Category: Innovation

Posted by Christine Pope on in Innovation, Online Courses

What useful information can a non-techie pick up from a Cyber Summit ?
AFR Cyber Summit

A Cyber Summit wasn’t on the top of my list for continuing education this year but its surprising what you can learn from expanding your horizons.

First up if you find the subject of cyber security or AI stressful perhaps have a look at my other blogs instead. Just take away this one useful nugget – 90% of problems can be prevented by ensuring you keep your software updated, use multi factor authentication and start using pass phrases for passwords, ideally with at least four random words.

With the evolving awareness of AI risks it may also be worthwhile adding another layer of security. Stop and Check! What does this mean? Basically if you are contacted by someone offering helpful information (unexpectedly because lets be honest how many times does your bank or social media company pick up a phone) then hang up and ring back on the number listed on the website. Often these calls are designed to get you to read out a code from your supplier to enable them to take over your account.

One of the key risks for businesses is having data hacked and being ransomed. Fortunately Australia didn’t go down the path of banning ransom payments from a legislative perspective and has adopted a more collaborative approach, where you can report what happened and get assistance. This information is not passed on to other agencies and is provided by Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) through the Cyber Security hotline, which has a reporting service with 24/7 access.

A few of the panellists who shared advice about dealing with these types of attacks highlighted common themes. A big element of risk is the human element – one transport business had its system attacked as an engineer’s login credentials were released on the dark web. The business saw 50-100 servers being activated out of hours and realised that there was an attack in progress and made the decision to shut the system and its operations down for a few days.

Staff can be an effective human shield for a business and its critical that they understand the risks involved and how to mitigate them effectively. For small businesses ideally get all your staff to complete the Cyber Warden training available which has three short modules to upskill your staff. These modules cover cybersecurity, safe use of AI and supply chain risks.

The other critical component of reporting is the communication with your clients and key stakeholders. Ensuring that they received timely advice can make the difference for them of being exposed themselves and incurring significant financial damage.

The ASD also shared these thoughts on the four areas of risk that Boards need to be considering, which I found useful as both a small business owner and as a Director of COSBOA.

  1. Legacy Systems and Segregation- ensure that the legacy systems don’t create weak spots for access and that when you upgrade these systems are decommissioned.
  2. Logins – monitor for access at odd times or where the activity levels are unusual.
  3. Quantum – get ready for the post quantum security challenges as this level of encryption will be broken in the new few years. To sound knowledgeable on this point simply refer to it as “Q Day”.
  4. Supply Chain – make sure you don’t create any weaknesses that a bad actor can use and also that there is compulsory reporting of incidents.

No review of a Cyber Summit would be complete anymore without a discussion about AI ! This was certainly a fascinating panel as Fortesuce shared that they are working on 30 different projects incroporating AI into the business to drive operating efficiencies. Major banks like Commonwelath Bank are investing heavily in AI to improve their own security and to assist with scam detection. These include a project where they have created an AI bot which chats to scammers and is attempting to disrupt their model and make the activity unprofitable. Apparently they had the bot “talking” to one scammer for 48 minutes. Whatever your views are it is clear that businesses that don’t start looking at what tools can be integrated risk being left behind particularly when it comes to improving productivity.

A couple of areas were flagged as being of concern with the rollout of AI, including the ability to perpetrate even better scams, particularly with romance scams now creating effective videos as well. Other concerns noted were the vast amounts of energy required to fuel these searches and the potential to introduce vulnerability into your other systems.

So do I feel more knowledgeable about cyber post this event ? It certainly made me realise how many systems I use everyday in my own business and determined to be more diligent on my security (in fact just ran all my updates on my phone and Mac this morning). I have also taken away a great report from the Organising Sponsor, Cyber CX with curly questions to ask at my next Board meeting and a determination to ensure that as many small businesses as possible utilise the free Cyber Wardens training to upskill on security, AI and supply chains. Have I convinced you?

Posted by Christine Pope on in Health Care, Healthy Ageing, Homeopathy, Innovation

Group programs an innovative way to reduce healthcare costs

Have you ever participated in a group program or workshop ? Working with a group of people on a common issue or health problem is often far more successful than working individually with a practitioner. The group itself contributes so many benefits, whether its a sense of support, accountability or motivation as well as specific knowledge or expertise.

Recently I finished a book called “The Community Cure” by James Gaskell. It was recommended by a colleague who was running training in Oncology and she suggested it as a strategy for providing supportive care for oncology patients in an affordable way. In a healthcare setting the original groups were set up to support Hispanic patients with diabetes and have expanded to a range of healthcare challenges.

My own introduction to group programs was through some group coaching with a colleague called Tammy Guest. The group was working on developing their businesses with a range of offerings and I found the process very helpful and supportive. It’s always easier when you understand that others had the same challenges clarifying their offer, dealing with technology or realising that once you have built the course or program you know need to get your head around facebook ads or other marketing.

In the two years since I finished that group I have run a number of small groups myself and my first one was a small group who did a “Reset” through COVID lockdown. That was a highpoint of my week during that last interminable lockdown. Two others really stand out for me were the first “Ageing Outrageously” when I added a weekly call and check-in to the online program and my “Using Homeopathy Made Easy” group where the group helped decide what we covered in the last couple of weeks. That was both inspirational but also meant I knew I was building a course they could really use.

Some of the benefits of group programs include;

  1. Support System: The sense of belonging and understanding that comes from knowing you’re not alone in your struggles can provide immense comfort and strength. It can also provide you with a supportive group who understand your challenges and can provide advice.
  2. Shared Knowledge and Resources: Within a group there are often such a wealth of knowledge and resources that can be tapped into. It can be as simple as having a facebook group where the focus goes from the practitioner answering all questions to the group contributing their strategies and suggestions. Whether it’s learning a new skill, or accessing healthcare services, the power of shared knowledge is invaluable.
  3. Sense of Belonging: Humans are social beings wired for connection, and a strong sense of belonging is essential for our mental and emotional well-being. Being part of a community provides a sense of identity and purpose, fostering feelings of acceptance and inclusion. Whether it’s a neighborhood group, a sports team, or an online forum, finding your tribe can enrich your life.
  4. Accountability and Motivation: When you’re part of a group, you’re not just accountable to yourself but to the group as a whole. Whether it’s sticking to your fitness goals, pursuing personal growth, or contributing to a shared cause, the support and encouragement of your peers can fuel your motivation and keep you on track. Knowing that others are counting on you can be a powerful motivator to strive for excellence.
  5. Opportunities for Collaboration: Collaboration breeds innovation, and groups are fertile grounds for collaboration to flourish. Whether it’s brainstorming ideas, pooling resources, or working together on projects, the diverse perspectives and talents within a community can lead to creative breakthroughs and impactful outcomes. By leveraging the strengths of its members, a group can achieve far more than any individual could on their own.
  6. Emotional Resilience: Life is full of ups and downs, and having a strong support network can bolster your resilience. Whether it’s celebrating successes together or offering a shoulder to lean on during tough times, the emotional bonds forged within a group can provide solace and strength.

Group programs offer a range of benefits that can enhance our lives on both personal and collective levels. From providing support and belonging to fostering collaboration and resilience, communities play a vital role in shaping our health, happiness, and overall quality of life.

If you are interested in experiencing a group program yourself sign up to my list and be notified when the next live group is scheduled. If you are ready to learn more about natural medicine enrol in the on-demand course, Homeopathy 101 or join my signature program, Ageing Outrageously.

Posted by Christine Pope on in Environment, Health Care, Innovation, Nutrition, Travel

Climate Change – what can you do?

During the recent election there was a lot of debate about climate change and the need to take action. It is an overwhelming issue for any one person to deal with on their own. What I thought might help is to break it down into smaller tasks and see what you can do to reduce your carbon consumption. In the last 18 months Australians have reduced consumption of plastic bags by 1.5 billion bags so I am sure collectively we can make some reasonable changes.

First up where are the big contributors to greenhouse emissions – well it depends a little bit on your source but according to Austalian government data

transport is a major contributor to emissions.

How do we reduce reliance on gas guzzling cars ? My top five suggestions are as follows:

  1. Use public transport where possible. Ever since they dug up George St for the light rail I have found driving into town a nightmare. Roads are blocked off and its really hard to find places to cross over. Consequently my entire family now uses the train consistently and its really reduced the mileage in our cars significantly. Look at bus routes too it is so easy now with the Opal card to jump on a bus for short distances.
  2. Consider whether you really need a second car (which is an expensive cost in terms of depreciation, insurance and registration etc) and whether you could use taxis or Ubershutterstock_1216160155 particularly if you live close to where you work. If you really only use a car intermittently have a look at services like Go-Get for short term use or hire a car for bigger trips.
  3. Walk more! On Sundays we walk to a local coffee bar with the dog and pop in and buy a few things at Harris Farm. More steps for us and lower use of the car.
  4. Invest in the latest energy efficient vehicle , whether its an electric car or a hybrid like the Honda Civic.
  5. Put the kids on the bus to school. Traffic on the North Shore is chaotic in the mornings and part of that is due to the number of children who are driven to school. Due to the fact that many parents are unaware of bus services to school they don’t use them and then it becomes increasingly difficult to justify the service. 40 kids on a bus is much less problematic than 40 parents individually driving children to school.

What’s next? If you have already adopted as many of those options that are affordable probably the next area to look at in reducing your carbon footprint is food. Agriculture is responsible for around 16% of carbon emissions and the biggest part of that is methane from livestock accounting for in excess of 50%.

  1. Reduce your consumption of meat and other animal products. I am not recommending that you adopt veganism however it may well be worthwhile looking at making vegetables the star of your dinner table and meat more of a condiment.
  2. Look at more than just a Meat Free Monday – ideally look at vegetarian proteins like chickpeas, tofu and other legumes as well as cheese or eggs to make up your protein requirements. This also makes a much more affordable diet than relying heavily on meat.shutterstock_158785211
  3. What can you grow at home ? Whether its simply some herbs or fruit, most people can grow things they use regularly like lemons or mint or rosemary. It all helps reduce the amount of transport used for shipping food as well as food miles.
  4. See if you can buy produce locally as there are now lots of farmers markets or organic markets on offer.

Another way to reduce your carbon footprint is to look at reducing plastic use in your home. My recent blog on Quitting Plastic has some straightforward ideas.

How are you planning on reducing your footprint ?  Post in the comments section to share your ideas.

Christine Pope is an experienced natural medicine practitioner based at Elemental Health, St Ives. You can make appointments on 8084 0081 or online at http://www.elementalhealth.net.au .

Posted by Christine Pope on in Health Care, Innovation

Innovation in Healthcare

Last weekend I was at a conference where the topic was Innovation. It was an interesting area to consider as a Director and even more challenging was its application. How do you encourage and develop innovative thinking in your organisation?  It’s an even bigger challenge for most of the attendees as the organisations were largely associations and Not for Profit’s  who usually aren’t well funded and often run by volunteers. So what were some of the suggestions and how could this be applied in the healthcare space ?

Spend time brainstorming issues

Often with packed agenda’s in a meeting its hard to find time to solve problems creatively. Allowing time on every agenda to brainstorm a problem allows for discussion of other options and possibly new insights. It also creates an environment where people don’t feel they have to stick to the status quo – the dreaded “that’s the way we have always done it”!!

Encourage feedback from the quiet participants

Not everyone is happy to provide input quickly and succinctly in a meeting. Asking everyone around a table to express a viewpoint on a subject provides a forum to open up the discussion. Ideally don’t just start with the same person but mix it up.

img_0363Meet differently

Be open to having meetings in different locations or even bringing in external parties to present different views. The energy of meeting in a coffee bar can be a lot livelier than a set meeting room. Even changing rooms on a regular basis can be a good protocol just make sure everyone has enough space to be comfortable and can move around.

So how can we apply this in healthcare? Specifically how could I apply this in my practice?

Staying current with new developments is really critical and one of the reasons I am constantly looking at seminars or workshops. How can I get people better faster? For example I had always found treating Candida with a diet and specific homeopathics quite difficult and slow. Anti-candida diets are basically no wheat, no dairy, no yeast and no fun! On the basis of a recommendation at a workshop I tried using a berberiene based herbal product and found my results were significantly quicker and much easier for clients to maintain. My strategy is to look for the innovators and pick the eyes out of their treatment protocols.

In terms of meeting differently I would occasionally run workshops and I really enjoy the energy of working with a group and the networking that often results. This is now on my agenda with a permanent focus on education around existing programs but also continuing some of my successful workshops. Using this format is also a good way to keep costs down. A 2 hour workshop at $49 is a great addition to a treatment program and also keeps costs down and makes healthcare more affordable. Maybe another alternative is to start recording the sessions and make them available to clients as an easier way to work with me.

The reality of innovation is much more difficult to grasp than the concept. Often in practice I see clients who are stuck in a situation and think they have no options. As soon as you start to see stress levels come down its amazing how possibilities open up. For practitioners I think its a question of staying current and adopting strategies that work well for them and how they practice.

Christine Pope is based at Elemental Health at St Ives and is available for consultations on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Appointments can be made online (very innovative!!) at http://www.elementalhealth.net.au or by calling 02 8084 0081.