Introduction Previous articles in this series described the development of a cycle from prehistory to 1900, whereby increasing maritime trade necessitated larger and more efficient ships to transport merchandise and better weapons to defend or attack them, facilitating further trading opportunities.1,2,3,4,5,6,7 However, it was not until the 18th century that Western medicine had developed sufficiently… Read more »
Introduction Previous articles described the development of a cycle from prehistory to the end of the Napoleonic wars, whereby increasing seaborne trade necessitated larger and more efficient ships. This led to more and better weapons to defend or attack them, thereby creating further trading opportunities.1,2,3,4,5,6,7 While the technical developments in ships, weapons and medicine often… Read more »
Introduction This paper—and the series to date and to follow—is based on conclusions reached in a previous series by the author regarding occupational and environmental medicine in the ADF.61,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11 The previous series describes why high workplace illness and injury rates confirm the need to improve the management of hazards associated with ADF workplaces, with better… Read more »
Introduction Previous articles in this series describe the development of a cycle from prehistory to the end of the Elizabethan period, whereby increasing trade necessitated larger and more efficient ships to transport merchandise and better weapons to defend or attack them, thereby facilitating further trading opportunities. 1,2,3,4,5,6 However, it was not until the 18th century that… Read more »
Introduction There has been a longstanding misperception within Defence, government and the general public that the ADF health services only need to provide treatment services. This notion fails to recognise the other two intrinsically linked ‘purposes’ (what would now be called ‘missions’) identified by Arthur Graham Butler in his seminal WWI medical history:1,2 enabling operational… Read more »
Dear Sir/Madam, The July 2022 JMVH article regarding John Keith Henderson, the first Australian to provide dental treatment to personnel on active service, is important because it expands on an otherwise rarely-examined component of Australia’s military medical history. While commending the author’s work to that end, the article requires further elaboration regarding the medical detachment… Read more »
Introduction Previous articles describe the development from prehistory to the end of the Viking period, of a cycle whereby increasing trade necessitated larger and more efficient ships to transport merchandise and better weapons to defend or attack, both of which facilitated more trading opportunities.1,2,3,4,5 However, it was not until the 18th century that Western medicine had… Read more »
BEN SHEPHARD WAS BORN IN 1948 and read History at Oxford University. He made numerous historical and scientific documentaries, including The World at War and The Nuclear Age, the former being particularly well-known on Australian TV in the 1970s. He writes for the Times Literary Supplement and was a contributor to 150 Years of British… Read more »
Two RECENT AUSTRALIAN BOOKS offer insights into the past, present and future nature of the human element in war. It is suggested that both books are highly relevant to ADF health staff, particularly with respect to understanding their role in providing health services in such circumstances. THE HUMAN FACE OF WARFARE Following national service in… Read more »
INTRODUCTION The Australian Policy Handbook, by Peter Bridgman and Glyn Davis, was “designed for those who become embroiled in the sometimes turbulent world of public policy…”.1 Given the substantial changes to the Australian Defence Force’s (ADF’s) health services in recent years, it seems worthwhile comparing the Australian Policy Cycle, as described by Bridgman and Davis,… Read more »
INTRODUCTION THIS IS THE SECOND OF A TWO-PART ARTICLE on English naval medicine during the Tudor period. Both parts follow a previous article on medieval naval medicine, with the same aim of making comparisons with contemporary ADF practice in order to identify common issues.’ Like the previous article, they are based on information from the… Read more »
Introduction THIS IS THE FIRST OF A TWO-PART ARTICLE on English naval medicine during the Tudor period, from the end of the Wars of the Roses in 1485 until the death of Elizabeth I in 1603. Both parts follow an article on medieval naval medicine and have the same aim of making comparisons with contemporary… Read more »
Introductory Note on Sources In the absence of access to original material (not to mention a lack of knowledge of Latin and Middle English), this article is based on information from the first volume (of four) of a history of British naval medicine, written by Dr John Joyce Keevil MD, BCh, MRCS, LRCP, DTM&H.1 Born… Read more »
Introduction This article follows previous papers by the author, regarding occupational and environmental medicine in the ADF.1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10 These papers, as well as a 2019 Productivity Commission inquiry,11 indicate that high workplace illness and injury rates confirm the need to improve the management of hazards associated with ADF workplaces, with better emphasis on prevention. To this… Read more »
N Westphalen Introduction This article follows previous papers by the author, regarding occupational and environmental medicine in the ADF.1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 These papers, as well as a recent Productivity Commission inquiry,10 describe why high workplace illness and injury rates confirm the need to improve the management of hazards associated with ADF workplaces, with better emphasis on prevention. To this… Read more »
Commander N Westphalen Introduction This article is the latest of a series regarding the role of occupational and environmental medicine in the Australian Defence Force (ADF).1,2,3,4,5,6,7 These articles, as well as a recent Productivity Commission inquiry,8 indicate that high workplace illness and injury rates confirm the need to improve the management of hazards associated with… Read more »
Introduction A previous article described the prehistoric origins of weapons, ships and medicine. Although hominids began using weapons for hunting animals up to five million years ago, the earliest archaeological evidence of their use by Homo sapiens for warlike purposes (as opposed to other forms of interpersonal violence) is only dated to c11,000 BCE. This… Read more »
Purpose More than a century after its establishment, many Royal Australian Navy (RAN) uniforms and ranks still reflect those used by the British Royal Navy (RN). Previous articles have described the history of Navy sailor uniforms or ‘rigs’ since 1509,1 the development of male and female health sailor uniforms since 1879,2 and the evolution of… Read more »
Neil Westphalen Introduction This article follows previous papers by the author, regarding occupational and environmental medicine in the Australian Defence Force (ADF).1 They assert that high rates of workplace illness and injury indicate the need to improve the management of hazards associated with ADF workplaces, with better emphasis on prevention. They also advocated that the… Read more »
Major David J Heslop, Commander Neil Westphalen Introduction This article focuses on a specialist area of military medicine, following a series of recently published papers regarding occupational and environmental medicine in the ADF.1 They assert that high rates of preventable workplace illness and injury indicate the need to improve the management of occupational and environmental… Read more »
Commander Neil Westphalen, Royal Australian Navy Reserve Purpose Mariners have been identifiable by their clothing for centuries. This reflects their ongoing need for attire that allows free movement for negotiating ladders, doorways and hatches, and performing physically demanding tasks such as hauling lines on cluttered decks and moving heavy weights. In the past, their garments… Read more »
07 March 2015 Dear Editor, The article by Kristina Griffin regarding the evolution and role changes of Australian military medics1 requires some amplification and clarification regarding its scope and conclusions: The content and referencing of the article is clearly limited to those ADF medics who provide health support for operations It is respectfully suggested that… Read more »
Introduction The key functions of military health services[1] include assessing military suitability for military service. This information is used by personnel managers, commanders and supervisors to minimise the impact of: medical condition(s) of members which affect their ability to undertake normal workplace duties, and the opposite, , i.e. normal workplace duties affecting their medical condition(s)…. Read more »
The Canberra class Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) ships will replace the LPAs Manoora and Kanimbla, and the LSH Tobruk. Planning for these new ships began in 2000, based on Australia’s experience with INTERFET in East Timor. In 2004, invitations for tender were sought from a French company offering the Mistral class ships, and the Spanish… Read more »
Abstract On 19 November 1941, HMAS Sydney was 100nm off Shark Bay, on her way back to Fremantle after escorting the troopship Zealandia to Sunda Strait, between Java and Sumatra. At 1600 she encountered the German auxiliary cruiser Kormoran. The ensuring battle began at 1730 and ended at 1825. Sydney was last seen on fire… Read more »
Rear Admiral Graeme Shirtley RFD RANR MB BS (NSW), DDR (Syd), FRANZCR Surgeon General Australian Defence Force 09 May 2005 – 03 July 2008. Patron of the Australian Military Medicine Association 09 May 2005 – 31 December 2008 RANR Graeme Shirtley served as the Surgeon General Australian Defence Force (SGADF) for just over three years. During… Read more »
Dr Bruce James Cheffins died at the Fremantle Hospital on 14 March 2008, as the result of a vehicle accident. He left behind his wife Andrae, sons Peter and Richard, daughters Bridget and Susie, and four grandchildren. His RAN service was noteworthy for his compassion and leadership aboard HMAS Perth (DDG 38, Captain P.H. Doyle… Read more »
Dear Sir, I refer to the recent JMVH article1 regarding the 2004 Stevens Review2 with respect to command of the ADF’s health services. Military health care is similar to civilian occupational health practice in that it involves three stakeholders: the clientele, their employer (ie commanders), and health service providers.To remain relevant military health organisations must… Read more »
Introduction The opportunity to gain feedback from customers is an important facet of improving the delivery of health services. In the Defence Health Service this is primarily achieved through Customer Satisfaction Surveys per Health Directive 920. However this is focused on patients and misses the other customer base: the Commanding Officer (CO). This shortfall was… Read more »
Lionel Lockwood was born in Natimuk, near Horsham in Victoria, on 13 January 1902. He was the eldest of four siblings and son of Alfred Wright Lockwood (1867-1956), journalist and proprietor of the West Wimmera Mail newspaper, and Alice Ellen, nee Francis. Lionel Lockwood was born in Natimuk, near Horsham in Victoria, on 13 January… Read more »
Introduction The School of Ship Safety and Survivability – West (SSSS-W) at HMAS STIRLING is one of three Royal Australian Navy facilities responsible for shipboard damage control training. For many years these facilities used diesel fuel for realistic firefighting training, however concerns regarding environmental issues, and trainee and instructor exposure to diesel smoke, resulted a change to LPG… Read more »
