News
Every year, Continence Health Australia calls for nominations for the Carer of the Year Award, which publicly acknowledges the vital role that unpaid carers play in supporting the health and wellbeing of so many in our community.
We talked to Dr Tanya Osicka, Health Psychologist at Tanya Osicka Psychology, about how carers can look after themselves and avoid burnout.
Dear diary… A day in the life of someone experiencing incontinence
BIO: Since giving birth to her four children, Maria has experienced daily urinary leak
Q: When/how did you become involved with the Great Dunny Hunt?
A: I became involved in the Great Dunny Hunt
Maureen is a bladder cancer survivor living with a stoma.
She is healthy, happy and enjoys spending time in the garden, going to music festivals, and watching her grandkids grow. This is her journey through bladder cancer, which all started with frequent urination at night (nocturia).
“The sooner the better,” Debbie Atkins, occupational therapist at Toilet Time, tells Bridge Magazine.
There are so many aspects of going to the toilet that can affect young children's lives, and acknowledging there may be a problem early is important. If you struggle to go from nappies to undies, notice a change in your child’s toilet habits, such as an increase or decrease in going to the toilet, a regression in skill development, or expressed fearfulness or refusal to go to the toilet, it might be time to seek help.
As a Continence Nurse Consultant in a Perth hospital, Kerry Murphy’s job is educating parents and teaching children what is not normal when it comes to bladder and bowel symptoms. “A lot of issues are preventable,” says Kerry. “But your children might not tell you about their toilet problems. They might even deny them.
If you are concerned about your child’s toilet habits and think they may be suffering from constipation, speak to your GP to ensure there are no underlying health conditions that could be causing it. Once medical conditions are ruled out, there are four main areas to focus on.
“If you’re thinking about starting the toilet training process, there are a few things to consider first,” says Janine Armocida from the National Continence Helpline. “Everyone has a different opinion about when and how you should toilet train your child.
Paul Guest works at Lendlease construction company. He is also a prostate cancer survivor and a BINS4Blokes supporter. Since being diagnosed with prostate cancer, Paul has advocated for BINS4Blokes and the installation of incontinence product disposal bins at his place of work, to enable males recovering from prostate cancer to transition back to work with greater dignity.
“The sooner the better,” Debbie Atkins, occupational therapist at Toilet Time, tells Bridge Magazine.
When Sara was pregnant with her second child, she was told her unborn baby, Kezia, had spina bifida. “I felt both upset and challenged by the fact that I was going to have a baby with spina bifida. But my husband and I made the joint decision that we would face this journey together.”
Our first edition of 2025 brings with it some changes. After a reader survey in late 2024, we listened to your feedback and included articles relevant to different audiences, as well as the themed content. We are also bringing back printed editions, so if you would like your copy of the Bridge magazine in print, please sign up on our website.
There are lots of aspects of school readiness, including getting dressed, putting shoes on, and eating independently. An oft-forgotten part of the routine is using the toilet. Even if your child has been toilet trained for many years, big changes can cause children to regress and experience incontinence (having accidents). This can be a one-off or spiral into an ongoing issue.
“The sooner the better,” Debbie Atkins, occupational therapist at Toilet Time, tells Bridge Magazine.
There are so many aspects of going to the toilet that can affect young children's lives, and acknowledging there may be a problem early is important. If you struggle to go from nappies to undies, notice a change in your child’s toilet habits, such as an increase or decrease in going to the toilet, a regression in skill development, or expressed fearfulness or refusal to go to the toilet, it might be time to seek help.
Janine Stirling A B * , Zoe Wallace C D , Angela James D E , Rita Shackel F and James Elliott A G
Correspondence to: [email protected]
Australian and New Zealand Continence Journal 31, CJ24042 https://doi.org/10.1071/CJ24042
Submitted: 17 October 2024 Accepted: 16 January 2025 Published: 11 March 2025
Emma Rose Watson
- Author Affiliations
A Health New Zealand, Te Pae Hauora o Ruahine o Tararua MidCentral, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
Health New Zealand, Te Pae Hauora o Ruahine o Tararua MidCentral, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
Correspondence to: [email protected]
Australian and New Zealand Continence Journal 31, CJ24043 https://doi.org/10.1071/CJ24043
A New Era of Awareness and Support
MEDIA RELEASE
10 February 2025