Victorian youth mental health expert Professor Patrick McGorry has been named Australian of the Year 2010.

“For the past 50 years, the Australian of the Year Awards program has honoured those among us who inspire us, and do us proud as a nation,” said Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.

“This year I am again awed by the achievements and contributions of the award recipients, who demonstrate that greatness comes in many forms and all Australians have the potential for greatness within us.”

Fifty seven year old Professor McGorry is Executive Director of Orygen Youth Health (OYH), a world-renowned youth mental health service which has placed Australia at the forefront of innovation in the early intervention and treatment of mental illness.

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Kermit the Frog asserted that it wasn’t easy being green, but if a recent report from the UK is correct, it may be profitable!

The paper, from the interdisciplinary Centre for Environment and Society at the University of Essex, UK, has highlighted the importance of societies becoming greener. The report, entitled ‘Nature, Childhood, Health and Life Pathways’, suggests ten strategies

The United Nations has declared 2010 the International Year of Biodiversity (IYB). Throughout the year initiatives will be organized to disseminate information, promote the protection of biodiversity and encourage organizations, institutions, companies and individuals to take direct action to reduce the constant loss of biological diversity worldwide. Countdown 2010 works at governmental level by monitoring countries’ responses to the 2010 Biodiversity Target and at local level by mobilising local actors that take concrete actions. In only a few years of activity, Countdown 2010 has been able to mobilize an increasing number of actors ranging from local authorities and businesses to civil society organizations. With a powerful network of more than 900 Partners, Countdown 2010 is one of the leading initiatives mobilizing action for the 2010 Target...

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A recent article from the Australian: INVESTING billions today to protect threatened ecosystems and dwindling biodiversity would reap trillions in savings over the long haul, says a UN-backed report issued today.

More than a billion of Earth's poorest people depend directly on coral reefs, forests, mangroves, aquifers and other forms of "natural capital" to eke out a living.

Unless world leaders take swift action to halt the accelerating depletion of these resources, the result could be hunger, conflict and environment refugees, the study warns.

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The United Nations has declared 2010 the International Year of Biodiversity (IYB). Throughout the year initiatives will be organized to disseminate information, promote the protection of biodiversity and encourage organizations, institutions, companies and individuals to take direct action to reduce the constant loss of biological diversity worldwide. Countdown 2010 works at governmental level by monitoring countries’ responses to the 2010 Biodiversity Target and at local level by mobilising local actors that take concrete actions. In only a few years of activity, Countdown 2010 has been able to mobilize an increasing number of actors ranging from local authorities and businesses to civil society organizations. With a powerful network of more than 900 Partners, Countdown 2010 is one of the leading initiatives mobilizing action for the 2010 Target...

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Welcome to the first blog post for the Healthy Parks Healthy People Congress.

Via this blog we'll be sharing Congress news and broader information and insight we come across in pulling together this world first event.

We look forward to your comments, suggestions and