World Diabetes Day 2017 – 14 November 

World Diabetes Day is an international event to raise awareness about diabetes, celebrated every year on 14 November. Diabetes is a serious complex condition which can affect the entire body. Diabetes requires daily self care and if complications develop, diabetes can have a significant impact on quality of life and can reduce life expectancy. While there is currently no cure for diabetes, you can live an enjoyable life by learning about the condition and effectively managing it.

It is difficult to estimate the exact number of people with diabetes in Australia, but it is likely that more than 1.2 million Australians are living with the disease.

Get involved by:

• Joining a support group
• Donating to the foundation
• Volunteering
• Raising awareness on social media
• Organising a fundraiser

For more information: https://www.idf.org/our-activities/world-diabetes-day/wdd-2017.html

Perinatal Depression & Anxiety Awareness Week 2017

12- 18 November 2017

PANDA – Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia supports women, men and families across Australia to recover from post and antenatal depression and anxiety: a serious illness that affects around 100,000 Australian families every year.
PANDA operates Australia’s only specialist perinatal anxiety and depression National Helpline which recognises how it is important to reduce the effects of this widely-spread mental illness.

Get involved this November by:

• Volunteering
• Raising awareness on social media
• Encouraging the community to donate

For more information. please visit: www.panda.org.au

World Pneumonia Day 2017

12 November 2017

Pneumonia is caused by an infection of the lung. Most infections are either due to bacteria or viruses, although often a cause is never found. This is a dangerous disease which can have severe effects on any individual who contracts it. World Pneumonia Day brings people from all over the world together, uniting to demand that something be done to fight the pneumonia illness. It helps to highlight the severity of pneumonia and encourages more organisations to look at ways of combating the disease.

Pneumonia accounts for 16% of all deaths of children under 5 years old, killing 920 136 children in 2015.

To get involved:

• Organise you own fundraiser
• Donate to the foundation
• Volunteer
• Raise awareness on social media

For more information: http://stoppneumonia.org/

World NET Cancer Day 10 November 2017

The aim of World NET Cancer Day is to raise awareness of NET cancers among decision makers, health professionals and the general public. Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) is the umbrella term for a group of unusual cancers which develop from cells in the diffuse endocrine system. NETs can affect people of any age, and can be slow-growing or very aggressive.

5-7 out of every 100,000 are diagnosed with Net cancer each year.

Get involved by:

• Joining a support group
• Donating to the foundation
• Volunteering
• Raising awareness on social media
• Organising a fundraiser

For more  information: http://netcancerday.org/learn-more/what-is-net-cancer/

Movember 2017

The Movember Foundation is the leading global health organisation committed to changing the face of men’s health, stopping men dying too young. The state of men’s health is in crisis. Men experience worse longer-term health than women and die on average six years earlier.

Prostate cancer rates will double in the next 15 years. Testicular cancer rates have already doubled in the last 50. Three quarters of suicides are men. Poor mental health leads to half a million men taking their own life every year. That’s one every minute.

Be a part of groundbreaking change and support’The Movember Foundation’ to address the crisis at a global level.

To get involved:

• Donate to the foundation
• Grow a moustache to show your support
• Organise a fundraiser
• Raise awareness on social media

For more information: https://au.movember.com/

Lung Health Awareness Month 2017

Every day we breathe about 22,000 times. Most of us never stop to think about our breathing, it’s just something we do. It has been proven that more than 50% of all Australians rarely or never think about the health of their lungs and Lung Foundation Australia encourages Australians to take the health of their lungs seriously. This month serves as an incentive to prioritise the importance of maintaining good lung care.

In 2014, lung cancer was the leading cause of cancer deaths in Australia. It is estimated that it is still the most common cause of death from cancer in 2017. 

Get involved by:
– Donating to the foundation
– Volunteering
– Raising awareness on social media
– Informing the community

For more information, visit:  http://lungfoundation.com.au

International Lennox-Gas taut Syndrome Awareness Day

November 1, 2017

Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome (LGS) is a rare and often debilitating form of childhood-onset epilepsy. This is a day to inform the community of the effects and risks of lennox-gastaut syndrome on children and the overall community.

LGS is seen in approximately 4% of children with epilepsy, and it is more prevalent in males than females.

There are many ways that you can get involved:

• Raise awareness on social media
• Inform the community
• Volunteer at an event
• Donating to the foundation
• Organising a fundraiser

For more information, visit: http://www.epilepsy.com/learn/types-epilepsy-syndromes/lennox-gastaut-syndrome-lgs

World Polio Day 2017

Poliomyelitis is a highly infectious disease that most commonly affects children under the age of 5. Most know it as poliovirus. The virus is spread person to person, typically through contaminated water. It can attack the nervous system, and in some instances, lead to paralysis. Although there is no cure, there is a safe and effective vaccine.

“The number of worldwide polio cases has fallen from an estimated 350,000 in 1988 to 407 in 2013—a decline of more than 99% in reported cases.”

Continue this fall in Polio by:

• Volunteering
• Raising awareness on social media
• Organising a fundraiser
• Donating

For more information, visit: https://www.endpolio.org/world-polio-day

Pink Ribbon Day 21st October 2017

Cancer Council’s Pink Ribbon campaign aims to raise awareness about breast and gynecological cancers, as well as raise funds for prevention programs, support services and vital cancer research. Cancer Council is dedicated to beating women’s cancers through prevention and education initiatives, and raising awareness, all while working towards a future where breast and gynecological cancers are manageable, treatable diseases.

“In 2017, it is estimated that 6,073 new cases of gynaecological cancer will be diagnosed in Australia.”

Get involved this October by:

• Donating
• Hosting a fundraiser
• Volunteering
• Raising awareness on social media

For more information, visit: https://www.pinkribbon.com.au/

The National Week of Deaf People (NWDP) is a weeklong national celebration of Deaf individuals and the Deaf Australian community. This week is an opportunity for deaf people around the country to receive recognition and awareness in light of their disability.

“1 in 6 Australians are affected by hearing loss”

To be a part of this week:

• Organise your own fundraiser
• Inform the community
• Volunteer with the foundation
• Make a donation

For more information, visit: http://deafaustralia.org.au/nwdp/