your grandchild that will stay with them for life. More benefits to tutoring include: <ol> <li>Offers personalised attention </li> <li>Helps students become independent learners (learning to learn) </li> <li>Helps gifted children excel </li> <li>Fills learning gaps </li> <li>Gives children the freedom to ask ‘silly’ questions away from their peers </li> <li>Prepares students for exams (NAPLAN, HSC, entrance exams) </li> <li>Can be tailored to a range of needs</li> <li>Increases engagement in school</li> <li>Improves study habits</li> <li>Gives students access to a learning partner who isn’t their parent and isn’t their teacher. </li> </ol> Why Cluey Learning? <ul> <li>Tutors are knowledgeable, experienced teachers or top ATAR achievers who are put through a rigorous application process so only the top tutors make the cut. </li> <li>They are all vetted, have WWC (working with children) checks, and backed by highly qualified Faculty Leaders. </li> <li>Each session is mapped to the Australian National Curriculum, and designed to mirror what they learn in class so you know your grandkids are learning what they need to know. </li> <li>It’s online and it’s safe, with no reason to fear for your grandchild’s safety. </li> </ul> WE’VE HELPED THOUSANDS OF AUSTRALIAN FAMILIES <blockquote> “I enrolled my granddaughter last year for Cluey tutoring, still receiving it. Happy to report she earned 100% in one of her tutored subjects” – Lee M. </blockquote> 20% off Offer to share with your grandchild or their parent! If you’d like to support your grandchild with their education, we’re offering 20% off their first session – share <a href="https://clueylearning.com.au/en/grandkids/?utm_source=grandparents&utm_campaign=over60&last_source=grandparents&last_campaign=over60&last_offer=20-percent-off" target="_blank" rel="noopener">this link</a> with your grandchild (or their parents) to claim the discount. To learn more visit <a href="https://clueylearning.com.au/en/grandkids/?utm_source=grandparents&utm_campaign=over60&last_source=grandparents&last_campaign=over60&last_offer=20-percent-off" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cluey Learning</a>. This is a sponsored article produced in partnership with <a href="https://clueylearning.com.au/en/grandkids/?utm_source=grandparents&utm_campaign=over60&last_source=grandparents&last_campaign=over60&last_offer=20-percent-off" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cluey Learning</a>.

Family & Pets

“I regained my confidence socially and professionally”: Why Hearing Australia is promising to make hearing easy this World Hearing Day

When Rachel, a music teacher and professional clarinet player, first noticed changes in her hearing it was pretty daunting. “Sound is everything to a musician,” she explains. Rachel had become increasingly aware of “difficulty in conversations, especially in crowded situations or noisy rooms. Professionally I had great difficulty hearing students speak.” New findings from Hearing Australia’s ‘Hearing Road Test’ survey of Australians indicate that Rachel is not alone. Older Australians have become more aware of changes and symptoms of hearing loss during the last 12 – 24 months of the pandemic. Despite this, only one in four respondents have had their hearing checked in the last year; 78% of older Australians agreed that they would be more inclined to seek help for their hearing if they knew they could trial their hearings aids at home before they made a purchase. However, most respondents didn’t know that this was possible. For Rachel, however, it was the way her Hearing Australia audiologist Kristen was in tune with her life from the very start that made her hearing easy. From her initial hearing assessment and fitting when “Kristen’s bright and cheery personality took the stress out of the situation”, to all of the ongoing support she has since received, Rachel says that Hearing Australia makes her “feel safe and secure”. For Kristen, an audiologist and fellow musician, that’s music to her ears: “As a musician, your hearing is a big deal and so for Rachel to entrust me with her care makes me feel very privileged.” Fellow Hearing Australia audiologist Marc Vandenberg agrees. “Managing your hearing can improve quality of life, and Hearing Australia promises to make hearing easy,” he says. “We know that choosing a hearing aid is a personal decision and not something you can do on the spot. To help find the right solution, Australians are now able to ‘try before you buy’ on any of our hearing devices for 14 days*. “This means you can take your device home and test drive it in your everyday life to see how it performs, when you are catching up with loved ones, going shopping or watching TV.” This World Hearing Day, it’s time to manage your hearing your way. Test drive your hearing aids today to find your fit. For more information and to book a hearing test, call Hearing Australia on 134 HEAR or visit <a href="https://www.hearing.com.au/We-make-hearing-easy?utm_source=fabulate&utm_medium=native&utm_campaign=world+hearing+day" target="_blank" rel="noopener">hearing.com.au</a>. * ”Try before you buy” requires you to complete a hearing assessment (which may incur a fee) before fitting, and is subject to Hearing Australia’s "Try before you buy" conditions. Conditions apply under the Australian Government Hearing Services Program. Client statements are their own, Rachel received a thank you gift for her time. This is a sponsored article produced in partnership with <a href="https://www.hearing.com.au/We-make-hearing-easy?utm_source=fabulate&utm_medium=native&utm_campaign=world+hearing+day" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hearing Australia</a>.

Hearing

Daniel Andrews to face no-confidence vote in parliament

A motion of no-confidence against Premier Daniel Andrews will be debated in the Victorian parliament this week. It comes after the Premier’s right hand man Chris Eccles resigned effective immediately on Monday morning - only a few hours after his phone records revealed he had a two minute conversation with former Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton during a crucial six-minute window. The six-minute window is being investigated by the hotel quarantine inquiry, who believe that time frame holds crucial details about who made the decision to hire private security guards. Opposition leader Michael O’Brien will move the no-confidence motion against the Premier, citing government “failures, cover-ups and lies” amid the COVID-19 pandemic. O’Brien said Daniel Andrews had “thrown a second senior member of his team under the bus” following the resignation of Chris Eccles on Monday morning. “One thing is certain – when Andrews is under pressure he’ll throw those close to him under a bus to try to save himself,” he said. “While phone records prove Eccles called then Chief Commissioner of Police Graham Ashton, it does not answer the question every Victorian deserves to know the answer to: who made the decision to refuse ADF support in hotel quarantine and instead use untrained private security, which created Victoria’s second wave?” With Labor holding a commanding 11-seat majority in the house, the no-confidence motion will most definitely be voted down. But O’Brien asked Labor MPs to “show who they stand with”. “Every single Labor MP will have an opportunity this week … Daniel Andrews or the Victorian people they were elected to represent,” he said. Andrews came forward to the media two hours after Mr Eccles’ resignation and said it was “very sad” his 35 years of public service had ended that way it had. “I believe that he has made the right choice,” the Premier said. “He made a decision that his position was untenable.” In a statement, Andrews acknowledged the decades of public service from Mr Eccles across governments in three states and the Commonwealth. “(I) thank him for the significant contribution he has made to Victoria. I wish him all the very best,” he said. “Until last night, I had understood that Mr Eccles did not know if he had telephoned Mr Ashton at that time. That matter is now beyond doubt. “Mr Eccles made a pretty binary statement and it turned out that was not the case and as soon as he became aware of that I think he’s done the right thing.” Andrews claims he does not know who made the decision to refuse Australian Defence Force personnel and instead hire private security to oversee hotel quarantine.

News

“I spoke about Dreamtime and I ticked a box”: Teachers admit they lack confidence to teach Indigenous perspectives

“I spoke about Dreamtime and I ticked a box”: Teachers admit they lack confidence to teach Indigenous perspectives The Australian government has <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-captain-cook-became-a-contested-national-symbol-96344">allocated tens of millions of dollars</a> to commemorate the anniversary of Cook’s voyage to the South Pacific and Australia in 1770. Though several events have now been suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic, others will take place online. This could also be an opportunity for teachers to disrupt the same white-washed versions of colonisation (brave, heroic and necessary) taught in Australian schools for centuries. There is a plethora of <a href="https://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/f-10-curriculum/cross-curriculum-priorities/aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-histories-and-cultures/">education policy</a> mandating teachers incorporate Indigenous perspectives across year levels and subject areas. But in practice, this is much harder to do without Indigenous perspectives becoming trivialised or tokenistic. Policy isn’t enough Many teachers <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/286450721_Aboriginal_education_More_than_adding_different_perspectives">don’t feel confident or capable</a> to include Indigenous perspectives in their classrooms. In <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/eprint/TVIJZWVUZUIBFH32JMIM/full?target=10.1080/14681366.2019.1704844">our recent study</a> in a cluster of primary and secondary schools, teachers were paired with Aboriginal community members to plan and deliver lessons. Initially, teachers reported feeling ill-equipped to genuinely include an Aboriginal perspective. One teacher said: I’ve always felt that I wasn’t very good at embedding Aboriginal perspectives in my lessons. It was always, for me, seen as a tick-box, and I spoke about Dreamtime, I ticked a box, and that’s it[…] you didn’t want to step on any toes, and you didn’t want to offend anyone, so you just touched – you just skimmed the surface. Teachers involved in the project had the best of intentions and a fierce willingness to learn. Some had been teaching for more than 20 years and openly admitted their ignorance towards Indigenous dispossession and the way schooling was used as a vehicle of colonisation. Another teacher expressed the problem of not having adequate skills to teach Indigenous perspectives: I’m blatantly aware how Anglo the room looks. But I guess I don’t want to do something that is tokenistic […] I don’t agree with tokenistic things. I think you’ve got to do it and do it well and I think to just have an Aboriginal flag in the corner, oh and now we’re going to do dot painting and, oh, right, now we’re going to do – you know? It’s kind of a bit insulting, really. Without Indigenous perspectives in the classroom, or with only tokenistic inclusion, students’ views on Aboriginal peoples, colonialism and “Australian history” are more susceptible to negative media and social attitudes. This leaves many non-Indigenous students ill-equipped to think critically about the world they live in. As one teacher said: If at school we teach it as tokenistic and then the media teaches it as, you know, stereotypical, then how are we going to produce the next generation of people that will work towards reconciliation and recognise the things of the past but move forward without these stereotypes, you know? I’m just following the syllabus Some teachers feel protective of the formal curriculum. In this instance, Indigenous perspectives become a tick-the-box policy, something to add into the lesson, but not so much that it interferes with the “real” learning outcomes. But what are these “real outcomes”? In the NSW curriculum, the stage two (years three and four) unit “First Contacts”, provides the earliest comprehensive glimpse of world exploration and the colonisation of Australia. The <a href="https://educationstandards.nsw.edu.au/wps/portal/nesa/k-10/learning-areas/hsie/history-k-10/content/803/!ut/p/z1/tVPLbsIwEPyWHnK0vHZCkh5ToLzLqwHiC3KCAVNwQrCg9Ovr9HWDtEL1wZK1szOz9hgzPMNM8aNccS1TxbfmHDF37rSaADbQbqMzrMKwMR55fr3V7U4cPP0A0IC4pOmQTr_hEw">key questions for inquiry include</a>: <ul> <li>why did the great journeys of exploration occur?</li> <li>what was life like for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples before the arrival of the Europeans?</li> <li>why did Europeans settle in Australia?</li> <li>what was the nature and consequence of contact between Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples and early traders, explorers and settlers?</li> </ul> Note the use of presumptive (“great”) and passive (“settle”, “explorers”) language in these questions. The last dot point also raises concerns about how teachers will challenge entrenched whitewashed versions of history. <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1440783318794295">Research</a> with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander high school students highlights the frustration Indigenous students feel, particularly during history lessons. As one student said: You always have to learn from a white perspective, especially in history. Why don’t they learn from us for once? Another student described the tension in the classroom as their teacher downloaded information from the internet: Usually half of the class would get into a very heated racial discussion, which we had to sit through. Because the teacher had no idea what he was going on about. Some of the stuff he had on the board, because he just copies it from the Internet, so some of the stuff he has got on the board is racist, and he is teaching us. So it’s like very […] uncomfortable. What will it take? Teachers must critically reflect on their own identity and how it potentially influences their personal bias and worldview. They must also be willing to confront the ongoing effects of colonialism in and outside the classroom and listen to Indigenous people. Teachers must aspire to adequately and systemically overturn the harm schooling continues to inflict on many Indigenous people. A critical dialogue of Cook’s arrival that familiarises students with topics like racial hierarchies and white supremacy is long overdue. Written by Michelle Bishop. Republished with permission of <a href="https://theconversation.com/i-spoke-about-dreamtime-i-ticked-a-box-teachers-say-they-lack-confidence-to-teach-indigenous-perspectives-129064">The Conversation.</a>

Caring

“Patience, confidence, courage, solidarity”: Prince Albert of Monaco's health update and personal message

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text "> Prince Albert II of Monaco recently tested positive for COVID-19 last week, and has finally given a health update to the curious public. The reigning monarch is the second royal to contract the deadly virus, and over the weekend, People Magazine was able to give a look into the Prince’s condition. The 62-year-old is improving his health slowly and steadily as he continues to work from the confines of his home, under his doctor’s orders. “A little news. Condition unchanged. Little fever, little cough,” Prince Rainier III, who is the son of Princess Grace of Monaco told <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://people.com/royals/prince-albert-health-update-after-coronavirus-diagnosis/" target="_blank" title="People Magazine. ">People Magazine.</a> “Vital signs all good. The doctors are satisfied for now.” Prince Albert, who falls into the category of high-risk coronavirus patients, is undergoing regular temperature checks, and is consistently receiving news on his blood oxygen levels. An insider to the family has said the king messages, emails and calls ranging from celebrities and politicians to regular everyday people has been touching. Issuing a statement on his behalf, the Palace said Prince Albert was grateful and “touched by the many expressions of sympathy that have come to him from around the world.” “His Serene Highness wishes to thank all those who have shown him their support.” The prince tested anonymously last week in a bid to avoid being treated differently in the healthcare system. The royal exhibited mild flu-like symptoms and was later confirmed to have the virus by the labs of the hospital named after his late mother, Princess Grace of Monaco. It is understood Prince Albert is still unsure of where he could've come in contact with the virus. The royal signed off his official palace statement with a handwritten message of “patience, confidence, courage, solidarity” in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. There are concerns for 71-year-old Prince Charles, who Prince Albert was with just days prior to his diagnosis as both royals attended the WaterAid Summit on March 10. Thankfully, it is believed Prince Charles did not come into contact with Albert during the event, and he has gone so far as to avoid handshakes during engagements and events since the beginning of March. </div> </div> </div> <div class="post-action-bar-component-wrapper"> <div class="post-actions-component"> <div class="upper-row"> <div class="watched-bookmark-container"></div> </div> </div> </div>

Caring

How to: Dating with confidence

Marina’s advice on dating with confidence will assist you to begin to make changes in the way you believe, think and feel about yourself so you can begin moving towards fulfilling your love goal with confidence. Confidence equals attraction Confidence has been attributed to the greatest attraction factor for both men and women. So let’s start by becoming clear about what confidence is. Basically confidence is being comfortable in your own skin – confidence reflects what you think and feel about your abilities. Therefore, I know my worth, I know my life matters, I know how to promote my internal assets and more importantly I pursue my goals with passion and purpose. Confidence is not about trying to be like others – confidence is accepting yourself as you are and allowing your uniqueness to shine. Know your worth So, what it is the fastest way to increase your confidence? Knowing that your life has meaning and that your contributions to the world are of value is one of the quickest and fastest ways to increase your confidence. But confidence is not something we can fake. It is a feeling we give out to others – people feel what we think and believe about ourselves. A common mistake many people make when they begin dating is that they only focus on their external assets; their hair, going to the gym, losing weight, buying a new wardrobe or a new car, Botox and the list goes on. Although good looks, sexy clothes and a great body may attract men and women to you it is no guarantee that they will fall in love with you or want to establish a long term relationship. Research informs us that men do not necessarily fall in love with the prettiest and sexiest of women and not all women fall for the best looking guy (or the one with the most money). Tips to increase your Dating Confidence Let go of past relationships and attachments: This is one of the biggest reasons why people prevent the right partner from finding them. They are still emotionally attached to a past love/s. Make a list of your strengths and your good qualities: Become clear about why you are a great catch and more importantly why you will no longer accept anything less than what you deserve. Remember having something is not better than having nothing; particularly when it comes to love. Break free from your comfort zone: Are you still doing the same thing you always have to find the love of your life? Then the chances are high that you will keep attracting the same type of person or situation. Re-evaluate and then re-create your “must-list”: Think about what is on your ‘must have’ list when it comes to a partner. Then look honestly at yourself and identify what qualities you could still do some work on to strengthen. Then take positive steps to become the best you can be to attract the person you would like in your life. Remember, like attracts like! Spend time with friends that celebrate you: The calmer and happier you are, the more confident you will feel about attracting your special person. The way people treat us directly impacts on our self-esteem. Read more from Marina about how to find new love <a href="https://www.wyza.com.au/lifestyle/boomer-life/preparing-for-love-in-your-50s.aspx">here.</a> Written by Marina Bakker. Republished with permission of <a href="https://www.wyza.com.au/articles/lifestyle/relationships/dating-with-confidence.aspx">Wyza.com.au.</a>

Caring

Styling tips for over-60s – be confident in what you wear

I’m not naturally rebellious, but as the years go by there are rules I find irritating to say the least; in particular I get annoyed about ‘rules’ on what I should or should not wear. At the age of 63, I figure I am only responsible to myself as to how I dress. Not that I plan hanging out on a nudist beach any time soon, but after years in the corporate world it is a relief to no longer wear a ‘uniform’ – actual or perceived. Coincidentally, as I now have the freedom to wear what I want, I have also taken a much stronger interest in my personal presentation. I understand the importance of self-image and take the time to get dressed and feel my best. I have a personal rule that I won’t go to the shops unless I am tidily dressed and have added a pop of lipstick. It was too easy in my early retirement to hang around all day in gardening clothes, but I quickly found that I felt bad when I did so. So, in figuring out what clothes work for me in my retirement (I prefer to call it re-wirement) I have learned a lot about what works for my body and my lifestyle. I have determined my personal style. I hang out in some online style groups, I share my ‘#everydaystyle’ (thanks to Nikki Parkinson of <a href="http://www.stylingyou.com.au/">Styling You</a> for that inspiration) on Instagram, and I dress to please myself. I know what makes me feel confident and what doesn’t. I know I like a balance of style and comfort. I know I like to be aware of the latest trends and colours, but not be a slave to them. And I know that a lot of the so-called style rules don’t work for me. I don’t own a crisp white button up shirt – I’m tall and a bit overweight with short hair – I look butch in that style. I do wear distressed skinny jeans – skinny jeans suit my shape and flatter my legs (one of my best assets). I like the distressed look as one of my nods to current trends. I do sometimes wear dresses and skirts above my knee, again because my legs are good. I don’t wear super mini skirts like I did in my late teens and 20s but I won’t have anyone tell me I can’t. I don’t because I would spend all day tugging at the skirt. That’s the same reason I haven’t embraced the off-the-shoulder trend; I hate strapless bras and I don’t want to be fussing with a top that pops up (or heaven forbid, down!). I rarely wear high heels because I get a sore back and ankles when I do, but I do like an ankle boot with a low heel and I am a great fan of kicks. I can stay current without breaking my neck and those styles suit my lifestyle. I know that my wardrobe needs to be travel friendly because we travel domestically a lot and internationally when we can. That dictates the fabrics that I select – I love natural fibres but silk isn’t practical for me. Unlike my legs, my arms aren’t in great shape, so I don’t often wear a sleeveless dress or top. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t – I see plenty of women older than me with great muscle definition rocking sleeveless tops. So, I only have one ‘rule’ to share with you. Know what suits you, what you can afford and what makes you feel your best. Wear that! Written by Jan Wild. Republished with permission of <a href="https://www.wyza.com.au/articles/lifestyle/in-praise-of/in-praise-of-personal-style.aspx">Wyza.com.au.</a>

Art

Why confidence can be a bad thing

Stuart Beattie is a Lecturer of Psychology at Bangor University. Tim Woodman is Professor and Head of the School of Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences at Bangor University. Have you ever felt 100 per cent confident in your ability to complete a task, and then failed miserably? After <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/40347469" target="_blank">losing in the first</a> round at Queen’s Club in June for the first time since 2012, world number one tennis player, Andy Murray, hinted that “overconfidence” might have been his downfall. Reflecting on his early exit, <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/40349519" target="_blank">Murray said</a>, “Winning a tournament is great and you feel good afterwards, but you can also sometimes think that your game is in a good place and maybe become a little bit more relaxed in that week beforehand.” There is no doubt that success breeds confidence, and in turn, the confidence gained from success positively influences performance – normally. However, recently, this latter part of the relationship between confidence and performance has been called into doubt. High confidence can have its drawbacks. One may only need to look at the results of the <a href="https://theconversation.com/where-it-all-went-wrong-for-theresa-may-79219?sr=5" target="_blank">recent general election</a> to note that Theresa May called for an early election partly based on her confidence to win an overall majority. <a href="http://ipep.bangor.ac.uk/confidence.php" target="_blank">Our research</a> at the Institute for the Psychology of Elite Performance at Bangor University has extensively examined the relationship between confidence and performance. So, what are the advantages and disadvantages of having high (or indeed low) levels of confidence for an upcoming task? Confidence and performance First, let’s look at the possible outcomes of having low confidence (some form of <a href="http://psycnet.apa.org/psycinfo/2010-12916-001" target="_blank">self-doubt</a>). Low confidence is the state of thinking that we are not quite ready to face an upcoming task. In this case, one of two things happens: either <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19744355" target="_blank">we disengage</a> from the task, or we invest extra effort into preparing for it. In one of our studies participants were required to <a href="https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/240e/c8b5df5f3763819537d97ebe3e1887ae345a.pdf" target="_blank">skip with a rope</a> continuously for one minute. Participants were then told that they had to repeat the task but using a more difficult rope to skip with (in fact it was the same type of rope). Results revealed that confidence decreased but performance improved. In this case, self-doubt can be quite beneficial. Now let’s consider the role of overconfidence. A high level of confidence is usually helpful for performing tasks because it can lead you to strive for difficult goals. But high confidence can also be detrimental when it causes you to lower the amount of effort you give towards these goals. Overconfidence often makes people no longer feel the need to invest all of their effort – think of the confident student who studies less for an upcoming exam. Interestingly, some of our <a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1469029211000227" target="_blank">research findings</a> show that when people are faced with immediate feedback after a golf putting task (knowing exactly how well you have just performed), confidence expectations (number of putts they thought they could make next) far exceeded actual obtained performance levels by as much as 46 per cent. When confidence is miscalibrated (believing you are better than you really are), it will have a negative effect on subsequent task performance. This overconfidence in our ability to perform a task seems to be a subconscious process, and it looks like it is here to stay. Fortunately, in the long term the pros of being overconfident (reaching for the stars) seem to far outweigh the cons (task failure) because if at first you do not succeed you can always try again. But miscalibrated confidence will be more likely to occur if vital <a href="http://psycnet.apa.org/journals/spy/5/1/1/" target="_blank">performance information</a> regarding your previous levels of performance accomplishments is either ignored or not available. When this happens people tend to overestimate rather than underestimate their abilities. Written by Stuart Beattie and Tim Woodman. First appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>.<img width="1" height="1" src="https://counter.theconversation.edu.au/content/79852/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-advanced" alt="The Conversation"/>

Mind

How to build your confidence

Take a moment to consider what might be getting in the way of your confidence: what is it that might be stopping you becoming a more confident person? A bit of reflection can help you work this out. Inner critic Often what stops you can be as simple as that internal, self-critical voice, the one in your head that constantly judges and snipes at you, undermining your confidence. This voice is seldom rooted in reality – how do you know, really, what that stranger in the train carriage thinks of you? Challenge it. That critical voice is sapping your confidence. Question it. What actual evidence do you have for what it’s telling you? In reality, you can have no real idea of what another person thinks, and the look on their face probably has nothing to do with you but comes from their own thoughts, anxieties and preoccupations. Why should you care, anyway? Counter your inner critic with more positive affirmations – those that are as accepting, tolerant and loving of yourself as you would like to be of those around you. Self-sabotage This can be a feature of our inner critic. Sometimes, when we are unconfident about something, we unconsciously do things that either stop us trying, or prove ourselves right. We set ourselves up to fail, and then tell ourselves, ‘There, I was right, I knew it was impossible.’ Self-sabotage is an unhelpful strategy because, ultimately, it prevents you from doing things that could be successful and might help enhance your confidence about future efforts. Imposter syndrome This is akin to self-sabotage, but very different from faking it (see page 73) because it stems from a lack of self-belief. You imagine that you will be somehow found out as an imposter, not really capable of what you say you can do – even though you’re doing it! This comes from an insecure place within and sometimes happens when we’ve made a recent step in progress but our confidence in our ability to do so has not kept pace. Instead of thinking what’s been achieved is good, it’s undermined by the suspicion that we’ll somehow get found out. This is also a voice that the inner critic sometimes uses: identify it for what it is, then ignore it. Catastrophising Imagining the worst might feel like making good preparation for an unforeseen event, but there’s a difference between doing a reasonable risk assessment – It looks like rain, I’ll take an umbrella – and assuming that something cataclysmic could happen. This just creates unnecessary anxiety, which, in turn, saps confidence. Imagining a catastrophe around every corner can sometimes come from a place of somewhat bizarre logic or magical thinking where, at a subconscious level, we convince ourselves that by imagining the worst, the imagining of it somehow stops the worst from happening. We even have evidence to prove that imagining the worst works: we thought it might happen, it didn’t happen, so therefore our thinking of it must have stopped it happening. None of which, rationally, is true. The worst didn’t happen because it seldom does; worrying about something that probably won’t happen is just unhelpful and undermines confidence. Learning from past experience and changing your thinking on this will remove a huge amount of anxiety and you will automatically feel more confident. Overthinking It’s one thing to be prepared but it can be unhelpful to overthink a situation, to focus on worst-case scenarios to the point where the idea of what could (but probably won’t) happen makes you so anxious, you won’t even try. There’s no point undermining your own confidence by persistently focusing on what can go wrong. Better, instead, to ensure you have done what you can, then let it go. Remember the times when the worst didn’t happen? That’s a far more accurate view of life, so focus on that. <img width="199" height="250" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/33457/i-want-to-be-confident-cvr_199x250.jpg" alt="I Want To Be Confident CVR" style="float: right;"/> This is an edited extract from I Want to be Confident by Harriet Griffey published by Hardie Grant Books RRP $19.99 and is available in stores nationally. Related links: <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/health/mind/2016/12/5-tips-to-change-the-way-you-deal-negative-emotions/">5 tips to change the way you deal negative emotions</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/health/mind/2017/01/tips-to-improve-your-memory/">Improve your memory with these 4 tips</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/health/mind/2017/01/getting-distracted-in-old-age-is-a-good-thing/">Getting distracted in old age is a good thing</a>

Mind

7 ways to build confidence in your grandchildren

If you want to help your grandchild to succeed, instilling confidence in them is a great start. A confident child will try new things, make friends more easily, and have faith in themselves to do anything they set their mind to. To build up their confidence, try some of these ideas. <ol> <li>Don’t ask if they won or lost: Ask about how they played, or whether they were happy with their efforts. Kids sport is about joining in and trying their best, not winning or losing.</li> <li>Help them practice their skills: If they are good at swimming, offer to drive them to training. If they love art, offer to sit for them while they do your portrait. Be supportive of their talents and this will help them develop naturally, without putting pressure on them.</li> <li>Try not to solve all their problems: Instead of breaking up every small argument between kids, sometimes there is value in stepping back and letting them figure it out on their own. Kids learn resilience and compromise in this way.</li> <li>Help them stay curious: Kids are always asking “why?” so encourage this by setting up experiments or special activities that teach them how to solve problems. Ask them to help you in the garden, or to help you with technology that they aren’t necessarily familiar with.</li> <li>Take them to new places: Get kids out of their comfort zone and take them to art galleries, elderly relatives houses, hardware stores and even bowling alleys. Trying new things with a trusted adult is a great way to build up their confidence.</li> <li>Pass on a skill: Teach a child something that you are good at – it might be fishing, cooking, woodwork or golf. Sharing your skills as the teacher (and even allowing them to teach you a thing or two) develops their abilities to listen and try new activities.</li> <li>Encourage self-reliance: If they forgot to do their project, don’t stay up late doing it for them. If they left their sports clothes at home, don’t drop them off for them. Kids need to learn that there are consequences for their actions, and you stepping in to solve every problem isn’t going to help.</li> </ol> Did you have someone in your life that helped develop your confidence? We would love to hear your story. Related links: <a href="/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/09/10-factors-that-influence-how-you-grandparent/">10 factors that influence how you grandparent</a> <a href="/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/09/motivational-tactics-from-children/">7 motivational tactics from grandkids</a> <a href="/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/09/tips-for-disagreeing-grandparents-and-parents/">5 tips for disagreeing grandparents and parents</a>

Family & Pets

Seniors lack confidence in the financial industry

As a result of age pension changes, growing life expectancies and the longevity gap and a range of other external forces, the prospect of <a href="/finance/retirement-income/2016/09/is-a-comfortable-retirement-drifting-out-of-reach/" target="_blank">a comfortable, secure retirement</a> is becoming harder and harder for many senior Australians to envision. And a recent report has suggested the financial industry isn’t doing anyone any favours. Senior Australians Equity Release (SEQUAL) has produced research highlighting the financial dilemma that now faces many Australian seniors, and suggested that products need to do more to win the trust of senior consumers around the country. SEQUAL Chairman Peter Szabo says, “When a senior Australian reaches this point and faces the often deeply emotional decision to utilise the family home to access equity to enable them to live beyond their savings and superannuation, they are owed the very highest duty of care by financial service product providers and the financial service sector in general.” But the problem is in many cases, this is not being offered. Szabo continues, “The industry must unite, come together and collectively raise awareness of the very real challenges and impact of the longevity funding gap that seniors are confronting. “It must develop modern, safe and secure financial solutions for seniors including appropriate regulatory safeguards thereby facilitating new sources of capital.” While on the surface the prognosis for senior financial security seems somewhat dire, there are corners of the industry that are responding to calls for more transparency. Equip for example, has recently been ranked 2nd in Australia for superannuation transparency, affording members a new level of confidence in investments. According to a new report published by <a href="http://www.globalreviews.com/blog/superannuation-websites-are-not-delivering-on-the-customers-top-needs/" target="_blank">Global Reviews</a>, Equip’s strong performance was due to, “Strong positive score [is based on] the inclusion of contextual FAQS / a link to FAQs relevant to account fees, in addition to contextual contact details relevant to account fees.” Are you confident in the financial sector? Or are you concerned about the state of your finances? Share your thoughts in the comments section below. <a href="http://www.equipsuper.com.au/" target="_blank">Equip</a> manages $7 billion of investments for members working across a wide range of Australian industry sectors. This <a href="http://www.equipsuper.com.au/" target="_blank">superannuation fund</a> has been providing strong investment performance and has been a reliable provider of retirement benefits for over 80 years. This article is for general information only. You should seek formal financial advice on your specific circumstances. Related links: <a href="/finance/retirement-income/2016/10/retiree-spending-habits-under-the-microscope/">Retiree spending habits under the microscope</a> <a href="/finance/retirement-income/2016/09/is-a-comfortable-retirement-drifting-out-of-reach/">Is a comfortable retirement drifting out of reach?</a> <a href="/finance/retirement-income/2016/08/gap-between-retirement-dreams-and-savings-reality/">The gap between retirement dreams and savings reality</a>

Retirement Income

3-year-old girl gives herself the cutest pep talk in front of the mirror

A video of three-year-old Audrey giving herself a pep talk in the mirror has gone viral – and it could teach us all a thing or two about self-acceptance. Jamie Rabaut, of Michigan in the US, filmed her adorable daughter Audrey confidently complimenting herself on a variety of attributes, including her smartness, her cuteness, and of course, her absolute perfection. In the video, Audrey says, "I'm cute, I'm cute... I'm cute!" while twirling, jumping and grinning in front of the mirror. When her mum points out on top of being “cute and beautiful” she is also intelligent, Audrey immediately exclaims, "I'm cute and beautiful and smart!" Mum Jamie says that Audrey is such a positive little girl, radiating love wherever she goes. "She compliments people everywhere she goes," Jamie writes. "It's always, 'Excuse me, I like your dress,' 'Your bracelet is SO pretty,' 'Excuse me, ma'am, your hair is beautiful.' She radiates love and positivity and I love that that also reflects upon how she feels about herself." What a beautiful toddler! What’s the cutest thing your grandchild has ever done? Share with us in the comments below. Related links: <a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/08/is-it-ever-okay-for-children-to-lie/">Is it ever okay for children to lie?</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/08/how-to-encourage-kids-to-love-cooking/">5 reasons why it’s important to let kids loose in the kitchen</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/08/expert-advice-for-coping-with-estranged-adult-children/">Expert advice for coping with estranged adult children</a>

News

10 steps to build your confidence

Tom Cronin is a meditation teacher, life coach and writer. He is the founder of The Stillness Project, a global movement that aims to help people on their journey towards calmness and fulfilment. Are you looking for confidence builders that really work? Confidence is a tool that can help you to overcome obstacles and leave a lasting impression. And the best part about confidence is that it rubs off on others. When you’re confident about what you’re saying or doing, you’ll come off as intelligent, successful, capable and even desirable. Confident people have no trouble attracting others. Of course, even people who are regularly confident experience spells of low self-esteem or insecurity. The important thing to remember is that if you find yourself feeling unusually down, it’s doesn’t take much to give your confidence level a boost. The following confidence builders can help you stay steady and self-assured: <ol> <li>Peel yourself away from the mirror. Yes, you should devote some time each day to your appearance, but once you’re ready, let that be the end of it. Most of us have difficulty staying away from mirrors when we encounter them in elevators or bathrooms, but the less time you spend agonizing over every detail of your appearance, the happier you’ll be.</li> <li>Stand behind your decisions. Instead of humming and hawing over miniscule decisions or jumping back and forth trying to decide what to do, try making a decision and going with it. This doesn’t mean you should start behaving rashly, but people who are confident and self-assured tend to know what they want.</li> <li>Work on your posture. Your mom probably told you when you were a kid to stop slouching and she was right. When you stand tall, with your shoulders back and your head held high, the impression you</li> <li>Stop comparing yourself to others. Don’t worry about anyone other than yourself. Who cares if your best friend is getting engaged or your neighbour just got a promotion at work? Dwelling on what others have achieved isn’t going to help you feel good about yourself, nor is it going to help you get ahead.</li> <li>Do things alone. It’s easy to feel sure of yourself when you’re out with a group of people or a boyfriend or girlfriend. But doing things alone can leave you feeling outside of your comfort zone. Try doing things alone every now and then to cultivate your sense of confidence.</li> <li>Practice meditation. By making your mind Still, you can filter out defeating thoughts which can contribute to low self-esteem. Twenty minutes twice a day can have a profound effect on your confidence.</li> <li>Exchange online social networking for face-to-face social networking. Do you spend hours clicking through photos of your “friends,” analysing their outfits or who they’ve been clicked with? Instead of wasting your time online, why not get out and socialize yourself? Putting yourself out there and meeting new people can help you to feel more confident about yourself.</li> <li>Make eye contact. Confident people aren’t afraid to make eye contact. When you’re talking to someone, practice staring that person straight in the eyes. You’ll give off the impression that you’re sure of yourself, confident, and intelligent.</li> <li>Dress your best. If you feel good in whatever you’re wearing, you’re more likely to convey that message to others, too. Instead of going out in your old pair of sweat pants, put some effort into your appearance each time you leave the house. You’ll find that spending just a few minutes on your outfit will help you to step out with confidence.</li> <li>Feel wealthy. Take the time to remind yourself of all you have. You may not be the richest, the most successful, the prettiest or the smartest but isn’t it better to just be yourself? When you appreciate the blessings you do have and stop being in a state of wanting, you don’t need to feel down about what you don’t have.</li> </ol> Written by Tom Cronin. First appeared on <a href="http://stillnessproject.com/" target="_blank">The Stillness Project</a>. Related links: <a href="/health/mind/2016/08/4-proven-ways-to-worry-less/">4 proven ways to worry less</a> <a href="/health/mind/2016/08/the-secret-to-beating-bad-moods/">The secret to beating bad moods</a> <a href="/health/mind/2016/08/one-word-will-help-you-through-hard-times/">One word helps people beat challenging experiences</a>

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10 steps to build your confidence

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