Chrissy Dupé, mum of two and Founder of Gigi Bib has been awarded an Australian Good Design Awards, the country’s highest honour for design and innovation.

Gigi Bib is the world’s only wake-proof and accessory-compatible baby and toddler bib range, featuring a ground-breaking one-handed clip that’s designed to be easy to open and close with just the thumb and forefinger – making the transition from feeding to settling baby to sleep much easier for parents.

The Good Design Awards Jury said Gigi Bib is “A clever innovation single-handedly reinventing the baby bib category.”

The winners of the Good Design Awards were announced on Friday 16th September in Sydney, with Gigi Bib taking out a prestigious Good Design Award Winner Accolade in the Product Design category, recognising its outstanding design and innovation.
 
Chrissy created the Gigi Bib range following the difficulties she experienced settling her daughter Gisele (Gigi) to sleep as a baby. The only way to settle her was to feed her, but taking her bib off would always wake her again. There was no bib on the market that was easy and quiet to undo with one hand while nursing a baby. They all had fiddly press studs, loud scratchy velcro strips or had to be pulled off over Gigi’s head.

“I remember thinking, ‘if this is a problem for me, it’s probably a problem for other mums’”, said Chrissy. Research with parents confirmed it was, so she set about creating her own ‘wake-proof’ baby bib.
“It’s taken two and half years to get to this point, and I’m so proud of the range – every aspect has been thoughtfully designed with both parents and babies in mind. Gigi Bib is the solution I really wish I’d had when I was a sleep deprived new mum”.

Projects recognised with an Australian Good Design Award demonstrate excellence in professional design and highlight the impact a design-led approach has on business success and social and environmental outcomes. 
 
Dr. Brandon Gien, CEO of Good Design Australia and Chair of the Australian Good Design Awards said “To be recognised with an Australian Good Design Award is a significant achievement, given the incredibly high standard of projects submitted in this year’s Awards. The Good Design Award is a valuable independent endorsement of professional design quality. It tells the world this project not only represents design excellence, but it also surpasses the criteria for design innovation and design impact.”

Chrissy has also recently been named as a finalist in the national She-com Awards, celebrating the outstanding achievements of women bringing products to life and selling them online, and was a finalist in three categories at the 2022 AusMumpreneur Awards, recognising the country’s best and brightest mums in business.

“Gigi was born with a very rare genetic condition called Mosaic Trisomy 20, and I’m passionate about raising awareness and helping to promote independence for people living with additional needs”, Chrissy said.

Chrissy’s vision is to make life easier; initially for parents, and then for many others through applying her provisionally patented one-handed ‘Gigi Clip’ to adaptive wear and accessible products across the disability and aged care sectors.

Ten cents from each Gigi Bib sale is donated to Rare Voices Australia – the national body that advocates for the two million Australians living with a rare disease, like Gigi.

Gigi Bib website: http://www.gigibib.com.au
Australian Good Design Awards website: https://good-design.org/good-design-awards/
Rare Voices Australia website: http://www.rarevoices.org.au

The BIG Sit.
A national fundraising event towards mental fitness & resilience during Mental Health Month – October 2022

The statistics on mental health and suicide are enough to stop any conversation and make you reflect upon your own life.

Beyond Blue latest statistics reveal that one quarter of Australians will experience an anxiety condition in their lifetime and 1 in 6 Australians are currently experiencing depression or anxiety or both. Suicide is a major public health issue, and more than 3000 people take their life each year, and suicide is the largest cause of death for Australians aged between 15 and 49.

The Sit community, a registered Not for Profit in Australia believe that practicing daily meditation and mindfulness can go a long way to supporting people to feel more connected.

Co-founder of The Sit community, Jason Partington says: “I’m concerned that a significant allocation of our Government’s funding and resources are being focussed on reacting to the current challenges, rather than focussing on the front end, and supporting people to manage their lives proactively”.

In October, Mental Health Month 2022, The Sit Community will be organising a fundraising event called ‘The BIG Sit.’ 28, ten-minute daily themed and guided meditations will be available for participants to attend live, on-line or to download from the website. The aim of this initiative is to enhance mental fitness in stages towards the final event, ‘The BIG Sit’. On Saturday, October 29th a thirty-minute live meditation will be led by Jason Partington and Big Sit Ambassador, James Mathison (Australia Idol and The Project). This event will also be available across Australia online.

Every Saturday morning at 6.30am, in 16 different locations across Australia, individuals are gathering to enjoy the peace and tranquillity of ‘The Sit’ at sunrise. This regular, free community event brings people together from all walks of life, fostering mental fitness and a sense of connectedness to each other outdoors in nature.

The Sit is an NFP organisation that was founded in 2018 by Jason Partington in Avalon, NSW, in response to a year of increased suicide rates in that area. Jason realised the importance of creating an opportunity for individuals to feel not only a sense of belonging to the community and the environment but to feel supported and energised to meet daily challenges with confidence.

The beneficial effects of mindfulness and meditation on mental health and wellbeing are widely accepted. Many have found that meditation can also increase awareness, sense of focus, composure and compassion.

This nationwide program seeks to make meditation as easy and accessible as possible to everybody to encourage a daily habit of meditation for life.

The Big Sit creates an opportunity for people to participate in the development of their mental health and wellbeing while contributing to wider efforts to support those at risk of attempting suicide.

Sign-up for this daily practice during the month of October and help to raise funds for the charity organisation, The Sit community.

Event details
Start: October 1 2022
Concludes: October 30 2022

Website for Registration:
https://thebigsit.com.au/

MEDIA RELEASE

A Tribute to Queen Elizabeth II by Indigenous Australian Leader Ps James Dargin

Australian Indigenous leader James Dargin has paid a tribute to Queen Elizabeth II, saying he has great respect for the Queen and urges Indigenous Australians to honour her as a mother and a grandmother.

‘She Will Be Missed’
Ps James Dargin said, “I have a lot of respect for the Queen because what she has done in her journey. All Indigenous people around the world should honour and thank her.

Honour the Queen as a mother and honour her as a grandmother. We all have mothers and grandmothers, and we honour them. We should do the same for the Queen.

God gave her a job to do. What she did was not only for her family but for the Nations and for the Commonwealth. Let’s honour this amazing and beautiful woman who set an example for all of us. God has got a mission for all of us. And I think we should honour the Queen for hers.

God looks at our heart not at what we do. We should do the same for the Queen. The Queen walked in the unknown with a beautiful heart and a desire to serve her people.
Queen Elizabeth II was an amazing and beautiful woman.

She’s going to be missed.”

True Leader of Her Country
Ps James Dargin said, “She took care of her own country, but she had responsibility for other countries, like Australia and the other 52 Commonwealth countries. We have a lot to be thankful for. All indigenous people around the world should honour and thank her for her service. I have a lot of respect for the Queen because of what she has done for us. I wouldn’t be able to do what she does.

Not only because she’s got a title. Honour her as a mother and grandmother. You see she has always looked after her own family and worked to keep them together and that’s what we should be doing. Keeping our families together. Loving one another and forgiving each other. But the Queen she is going to be missed. Because there’s no one like her.”

Peace, Joy, Love and Forgiveness.
Ps James Dargin said, “We are all individually made. Each of us has a purpose on this earth. Peace, Joy, Love and Forgiveness. I believe that is unity. That’s what this nation is about. This is what it’s about being on this earth. True unity is coming together in love and forgiveness.

Through the Queen and the Royal Family, the Gospel came to Australia and other nations.”

Come Together in Unity
Ps James Dargin said, “Forgiveness is one of the biggest things to achieve unity. You can’t come together if you do not forgive.

We need to come together, not looking at each other as Aboriginals or non-Aboriginal or other nationalities. We need to come together as children of God as brothers and sisters. It’s about the heart. When you connect your heart with others in love that’s true unity.

We all have the same spirit. We’re all made in the image of our Father in Heaven. We were in him before the foundation of the world. The unity that the Father had with the Son is ours as well if we come together in love.

If we don’t forgive each other, there is no unity. The power of forgiveness is powerful even when you are persecuted. The power of love will come and overpower the persecution that you suffer. This all comes from our heart.

You should forgive people. Because if someone comes against you, they planted a seed, and that seed will grow and get bigger. In the end you just become more bitter and angrier. That is why you must forgive.

Do not receive these negative seeds of unforgiveness as these seeds will grow and the only person, it will hurt is you. It is your choice as God doesn’t go against your free will.”

In Peace, Joy. Love and Forgiveness,

By Ps James Dargin
Warilla, NSW

Media Contact:
Warwick Marsh
M: 0418 225 212
E: [email protected]

“A Beautiful Heart”: A Tribute to the Queen by Indigenous Australian Leader Ps James Dargin. VIDEO Duration: 52 Seconds

Powerful Testimony: Australian Indigenous Leader Honours & Prays for the Queen: Ps James Dargin. VIDEO Duration: 44 minutes

“She will be missed”: A Tribute to the Queen by an Australian Indigenous Leader
ARTICLE: 1:2 Minute Read: https://tinyurl.com/mrxm8yvu

A national fundraising event towards mental fitness & resilience during Mental Health Month – October 2022

Local northern-based charity the Sit Community is expecting to attract over 200 Sydney locals to meditate together on Manly Beach at sunrise on Saturday the 29th of October, as the grand finale of its inaugural 29-day event, The BIG Sit.

The Sit Community is hosting a nationwide mental fitness event called The BIG Sit throughout Mental Health Month this October 2022. 28 daily themed guided meditations ranging from ten to twenty minutes will be available for participants to attend live via Facebook or Instagram, or access on demand any time, anywhere from The BIG Sit website and social media. The aim of this initiative is to gradually enhance mental fitness in stages towards the final event, The BIG Sit. On Saturday, 29th of October, a thirty-minute live meditation will be led by Jason Partington and The BIG Sit ambassador, James Mathison (from Australia Idol and The Project). This event will also be streamed live via Instagram and Facebook.

The Sit Community believes that practicing daily meditation and mindfulness can go a long way to supporting people to develop mental fitness.
Beyond Blue latest statistics reveal that one-quarter of Australians will experience an anxiety condition in their lifetime and 1 in 6 Australians are currently experiencing depression or anxiety or both. Suicide is a major public health issue, and more than 3000 people take their life each year, and suicide is the largest cause of death for Australians aged between 15 and 49.
Media Release 22nd September 2022

Co-founder of the Sit Community, Jason Partington says: “It will be amazing to see so many people all meditating together on Manly Beach for Sunrise. There is something special about witnessing people from diverse backgrounds, ages and cultures all sitting together in silence, focussing on their breath and dropping into the present moment.”
The Sit. Community is a not-for-profit organisation that was co-founded in 2018 by Jason Partington and Mike Britton in Avalon, NSW, in response to a year of increased suicide rates in that area. Jason realised the importance of creating an opportunity for individuals to feel not only a sense of belonging to the community and the environment but to feel supported and energised to meet daily challenges with confidence.

The beneficial effects of mindfulness and meditation on mental health and well-being are widely accepted. Many have found that meditation can also increase awareness, sense of focus, composure and compassion.

Every Saturday morning at 6.30 am, at 16 different locations across Australia, individuals are gathering to enjoy the peace and tranquillity of the Sit at sunrise. This weekly free community event (since 2019) brings people together from all walks of life, fostering mental fitness and a sense of connectedness to each other outdoors in nature.
The BIG Sit creates an opportunity for people to participate in the development of their mental health and well-being while contributing to wider efforts to support those at risk of attempting suicide.
Sign-up for this daily practice during the month of October and help to raise funds for the Sit. Community.

Event details:
1st to 29th October 2022
To take part in The BIG Sit. simply visit our official website https://thebigsit.com.au/
*Media Kit available on website.

Media Release 22nd September 2022

Media contact:
Jason Partington Co-Founder of the Sit.
M 0433 780 324
E [email protected]

Melbourne, Australia—Wednesday, 21 September 2022—DiUS, an Australian technology consultancy, has announced its national partnership with Girls in Tech Australia, aimed at encouraging more women to pursue and grow a career in the technology industry.

Founded in 2004, DiUS is a leading Australian technology consultancy that specialises in using emerging technology—cloud, IoT, big data, artificial intelligence and machine learning—to solve difficult problems, get new ideas to market or disrupt traditional business models.

The new partnership will see DiUS working closely with Girls in Tech Australia to connect, empower and inspire more women to pursue and grow a career in the technology industry. The collaboration includes key events such as webinars, virtual hackathons and conferences to provide women—whatever their role or background—a platform for growth.

Joe Losinno, DiUS Co-Founder and CEO said “Diversity is not just about pursuing numbers, percentages or meeting quotas, it’s about creating an inclusive environment that embraces and celebrates everyone’s unique differences. We also believe that to truly make a difference we need to invest in and support those leading the charge, like Girls in Tech, to help supercharge their impact across our industry.
“At the same time, DiUS is making sure that all our people are remunerated and recognised for their skills, contribution and impact—and we’re very proud that there’s no gender pay gap at DiUS—our women are paid as much as our men”.

As at the last gender pay gap review, 30 June 2022, DiUS had dollar-for-dollar, 100% pay equity for women compared to men. According to the Workplace Gender Equality Agency, the Australian national pay gap is 14.1% and in the technology industry, it’s estimated to be 25%. This disparity cannot continue to stand, particularly at a time where the technology industry is experiencing profound growth.
DiUS recently reported record revenues, with annual revenue growth of 21% in FY22 and employee growth of 22% over the last two years, across various locations, in both Australia and New Zealand. Looking ahead, DiUS expects continued momentum in FY23, which includes a focus on hiring and promoting more women across its business.

Partnering with Girls in Tech Australia is part of DiUS’ broader strategy to place the employee experience at the heart of everything it does. Through a focus on key elements of inclusion and breaking down the barriers that have traditionally stopped women from progressing in the industry, DiUS has created frameworks to clarify role expectations and promotion opportunities, as well as a mentoring and coaching framework that supports growth and development, and achieves equal pay parity.

Nicole Tzavaras, DiUS Head of People Experience said, “In tech, there’s often a focus on just software engineering roles, so it’s wonderful to partner with an organisation with a more inclusive vision to connect and develop any woman working in the tech industry, whether their coding, designing or managing social media.

“Over the last 18 years, DiUS has become a place for our diverse team of Navigators to call home and find meaning in what they do. We recognise and value our differences, while sharing our skills and knowledge, and look forward to working together with Girls in Tech to foster a community for all women in the tech industry. We also acknowledge our wider responsibility to encourage more women to consider a career in technology and to help address the gender pay gap across the industry. ”

Renece Brewster, Co-Managing Director Girls in Tech said, “We are thrilled to have DiUS come on board as our newest year-round partner. Girls In Tech is committed to the ongoing education and empowerment of women across the technology sector and we are excited at the opportunities that working with DiUS will bring. As a volunteer led, not-for-profit organisation, we can’t deliver our events and programs to our community without the support of our sponsors. We are excited about what the next year of partnership with DiUS will bring.”

The partnership kicks off with a number of upcoming events including a virtual hackathon in October where coders, designers, marketers and strategists will work together to build apps that solve social problems, and a Girl Boss Night in November that will address some of the biggest challenges for women in the tech industry.

Great Place to Work®, the global authority on workplace culture, recently honored the top companies in Australia’s Best Workplaces List, ranking DiUS as 12th in the medium-sized organisation category in August.

For more information on DiUS’ national partnership with Girls in Tech Australia, follow @dius_computing on Instagram.

About DiUS
DiUS is an Australian technology consultancy with leading capabilities in digital transformation and product development. Our 150+ people across Australia and New Zealand leverage specialist expertise in cloud, data, application development, experience design, IoT and machine learning. We develop innovative solutions for startups and enterprises to solve difficult problems, get new ideas to market or disrupt traditional business models and build our own startup businesses to solve problems in a really new way. Visit us at www.dius.com.au or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Facebook.

About Girls in Tech
Girls in Tech is a global non-profit that works to erase the gender gap in tech. Today, every industry is a tech industry, with a need for people of all skills and backgrounds. We offer education and experiences to help people discover their unique superpower and hone it. We aim to see every person accepted, confident, and valued in tech—just as they are.

Perth, Wednesday 21 September

“There’s no life like #mumlife” – that was the sentiment celebrated today at a special event for Perth mums, with leading local experts in infant nutrition and sleep sharing inspirational real-life stories and hands-on, practical advice for all stages of the parenting journey.

“Mumlife can be incredibly busy at times. Whether it’s doing the school run or childcare drop off, getting to soccer practice on time, or managing that last minute presentation for work, there can be so many responsibilities to juggle. However, we know the health and wellbeing of their little ones remains their top priority, with nutrition and sleep the two hot topics that mums really want to know about,” shared Elke Pascoe, Founder and CEO, The LittleOak Company, Australia’s fastest growing infant nutrition brand.

“So that’s what today’s #mumlife Brunch is all about – an opportunity for Perth mums to take a break from their busy day, connect with each other, hear from experts and gain simple, practical and reliable advice on getting their little ones sleeping and feeding well.”

One of the key discussion points at today’s event was dietary intolerances and the significant impact these can have on the overall health of a child including their sleep behaviour. This is one of the most common challenges seen by Perth mum of three and entrepreneur Donna Moala. A certified Sleep Sense Consultant and the Founder of Bub2Sleep, Donna has worked with thousands of families globally using a gentle and wholistic approach to sleep training.

“I am so honoured to be invited as a speaker for this event. As a sleep specialist, I have seen first-hand how dietary intolerances have affected baby sleep. It is one of the main issues that I investigate before we commence sleep training. When I work one on one with families and see these issues, it is the first question I ask. Looking at intolerances goes hand in hand for better sleep,” shared Donna.

Joining Donna at the event was Jess Wilson, another successful Perth mum and businesswoman. As a Functional Nutritionist, Gut Health and Hormone Practitioner and Wellness Coach, Jess works closely with women to achieve their best health through healthy, clean eating. She was inspired to take this career path after her two sons faced serious health issues.

“When my children were born I was faced with the hardest challenge of my life. They were very sick, and I found myself in a four year long fight for their health that would very nearly break them (and me). I turned to the healing power of food to help us, and our world started to turn around. It’s really quite simple: what you put in equals what you get out. The better quality fuel you provide your body, the better it runs! Energy, movement, sleep, moods, gut health, and hormones all rely on wholefoods nutrients. Eating clean is the easiest way to feel good!” said Jess.

It was this desire for nutritional goodness combined with the inherent need for convenience and flexibility that has come to define modern day parenting that drove the development of LittleOak’s From Fresh Sachets.

“We’re really hoping we can make #mumlife easier. No matter where parents and carers are or what’s on their to-do list, our From Fresh Sachets will ensure that wholesome nutrition for baby or toddler is always achievable. With our new Sachets, it’s simply a case of pour, shake and feed. They are a great option to keep in your nappy bag, handbag or daycare bag for on-the-go goodness,” Elke said.

For more information or to confirm attendance at the event contact:
Belinda Futter, Communications Manager, The LittleOak Company, 0416 147 306

Tuesday 20 September 2022
For immediate release

Winners announced for the
IFA Awards Programs

IFA 2020 – 2022 Interior Fitout Awards
IFA 2020 – 2022 Design Awards

Australia’s holiday capital, The Gold Coast, played host to the Interior Fitout Association’s (IFA) awards gala dinner on Saturday 10 September, celebrating the wealth of talent throughout the nation’s interior fitout industry.

The IFA awards program provides the highest accolades to a vital industry that delivers innovation and creativity to retail, hospitality, and office spaces everywhere.

Martine Poulain, CEO of IFA, has commended the high standard maintained by the industry since the last awards in 2019. “The interior fitout industry, like many others, has faced difficult challenges over the pandemic years and, in fact, many of the projects celebrated were completed under unprecedented circumstances. The innovative and creative men and women of our industry have risen to the challenge, and it is an honour to applaud their efforts.”

With 28 categories, entries were received from across the country, with the winners announced in conjunction with the IFA 23rd National Conference on Queensland’s Gold Coast.

The Interior Fitout Awards, sponsored by Laminex, once again highlighted a high standard of craftsmanship – in restaurants, clubs, healthcare, commercial office spaces and more.

The highly sought-after National Interior Fitout of the Year Award went to JRCM Commercial Joinery, for its stunning fitout of Her Majesty’s Theatre in Adelaide. The immense and often complex refurbishment features curved bulkheads, feature ceilings and wall linings, as well as show-stopping twin spiral staircases, all working together to create a grand and opulent space worthy of its history and name.

On the other end of the scale, it’s worth noting that smaller projects can be equally successful. Indetail Projects’ fitout of Café Lafayette in Melbourne took out the top prize for the Food/Restaurant up to $250,000 category, with its clever use of stainless steel, glass and black datum floors contrasting the existing brickwork, bluestone, and timber columns of the 130-year-old heritage townhouse.

The Best Use of Sponsor’s Product (Laminex) award was once again won by Prestige Joinery (NSW), for the Australian Technology Park Building 2 (Foundry). From curved timber reception desks to food preparation and refrigeration hubs, and meeting rooms with extra-large whiteboard and cork walls, the ATP Building is a state-of-the-art work and lifestyle destination.

One of the more unique categories, the Australian Made award, recognises those companies that integrate Australian materials, promote Australian manufacturing, and support local master tradespeople. This year, the Australian Made Commercial award went to McConaghy Projects for the McConaghy Properties Corporate Office, and the Australian Made Retail award went to PQI Group for PASPALEY.

On a state level, Alexander Interiors was given top honour for NSW, with their impressive MECCA Flagship Store, while WA’s Diverse Project Group won their state award for their luxurious fitout of Watches of Switzerland. The top Victorian award went to ONE68 for the spicy and exotic Mejico/INDU, and Vos Construction & Joinery took out the Tasmanian award for Cascade Café & Bar Hobart Airport. PQI Group won their second award of the night, the Queensland win for their deluxe PASPALEY fitout, and the SA top honour went to JRCM for Her Majesty’s Theatre, also the National Winner.

The IFA 2020-2022 Design Awards, sponsored by Scentre Group, once again showcased the enviable talents of the designers who make our work and play spaces a joy to be in.

The Best Design Hospitality award winner, LiteCo Studio, took home the trophy for their unique mix of style and fun for the K Square Karaoke Lounge, while Best Design Commercial went to Clarke Hopkins Clarke for their innovative, modern fitout of the expansive DECO Innovation Centre. Ellivo Architects took out the top honour for Best Design Professional Suites for the inviting and sophisticated Go2 Health premises, and the Best Design Retail award went to Elvin Tan Design for Awesome Nails & Spa with its ultra-feminine palette.

“The IFA awards programs continue to place credit where it’s due – with the people behind some of our country’s most beautiful interior spaces. In the face of tighter budgets, constant technological changes, and ongoing skills shortages, it is heartening to see an industry that continues to go from strength to strength”, Ms Poulain concluded.

— ends —

Scientifically-backed book debunks myths around sugar in health and nutrition

A new book by dietitian and physiologist, Yvonne Webb, explores sugar and the important role it plays in the everyday life of animals and plants on our planet, specifically humans.

For Goodness’ Sake, Let’s Talk Sugar discusses food behaviours around food intake and weight control, and the importance of sugars and other carbohydrates in the diet and their central role in control and maintaining the equilibrium of both the individual and the earth.

The book takes a practical approach to food preparation and good food choice. It includes topics such as:

– how taste buds work
– ending the confusion about energy and calories/kilojoules
– reading and interpreting food labels
– words that indicate a food contains sugar
– the surprising role of leftovers for weight control
– food production
– breakfast or no breakfast
– budgeting
– good consumerism
– choosing recipes that match a lifestyle

Yvonne Webb realised a book needed to be written on these topics when people visiting her clinic needed help with the ‘what’ and ‘how’ of managing their weight, particularly newly diagnosed diabetics.

“Some were quite traumatised by the misinformation around sugar and the lack of accurate knowledge and confusion around sugar, carbohydrates and weight control,” she said.

“I’d be asked questions such as, ‘is sugar a poison?’ ‘should I snack?’ and ‘should we have a sugar tax?’.

“My advice on which this book is based, is underpinned by science that has been confirmed through research. I redirect the arguments over health and nutrition back to the central issue of food intake, including sugar.

“The book does not demonise any food, including sugar. However, a food classified as ‘good’ does not give permission for unlimited intake.

“Let’s Talk Sugar is about how to enjoy sugar and all the foods you eat. Understanding my recommendations will provide readers with all the information they need to adopt a healthy lifestyle,” said Yvonne.

Written for both professionals and lay people, chapters throughout the 180-page book published by Austin Macauley, explore subjects such as:

– non-nutritive sweeteners
– how sugar is created and various terminologies
– how the human body processes sugar
– the role of carbohydrates in energy supply
– resistant starch
– the hormone insulin and latest research
– reading RDIs on food labels

One of Yvonne Webb’s key take-away messages is that serve size is crucial in a person’s eating habits, whether they want to control their weight or their blood sugar.

“This book differs from other health and nutrition books in that it allows readers to make the informed decisions that are right for them. It proposes alternative strategies to beating sugar addiction.

“One message from reading the book is that if you keep doing ‘naughty’ things, repercussions result that could lead to irreversible change.”

For Goodness’ Sake, Let’s Talk Sugar is available from all good online bookstores including Amazon, Booktopia and Dymocks. Prices start from $5.84 (eBook) to $27.75 (paperback). The book is distributed through Ingram’s Lightning Source. ISBN: 978-1-5289976-9-0.

Ends

About the author, Yvonne Webb

Yvonne Webb has led an accomplished professional life as an academic, culinary dietitian, author, nutritionist/physiologist, researcher and consultant to government bodies and industry, and has been a national and international speaker. She has held leadership positions on various relevant bodies.
An Honours from Shimane University, Japan, and time spent at Uppsala University, Sweden, have been part of her active life. She also lectured at QUT and the University of Newcastle.
She is a Slow Food disciple and gourmand and was at one time Leader of Slow Food Brisbane.
Concern with the obesity epidemic and the amount of myth, fake news and marketing surrounding this problem has led to this book.
Having previously established a very successful weight control clinic, Yvonne has decided to reveal her secrets based on established scientific knowledge. Yvonne has now retired and cultivates an edible garden and gives talks to community groups. https://yvonnewebb.ampbk.com/

About the book, For Goodness’ Sake, Let’s Talk Sugar – In Food Intake and Weight Control

An enlightening guide and refreshing approach to sugar. The book, scientifically backed and complete with infographics born of decades of research and experience, aspires to inform both professionals and lay people alike on the controversial topic of sugar in health and nutrition, debunking common fearmongering myths in the process. It:
– answers that important question of what you need to know about sugar
– poses and then answers the question – what is the connection between sugar and energy?
– reveals the answer to that all-important question – what does a teaspoon of sugar weigh and how many calories/kilojoules does it contain?
– discusses the important role of leftovers
– explains how to read the food label of common drinks and foods containing sugar
– identifies the connection between atmospheric carbon dioxide and sugars
– suggests the important information on how to lose and maintain weight. What is the sugar-free diet?
– informs about the power of marketing of sugar-containing foods
– answers the questions you have always wanted to ask but didn’t know where to go.

The book can be purchased from the author’s website at:

Media enquiries

Wendy McWilliams, WMC PR. Tel: 0421 364 665.
Email: [email protected]

Snippets from For Goodness’ Sake, Let’s Talk Sugar – In Food Intake and Weight Control:

* Sugar is not poison. White sugar is not made by industry. It is made by plants and then refined by industry.

* Stewed apple is considered the best natural anti-constipation and regulatory agent. Flavour stewed apple with cinnamon rather than extra sugar.

* Starchy foods such as pasta, pizza, potatoes, white bread and white rice etc, end up as glucose before they even enter the blood stream. They take a while to digest because polysaccharides are bigger and more complex than disaccharides. That’s why for people with diabetes starches are recommended over simple sugars. They don’t have the large sudden spike in blood sugar that happens after eating glucose and sucrose.

* A common way to convert digestible starches to indigestible starches (fibre) is to have them as leftovers. To get the full benefit of this extra fibre, eat leftovers a few times a week. Leftover rice or potato is often available.

* Don’t throw out good food; store it well and eat it the next day, heated if necessary.

* Ribose and deoxyribose are sugars that can make DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid, the stuff of our genes) and RNA (ribonucleic acid, the DNA messenger), which are required to make new white cells.

* Too much sugar challenges the available insulin and outcompete the Vitamin C with negative consequences. But having too much Vitamin C can tilt the balance to the other extreme, also with negative effects.

* The average human tongue has 2000-8000 tastebuds with the average life of a tastebud being about 10 days.

* When plant leaves are making sugar with the help of the sun, they mop up that atmospheric carbon dioxide and replace it with oxygen.

* If you have a sugar problem, tackle it. No-one else can or will do it for you. But it’s not that hard. Think about what you want to eat and why, be mindful of your goals, be aware of the seductive marketing hype and go food shopping with a budget.

* Some public opinion advocates a swing away from high sugar to high fat diets. But the secret of a healthy diet is NOT high anything. Sub-nutrition is the norm in nature and we can learn a lot from this.

* The role of sugar in supplying energy for work is well understood. Even in WWII, when the British population were kept healthy by enormous effort during rationing, the traditional role of cakes and baked goods was paramount.

For more than 20 years, Brighton Dental Suite has been the trusted resource in the northern Brisbane suburb of Brighton for everything from routine check-ups to root canals to cosmetic dentistry. When founding dental practitioner Dr Anthony Spink was forced to slow down due to a cycling accident, he handed over to the dynamic husband and wife team, Dr Ken and Dr Mei.

They have taken Brighton Dental Suite from strength to strength and have built on Dr Spink’s customer-focused approach. At Brighton Dental Suite, Dr Mei and Dr Ken believe in treating patients, not just teeth, and they make an effort to build relationships as well as smiles.

Beaming Smiles and Glowing Reports

The approach has certainly met the approval of local residents, who have been effusive in their praise of Dr Ken, Dr Mei and their team. “The best in the business…. These people truly care. To them, you aren’t just another number!” said one, while others remarked on the cleanliness of the practice, the modern technology in use and most of all, the reassurance and comfort that was on offer, especially to nervous patients.

Long Term Protection

These days, there are numerous cosmetic dentistry practitioners that focus only on superficial results. Dr Mei and Dr Ken believe in providing their patients with treatments that will deliver protection in the long term as well as a smile to be proud of. At Brighton Dental Suite, they offer services ranging from general dentistry, such as clean-ups and fillings, to surgical procedures like root canals and extractions.

They also offer a range of long-term cosmetic dentistry services, such as bridges and crowns. A crown can be likened to a cap that is bonded to a damaged tooth. It looks just like a natural tooth, and each crown is custom-made to each patient’s specification. A bridge is conceptually similar but covers the gap where one or more teeth are missing. It leaves the patient with a natural bite and helps the remaining teeth stay healthy and in the correct position.

Of course, procedures like these have a cosmetic benefit. In fact, they leave patients with the smile they have always dreamed about. However, what’s more important is that they help improve oral health, and patients can enjoy their benefits for years to come.

A Range of Other Dental Services

In addition to routine dentistry, surgical procedures and cosmetic dentistry, Brighton Dental Suite has a full range of other dental services on offer to ensure patients stay on top of their oral health. These include the following:

• Whitening for discoloured or stained teeth
• A range of orthodontic treatments for crooked teeth, including conventional braces and Invisalign
• Veneers for damaged or uneven teeth
• Implants to replace lost or extracted teeth
• Sleep apnoea consultation and treatment

Every patient’s dental needs are different, and that’s something that is understood and even celebrated at Brighton Dental Suite. Dr Ken, Dr Mei and their team take pride in building relationships with individuals as they sit down with them to discuss the different options and work out the treatment plan that will be right for them.

SXiQ, an IBM Company
Melbourne, 19 September 2022 – News release

Australian Catholic University partners with SXiQ, an IBM company, to deliver a digital transformation program of work for staff and students.

Australian Catholic University (ACU) is a top 2% world-ranked university and sits in the global top ten of Catholic universities. It operates seven campuses in Australia, an eighth in Rome and has more than 33,000 students, over 125,000 alumni and around 2,500 staff. ACU stands for meaningful education, impactful research, and life-changing community engagement.

ACU is on a strategic digital transformation journey, to optimise learning, teaching, research, and services; enabling more collaboration, innovation, and the ability to deliver new solutions for staff and students.

A key program of work in this strategic journey is the merger of multiple Microsoft 365 tenancies into a single tenancy for ACU staff and students. The current environment – one tenancy for staff and one tenancy for students – is hindering learning and preventing effective collaboration between the two groups. The tenancy migration and merger program of work will combine the tenancies, streamline communications, improve collaboration for students and staff, and ultimately simplify IT operational support processes and scalability for the university.

Niranjan Prabhu, Chief Information Officer and Director of IT at ACU, says “this migration plays a critical role in fulfilling our strategic goals for the university, setting us up to continue to improve and enhance the student and staff user experience.”

ACU was clear in its request for an endorsed Microsoft partner with deep experience in performing complex Microsoft 365 tenancy migrations and mergers. SXiQ has delivered multiple complex, time-critical, identity and Microsoft 365 tenancy migrations and mergers for some of Australia’s largest and best-known brands, helping those organisations better collaborate with their teams, customers and supply-chains.

Niranjan Prabhu said SXiQ was selected for this project based on its:
• Real-world examples of success based on previous engagements;
• Deep technical expertise and understanding of the ACU environment, with a commitment to delivering a better user experience;
• Extensive working knowledge of security and identity and its importance – not just to the solution but to ACU’s overall user-security;
• Demonstrated architecture and design capabilities, with thorough designs not just for migrating and merging the tenancies, but also substantially improving collaboration across all user types;
• Unique proposition of providing ACU a partner that possesses start-up speed and agility with enterprise skills and scale – backed by IBM’s global capability;
• Extensive migration and modernisation experience in a complex, mission-critical, highly integrated environment; and
• Deep knowledge, extensive experience, and expertise in the Microsoft-way, with multiple Gold Certifications and having achieved Microsoft Advanced Specialisation Partner status (one of very few partners in Australia to do so).

John Hanna, CEO at SXiQ said “Our team’s deep understanding of Microsoft’s Teams and Active Directory environments allowed us to architect a migration approach that not only solves the collaboration issues being experienced, but one that acts as an enabler for future digital transformation. This program of work will enable ACU to collaborate, innovate and embrace regular platform and capability changes regularly, securely, and at speed across their entire user group.”

This project of work is expected to deliver a host of benefits for ACU, helping to drive a seamless experience for students and employees and reducing operational costs. “Ultimately, our digital transformation strategy is about supporting ACU students and all our staff,” says Mr Prabhu, “by making smart decisions about technology deployment we are enabling continuous innovation and creating an agile, optimised way of learning and work.”