Bowel Cancer Awareness Month is an annual initiative of Bowel Cancer Australia running throughout the month of June (1-30 June), to raise public awareness of a disease that claims the lives of 103 Australians every week.

Bowel cancer is Australia’s second biggest cancer killer.

Bowel Cancer Awareness Month has a positive message – saving lives through early detection – as bowel cancer is one of the most treatable types of cancer if found early.

To get involved:

• Raise awareness in the community
• Organise a fundraiser
• Volunteer with the foundation
• Make a donation
• Order an awareness pack

For more information, visit: https://www.bowelcanceraustralia.org/bowel-cancer-awareness-month

Australian Association for Infant Mental Health  is a national organisation of professionals from many fields who work with infants, young children and their families. They organise this week in a mission to work towards  improving professional and community recognition of infancy and early childhood as a critical time for the development of emotional, physical and mental health.

In the long term, poor infant mental health may negatively impact language acquisition, school performance, cognitive and social development, and emotional regulation.

Running 7 – 12th June, the theme for this year is 2020 Vision: Seeing the World Through Babies’ Eyes, enabling discussion about how the current world is impacting babies and their relationships and well-being.

To get involved:

• Organise a fundraiser
• Volunteer with the foundation
• Make a donation
• Raise awareness on social media

For more information, visit: https://www.aaimhi.org/

Fainting or syncope is relatively common and in some cases it can be a sign of an arrhythmia (heart rhythm disorder) and should not be ignored. Arrhythmias can affect people of all ages and for some, fainting may be the first indication of a problem.

Heart Rhythm Week aims to raise awareness about this disorder, encourage individuals to seek help if required and share the message, “Don’t Miss A Beat”.

“39% of children and 30% of adults are misdiagnosed with epilepsy – many of whom have an underlying, potentially fatal arrhythmia”

Get involved this June by:

• Organising a fundraiser
• Making a donation
• Raising awareness on social media
• Conducting a 30 second pulse check

For more information, visit:
http://www.heartrhythmalliance.org

This week allows a time to focus attention on haemochromatosis and for people to raise awareness of the condition in the community. Haemochromatosis is still diagnosed far too late for many people. Others struggle for years with unexplained symptoms while the condition is overlooked

Haemochromatosis is the most common genetic disorder in Australia.

People with haemochromatosis absorb too much iron from their diet.  Over time this leads to iron overload. If undetected and untreated, the excess iron can cause organ or tissue damage and can potentially result in premature death.

Join the action this June by:

• Raising awareness on social media
• Making a donation
• Putting up posters about the cause

For more information, visit:
https://haemochromatosis.org.au/whw/

Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea is an initiative organised to raise awareness and community spirit regarding cancer. Cancer Council’s Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea is a chance for Australians to get together and raise money for a great cause. One dollar at a time you are making a real difference helping to fund Cancer Council’s vital research, prevention and support service programs.

“1 in 2 Australians will be diagnosed with cancer by the age of 85”

Get involved this May by:

• Donating to the foundation
• Organising your own morning tea
• Raising awareness on social media
• Buying merchandise
• Becoming a corporate partner

For more information, visit: https://biggestmorningtea.com.au/

World Thyroid Day (WTD), May 25th, is dedicated to thyroid patients and to all who are committed to the study and treatment of thyroid diseases worldwide. Thyroid disease is a common problem that can cause symptoms because of over- or under-function of the thyroid gland. The thyroid gland is an essential organ for producing thyroid hormones, which maintain are body metabolism.

“In Australia there are about 60,000 new cases of thyroid disease each year”

Get involved this May by:

• Raising awareness on social media
• Organising a fundraiser
• Making a donation

For more information, visit: 
https://thyroidfoundation.org.au/World-Thyroid-Day

National Palliative Care Week is an initiative to mark the importance of palliative care in the Australian community.

“People in aged care often have more than one chronic illness which affects their health in different ways. Palliative care can help manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life.”

Get involved this May by:

• Joining a twitter conversation
• Getting a conversation going in the community
• Spreading the posters
• Volunteering with the foundation
• Donating

For more information, visit:https://palliativecare.org.au/national-palliative-care-week-2020

Kiss Goodbye to MS is a day to recognise the prevelance of MS in society. MS is the result of damage to myelin – a protective sheath surrounding nerve fibres of the central nervous system. When myelin is damaged, this interferes with messages between the brain and other parts of the body.

‘The average age of diagnosis with MS is just 30, and 3 out of 4 Australians with MS are women.’

There are 25,600 Australians living with MS currently.

Get involved this May by:

• Raising awareness on social media
• Volunteering
• Making a donation

For more information, visit:
https://kissgoodbyetoms.org/

International Nurses Day takes place on 12 May every year and provides an opportunity to recognise nurses around the world for their contribution to health care. The day is celebrated on 12 May as this is the anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birth, the founder of modern nursing.  This year the theme for International Nurses Day is Nurses: “Nurses A Voice to Lead – Nursing the World to Health”.

“Nurses are consistently named one of the most trusted professions, year after year. Taking care of people during times of vulnerability allows nurses to form a special bond with their patients.”

Get involved by:

• Donating
• Showing your appreciation to the nurses in your local community
• Volunteering
• Raising awareness on social media

For more information, visit:
https://www.icn.ch/what-we-do/campaigns/international-nurses-day

Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month is held during May each year to raise community awareness and promote a clear message that domestic and family violence will not be tolerated in our communities.

To get involved this May:

• Raise awareness on social media
• Volunteer with domestic violence oriented foundation
• Donate
• Organise an event

For more information, visit:
 www.domesticviolence.com.au/pages/domestic-violence-prevention-month-1st-31st-may-20.php