Scott Holmes

Costs of schizophrenia and other psychoses in urban Australia: findings from the Low Prevalence (Psychotic) Disorders Study

Objective: To estimate the costs associated with the treatment and care of persons with psychosis in Australia based on data from the Low Prevalence Disorders Study (LPDS), and to identify areas where there is potential for more efficient use of existing health care resources. Method: The LPDS was a one-month census-based survey of people with psychotic disorders in contact with mental health services, which was conducted in four metropolitan regions in 1997–1998. Mental health and service utilization data from 980 interviews were used to estimate the economic costs associated with psychotic disorders. A prevalencebased, ‘bottom-up’ approach was adopted to calculate the government and societal costs associated with psychosis, including treatment and non-treatment related costs. Results: Annual societal costs for the average patient with psychosis are of the order of

Gender issues in home‐based business operation and training: an Australian overview

46 200, comprising

Benchmarking pathology services: implementing a longitudinal study

27 500 in lost productivity,

The importance of Indigenous educational outcomes to small enterprise development within remote indigenous communities of Northern Australia

13 800 in inpatient mental health care costs and

Perceptions of risk and risk management in small firms

4900 in other mental health and community services costs. Psychosis costs the Australian government at least

Indigenous Small Enterprise Development: Implications For Policy

1.45 billion per annum, while societal costs are at least

Capital structure and financing of SMEs: Australian evidence

2.25 billion per annum (including

Estimating the Small Business Failure Rate: A Reappraisal

1.44 billion for schizophrenia). We also report relationships between societal costs and demographic factors, diagnosis, disability and participation in employment. Conclusions: Current expenditure on psychosis in Australia is probably inefficient. There may be substantial opportunity costs in not delivering effective treatments in sufficient volume to people with psychotic disorders, not intervening early, and not improving access to rehabilitation and supported accommodation.

Understanding business networks : evidence from the manufacturing and service sectors in Australia

Recent research has shown that home‐based businesses (HBBs) are increasing, and that a significant number of women are seeking such self‐employment. Summarizes the results of a recent large‐scale survey examining various aspects of HBB operation in Australia. Finds that there are significant gender differences associated with HBB operation, including reasons for HBB start‐up, life stage and age of operator, business assistance, and the perceived negative factors associated with HBB operation. Also notes that some training issues differ significantly with respect to the propensity to undertake training and the type of training preferred and finds that the majority of female operators are operating their HBB with children at home. Calls for more research into the implications of HBB operators working at home with their children.

Small Enterprise Financial Management : Theory and Practice

This paper details the benchmarking process and its application to the activities of pathology laboratories participating in a benchmark pilot study [the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasian (RCPA) Benchmarking Project]. The discussion highlights the primary issues confronted in collecting, processing, analysing and comparing benchmark data. The paper outlines the benefits of engaging in a benchmarking exercise and provides a framework which can be applied across a range of public health settings. This information is then applied to a review of the development of the RCPA Benchmarking Project. Consideration is also given to the nature of the preliminary results of the project and the implications of these results to the on-going conduct of the study.