Sue J
LightNews LightNews
banner
smpwrgr.bsky.social
Sue J
@smpwrgr.bsky.social
1.3K followers 600 following 320 posts
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.

Writing:
https://criticalprecaution.wordpress.com/
Advocacy:
https://www.cleaneraircollective.com/
Posts Replies Media Videos
smpwrgr.bsky.social
Protect your brain like it matters 😷
Image of helmets with words “this is brain protection” Image of respirators with words “so is this”
September 29, 2025 at 2:13 AM
smpwrgr.bsky.social
Robert Irwin is still masking on planes 😷 👏

Comfortable enough to sleep in during a long haul flight from Australia to LA
September 28, 2025 at 4:54 AM
smpwrgr.bsky.social
🚨📢 ATT: Australians who wish healthcare was safer

Here’s your chance to tell the ACSQHC about your experiences to help shape/update the National Safety & Quality Health Service Standards

Pls take 10 mins to say what would make healthcare safer for you 🙏

www.surveymonkey.com/r/5PWCFTJ
DON'T MISS YOUR CHANCE TO RAISE YOUR VOICE ON SAFER AUST HEALTHCARE 10 min Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care survey on your experiences with healthcare to help shape the third edition of the NSQHS (National Safety and Quality Health Service) Standards QUESTIONS THEY'RE ASKING: WHEN YOU VISIT A HOSPITAL, WHAT MAKES YOU CONFIDENT YOU/YOUR FAMILY WILL RECEIVE SAFE, HIGH-QUALITY CARE? HOW CAN THE QUALITY OF CARE BE IMPROVED? HOW CAN PERSON-CENTRED CARE BE IMPROVED? (CARE THAT FOCUSES ON LISTENING TO UNDERSTAND YOUR NEEDS, VALUES & PREFERENCES, INVOLVING YOU IN CARE DECISIONS, RESPECTING YOUR CHOICES & TREATING YOU WITH DIGNITY & KINDNESS) IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO TELL US OR SUGGEST? CLOSES TUESDAY 30 SEPTEMBER 2025 HTTPS://Www.SURVEYMONKEY.COM/R/5PWCFTJ
September 27, 2025 at 3:56 AM
smpwrgr.bsky.social
Haven’t picked up a copy of Herald-Sun in a while, look what I found when I did😳

Inflammatory headline correlating 😷 & violence

The most unhelpful, polarising, politicising framing

jeopardising those of us trying to protect our health with a medical accessibility tool

It’s a slippery slope
Page of the Herald-Sun newspaper with a photo of a protest with several participants wearing various face coverings And the headline? “Masked & dangerous”
August 17, 2025 at 9:48 PM
smpwrgr.bsky.social
Investment in a healthy workforce is a no-brainer for improving productivity

It could be an Australian competitive advantage that only grows into the future

Special thanks to Jo & also Suzanne, Dom, Shannon, Jordan, Nancy, Peter, Mike, Patricia, Skyla & all who’ve contributed 🙏
"Improving indoor air quality is a significant economic opportunity, increasing workforce productivity and reducing costs to business and government. Cleaner Air Collective: an Australia-wide grassroots advocacy group with more than 380 members from diverse backgrounds & professions; our membership includes healthcare workers, teachers, lawyers, economists, engineers, creatives, academics, data specialists, lisability advocates & students.
August 17, 2025 at 12:17 PM
smpwrgr.bsky.social
3 step plan to improved IAQ and improved productivity:
"Improved indoor air quality can be achieved by: a. setting national IAQ standards. b. implementing these standards using natural &/or mechanical ventilation & can be augmented by purification & UVC strategies. Financial incentives could be offered for IAQ improvements in existing private workplaces. c. monitoring & collecting IAQ data.
August 17, 2025 at 12:17 PM
smpwrgr.bsky.social
The benefit for reducing wage loss to caregivers taking time off to look after perpetually sick children is significant

The benefit cost ratio is compelling
Improved ventilation in schools results in decreased illness absence, benefits estimated at $80-160 million annually from reduced wage losses to caregivers. Improving IAQ in business & schools provides benefits to health & productivity in excess of costs. NZ data estimates benefit cost ratio of 1.0-2.3 in reducing absenteeism & 3.4-4.6 including productivity gains. Initial estimates for Australia (solely health benefits) suggest 1.5-3.1 benefit cost ratio.
August 17, 2025 at 12:17 PM
smpwrgr.bsky.social
Tackling IAQ and reducing airborne infectious disease transmission in schools would make the entire community and Australian workforce healthier and more productive
"Improved air quality in schools could indirectly improve productivity through the reduced spread of illness. Research suggests that schools are hubs for disease transmission. This is reflected in the NSW Health Surveillance Report (24 July 2025) which states that "overall Influenza activity is still at a high level but decreased in children likely due to school holidays in NSW". School age children bring illness into households which may then be spread into workplaces."
August 17, 2025 at 12:17 PM
smpwrgr.bsky.social
Locally, can we afford to be losing 100 million working hours and $9.6 billion each year to long cvd?
"In Australia, Long Covid is conservatively estimated to have cost the Australian economy approximately AU$9.6 billion in 2022—about 0.5% of the nation's GDP. This is a loss of over 100 million work hours that year, with the greatest impact seen among working-age adults aged 30 to 49."
August 17, 2025 at 12:17 PM
smpwrgr.bsky.social
“Persistent labour force reduction”
"US evidence finds long covid is generating persistent labour force reductions, by approx 500,000 people (0.2% of adults). In aggregate, per-year value of lost labour supply is estimated as approx $62 billion, about half of estimated losses from cancer or diabetes. Japanese evidence shows workers with long covid persisting for 1 year exhibited a significant decrease in labour productivity & average economic loss of $21,659 per year.
August 17, 2025 at 12:17 PM
smpwrgr.bsky.social
The economic cost of chronic illness, in particular long cvd/PASC, is breathtaking - 2.8 million economically inactive workers in UK, $1 TRILLION annual global economic impact of long cvd …
"In 2024, the number of UK workers inactive due to chronic sickness rose to a record high of 7% of working-age population in 2024 with 2.8 million people economically inactive in 2025. Globally, estimated 6-7% of adults have symptomatic Long Covid with annual economic impact of approx $1 trillion, ≥1% of global economy. The UK's reduced productivity & diversion of healthcare resources could result in GDP loss of =£1.5-2.7 billion by 2030.
August 17, 2025 at 12:17 PM
smpwrgr.bsky.social
And absenteeism in the acute phase is only the start of the productivity problem. Increasing post viral chronic illness is decimating the productivity of the labour force
"Reducing disease transmission also reduces long-term impacts. Chronic illness can severely impair ability to keep working & many leave the workforce entirely. Others who can work may be less productive & need support to carry out duties. Chronic illness has a significant impact on the working-age population, leading to both absenteeism & presenteeism. The Covid pandemic has significantly increased the number of people with long-term chronic illness." CLEANER AIR COLLECTIVE
August 17, 2025 at 12:17 PM
smpwrgr.bsky.social
Drawing attention to the obvious, that more workers are away sick (or caring for a sick family member) more often since the pandemic - AND IT’S A PROBLEM THAT IS NOT GOING AWAY

It’s a shared problem for individuals, businesses and the economy
"Prior to the pandemic, the Australian absenteeism rate averaged 3.3% per month. During 2022, the absenteeism rate rose abnormally high, peaking at 5.8%, costing Australian businesses an estimated $24.2 billion in lost productivity that year. The average number of people working fewer hours in 2024 due to illness/injury/sick leave was 31% higher than the pre-pandemic average of the 5 years to Dec 2019. Absenteeism also contributes to reduced customer service and satisfaction & lost revenue."
August 17, 2025 at 12:17 PM
smpwrgr.bsky.social
Quoting our own Chief Scientist’s findings about how to make workplaces and workers sustainably healthier:
"Poor IAQ also impacts the transmission of illness in indoor environments. A recent report from the Chief Scientist of Australia, highlights the effectiveness of increasing the amount of clean air in buildings, in reducing the transmission of airborne viruses (such as flu, RSV, covid and measles). Business and customers bear the cost of absenteeism of workers due to illness or from caring for family members.
August 17, 2025 at 12:17 PM
smpwrgr.bsky.social
The return on investment on committing to IAQ standards, monitoring and infrastructure is excellent:
"Poor IAQ impacts employee performance and wellbeing. Research from Harvard shows that poor IAQ has significant impacts on employees' cognitive function, including response times and ability to focus. Conservative estimates from US research find a $6500 productivity gain per worker from improved ventilation. The benefits of enhanced ventilation rates far exceed per-person costs relative to salary costs."
August 17, 2025 at 12:17 PM
smpwrgr.bsky.social
Spelling out the clear, pragmatic, multi-factored arguments for improving IAQ for the federal govt:
"The improvement of IAQ in workplaces (including schools & healthcare) can increase productivity by: 1. Improving cognitive function of workers. 2. Reducing absenteeism due to illness (and caregiving of ill family members). 3. Reducing the number of people unable to work due to chronic illness."
August 17, 2025 at 12:17 PM
smpwrgr.bsky.social
🧵Excerpts from Cleaner Air Collective productivity sub

many brilliant members of CAC have been busy working on submissions, consultations, inquiries, FOI requests etc, raising voices on behalf of us all on everything from IAQ productivity gains to masks in healthcare & transparency re vaccines🙌
"Australian businesses & organisations are experiencing reduced productivity due to increased absenteeism (productivity loss due to time off work) and presenteeism (lower productivity due to illness while working) from acute and chronic illness and workforce loss of skilled, hard to replace workers. Addressing IAQ in Australia's poorly ventilated buildings is an opportunity to boost productivity that will provide a strong return on investment."
August 17, 2025 at 12:17 PM
smpwrgr.bsky.social
Imagine …
I WANT TO CLEAR THE AIR: I CAN'T BE SAFE IN A ROOM WITH COVID SO I SPEND MY TIME INDOORS IN SPACES WHERE I CLEAN THE AIR 24/7 THAT'S HOW I AVOID AIRBORNE INFECTIONS AND STAY HEALTHY NOW JUST IMAGINE ALL THE ROOMS WERE HELD TO THE SAME STANDARD I COULD GO ANYWHERE AND EVERYONE WOULD BE HEALTHIER
July 22, 2025 at 5:09 AM
smpwrgr.bsky.social
Screaming on the sidelines, but few are listening

everyone is choosing a v pretty, fun, scenic path, but it leads straight over a cliff

We warn and they just smile and wave and continue toward disaster
Person standing in front of a sunrise Wording: I get frustrated when healthy people don't value & protect that good health I'd give a lot to live in a body that doesn't hurt every day & can do all the things I miss so much one day you'll wish you had protected your quality of life from airborne infectious disease
July 3, 2025 at 5:01 AM
smpwrgr.bsky.social
You wouldn’t go out in a storm without protection 🌂

Don’t drown in chronic illness by going out in a storm of airborne infectious disease without protection 😷
Background of a stormy sky with wording Covid doesn’t care if You’re strong You’re smart You’re rich You’re pretty You’re famous You’re successful You’re fit You’re healthy You’re young You’re talented Your next infection could bring a storm of chronic illness into your life Protect your quality of life with an umbrella of protections (with pic of umbrella with mask, vaccine, hepa, open window and tests on it)
July 2, 2025 at 7:19 AM
smpwrgr.bsky.social
Safe healthcare ⭐️

Arrived at dentist 8am, cold & wet in Melb but all doors & windows wide open & every staff member in headstrap respirator ready 4 me 🤩 respect shown is priceless

Noticed when driving away that the door now closed, sad no one else is protected, but they look after me
Aranet CO2 monitor reading 573 🤩
July 2, 2025 at 6:31 AM
smpwrgr.bsky.social
Last weekend (as part of the year of having fun safely) we did a leadlighting course

Girls went in while I parked car & as soon as instructor saw them 😷 he offered to mask too 🤩 better than many HCWs…

We layered protections, ate lunch in backyard & had a fun creative day 😊 highly recommended
June 29, 2025 at 9:27 AM
smpwrgr.bsky.social
DIY PH messaging to share

as cases go through the roof in Australia

putting the health system under enormous pressure

If there are gaps in your mitigations, this variant will find them

Will your next Cvd infection be the one that leads to long Cvd?
Images of various respirator masks with wording: It’s ok to Start Wearing A mask Again this winter
June 27, 2025 at 3:52 AM
smpwrgr.bsky.social
Loitering under billboards again taking pics, turning spotlight on experiences of Australians trying to safely access healthcare

Great to catch up w- @sickandtiredaus.bsky.social IRL❤️can you see our Cvd conscious messages/protection layers?

Share yr story w- PRI b/c we all deserve safe healthcare
Photo of Jordan and I standing under a billboard that says “I am immunocompromised and was exposed to visibly sick staff in hospital” with a tagline “everyone deserves safe access to healthcare” I’m wearing an aura respirator, Jordan is in a black Trident with a Berlin Buyers Club top with slogan “long COVID is chronic. Masking is iconic.” Plus a bonus Cleaner Air Collective “CAUTION WEAR A MASK IN HEALTHCARE” sticker on the pole!
June 25, 2025 at 7:34 AM
smpwrgr.bsky.social
Up to 5.8 million US kids chronically ill w- long cvd already; in Aust we neither count them or protect them

“Vascular damage, heart damage, immune system damage, cognitive damage”

vs

“Cvd poses a minimal threat to healthy children” 🫠

Betrayal & destruction of a generation
THE DISSONANT JUXTAPOSITION BETWEEN THESE IS SO JARRING IT HURTS (Two articles) A. THE GAUNTLET Long COVID is Now the Number One Chronic Illness in Children Repeatedly mass infecting kids with COVID is not a public health strategy. It's a fast pass to declining population health JULIA DOUBLEDAY B. Canberra Times, ATAGI no longer recommending the CVD-19 vaccine for healthy people aged u18. Bernie Ryan
June 16, 2025 at 8:44 AM