News

Joanne is a nurse practitioner working in aged care and continence in Canberra, ACT. She has over 25 years’ experience in continence assessment and management of adults and children with bladder and bowel dysfunction.

I used to consider my bedwetting the most shameful secret I had to carry. I’m 32 years old now, and in my 20s I did everything I could to make sure no one else worked it out. There were definitely giveaways. For one, I was a young guy living in a share house and washing my bed linens twice a week…

Caitlin Daley, NSW, has dealt with urinary tract infections (UTIs) since she was only five years old. While it has been challenging, the experience eventually inspired her choice of career.

Know your rights under the new Aged Care Quality Standards, in place from 1 July 2019.

We know that exercising your pelvic floor muscles can help bladder and bowel control, but two physios have done some research and found that there can be a happy side effect.

The 2019 Continence Foundation’s Carer of the Year Award recipients are Vanda and Keith Fear, from Curlewis in Victoria. Their youngest child, Paul, acquired a hypoxic brain injury in 2001 at age 17 was unlike anything their family had ever expected or prepared for.

At the start of the exercise class, the instructor will usually ask whether anyone has any injuries. You hear a classmate mention a knee injury or weak wrists, and don’t exactly feel comfortable to pop your hand up and say, “yep, I have a prolapsed bladder” or “I have a weak pelvic floor and sometimes leak urine.”

Helen O’Connell is a Professor, Department of Surgery, at the University of Melbourne and the Director of Surgery and Head of Urology at Western Health, Victoria. She is a leading researcher in the area of female pelvic anatomy and was the first woman to complete training as a urologist in Australia.

Starting school can be tricky – even without any continence concerns. Janine Armocida, continence nurse advisor working for the National Continence Helpline (1800 33 00 66) and maternal child health nurse, shares her top tips for toilet training and school readiness.

Everybody likes a 2 for 1 deal! You’ve heard that you can strengthen your pelvic floor just by doing ab, hip or glute work. It sounds appealing, but what does the research say?

The most important thing to do when going on holiday is to plan ahead. This will make your travel experience run as smoothly as possible and give you peace of mind. Read on for some tips to help you manage bladder and bowel concerns.

Audrey Burgin has more than 45 years’ experience as a community nurse, and 15 years’ experience as a continence nurse specialist focused on community and aged care in Queensland. Audrey has a keen interest in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health promotion and is currently employed as a clinical nurse, caring for patients attending an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care Clinic in Brisbane.

Since 1989, the Continence Foundation of Australia has advocated for generations of Australians, providing awareness, education and information to achieve its vision of a community free from the stigma and restrictions of incontinence.

A Snapshot report revealed some startling results on how incontinence affects people’s lives. The findings were part of a nationally-representative survey conducted by the Continence Foundation of Australia. Sue Blinman, Manager of the National Continence Helpline, breaks down the results and gives her advice.

Imagine spending the last 20 years waking up five to seven times a night to go to the bathroom - the hours of sleep disturbance certainly add up. In fact, David Vine’s sleep loss worked out to be equivalent to two years of his life.

My daughter is now 10, and her troubles with soiling and faecal incontinence haven’t resolved.

The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety has been hearing expert evidence and experience from around Australia, as it continues its inquiry into the aged care sector.

The Continence Foundation of Australia has joined in the awareness activities and celebrations of Jean Hailes for Women’s Health’s annual Women’s Health Week (2-6 September). 

Pelvic floor-modified workout you can do at home

Pick up your mat and dumbbells - because that’s all you need for our home workout! This workout has been especially created with the pelvic floor in mind.

Warm up

Start with low impact cardio (6-9 minutes)

Food and dietary choices seem a world away from pelvic health, but there’s a closer link than you think.