Drawing upon the lessons of region-building efforts elsewhere, this paper calls for a greater emphasis in Australian foreign policy on community building in Asia. It explores the challenges of building a stronger ‘community’ in the Asia-Pacific, using a ‘comparative regionalism’ approach. The report outlines five strategies for policymakers.

Background: In 2003 the New Zealand Guidelines on the screening and management of patients for cardiovascular risk were published, with a revised handbook for primary healthcare staff updated in 2009. Several studies however have identified a significant gap between the guideline recommendations and current practice.

The Australian Government is not doing enough to ensure that Australian imports of forestry products are consistent with the goals of Australian aid programs and stated commitments to reduce greenhouse gases. Australian aid includes programs and projects to help Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and the Pacific Island nations to better manage their forestry resources for...

The pivotal events of the 21st century Asia-Pacific will depend on factors that are only dimly perceived today. This paper outlines two possible strategic futures for the region. Today’s Asia-Pacific is, by consensus, in a state of flux. At the start of the second decade of the 'Asian century', it’s instructive to look back at...

The negative social, educational and health consequences of obesity for children have been well documented, with downstream impacts on chronic disease for adults. A diet high in energy-dense nutrient-poor foods, and low in nutritious foods, is an important contributor to obesity. Such diets tend to have negative health and educational outcomes for children. Childhood nutrition...