University years are a period of increased morbidity and mortality, associated with negative health behaviours and corresponding poor mental health (MH) status amongst students. With this said, the aim of this research was to determine the level of influence a number of predictive factors have on Australia's university students' MH status. A cross-sectional study design, consisting of an online survey was implemented. Psychometric measurement components were based on adopting Bronfenbrenner's socio-ecological model approach to collecting descriptive statistics. This approach was concerned with investigating patterns of association between three predictive factors [social emotional wellbeing (SEWB), physical activity (PA) levels and sporting club (SC) involvement], against four domains (personal, university, home and community). This study identified that 25% (n = 571) of participants (n = 2326) indicated that they have been diagnosed with a MH disorder. Specifically, gender, age, negative health behaviours, lower levels of PA and SC involvement and poor SEWB, were found to be significantly and positively associated (p < 0.05*, p < 0.01**) with a MH diagnosis. Importantly, findings from this study indicate that there are significant (positive/negative) associations between the identified predictive factors and participants' MH status. Findings from this study will go towards informing current and future Student Health Service policies, practices and infrastructure allocation that address MH status amongst university students.

The evolving eHealth agenda presents a range of potential opportunities for the management and prevention of chronic disease. This paper identifies issues and barriers to the uptake of eHealth and describes a strategy ( Healthy Outcomes for Australians© – HOFA) for creating a central knowledge filter and cyber space method for tracking health determinants through an interactive, social media platform. Discussion will be directed towards presenting contemporary interactive cyber platforms that are aimed at harnessing social media (Web 2.0) technologies in preparation for delivering effective early 21st century health care.

This study was concerned with identifying reasons behind patterns of social media (Web 2.0) usage associated with eight of Australia's major health professions. Attention was given to uncovering some of the more significant motivations for the resistance or adoption of Web 2.0 technologies for health care delivery and practice promotion by Australian health professionals. Surveys were developed from a common set of questions with specific variations between professions negotiated with professional health societies. Survey questions were constructed in an attempt to identify Web 2.0 adoption trends. An online survey (www.limesurvey.org) was used to collect data. Initial data preparation involved the development of one integrated SPSS file to incorporate all responses from the eight surveys undertaken. Initial data analysis applied Frequencies and Crosstabs to the identified groups and provided a profile of respondents by key business and demographic characteristics. Of the 935 respondents, 9.5% of participants indicated that they used Web 2.0 for their professional work, 19.1% of them did not use it for work but used it for their personal needs and 71.3% of them did not use Web 2.0 at all. Participants have indicated that the main reason for 'choosing not to adopt' Web 2.0 applications as a way of delivering health care to their patients is due to the health professionals' lack of understanding of Web 2.0 (83.3%), while the main reason for 'choosing to adopt' Web 2.0 applications is the perception of Web 2.0 as a quick and effective method of communication (73.0%). This study has indicated that Australian health professionals 'choose not to adopt' Web 2.0 usage as a way of delivering health care primarily due to 'a lack of understanding as to how social media would be used in health care' (83.3%). This study identifies that Australian health professionals are interacting with Web 2.0 technologies in their private lives but are failing to see how such technologies might be used throughout their professions. Australian health professionals are willing to undertake online educational courses (n=553, 58%) designed to upskill them about how Web 2.0 may be used for practice promotion and health care delivery.

Types of social media (Web 2.0) usage associated with eight of Australia's major allied health professions (AHPs, n = 935) were examined. Australian AHPs are interacting with Web 2.0 technologies for personal use but are failing to implement such technologies throughout their health professions to deliver health care. Australian AHPs are willing to undertake online educational courses designed to up skill them about how Web 2.0 may be used for practice promotion and health care delivery in the early twenty-first century. Participants in this study indicated that educational courses that were offered online would be the preferred mode of delivery.

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An online survey (www.limesurvey.org) was used to identify patterns of usage of health information available on the Internet by five major Australian health professions (AHPs: general practice, social work, dietetics, physiotherapy and optometry. Survey questions were developed to explore participants' responses associated with their level of Internet usage. From the five AHPs (n=746), it was found that social workers and dietitians most frequently recommended health websites to their patients (11-20% of the time throughout a 12-month period [2009]). Health information topics most frequently recommended and brought to health professionals' attention by patients were concerned with "specific health conditions" and the main source professionals used to access health information was identified through the use of "search engines". This study further reports that Internet recommendations from health professionals (1-10%), Internet requests from patients (<1%) and Internet consultation processes (1%), do not mirror similar international research. It is recommended that development of policies that might influence e-health should not be based on a presumption that the use of the Internet for accessing health information is universal or that the Internet strongly influences Australian healthcare delivery.

Objective: This study sought to investigate the relationship between personal, university, home and community influences on Australia’s university students’ mental health status. Design: Positioned within a qualitative, interpretivist paradigm, the study collected data from participants ( n = 934) by means of an online survey requesting lived or witnessed experiences concerning mental health concerns. Bronfenbrenner’s socio-ecological model informed the design of the study. Setting: Five major Australian higher educational settings. Method: Leximancer software was used for concept development. Data were analysed using thematic coding. Results: Findings provide qualitative data of university students’ experiences concerning mental health status, as measured across four domains. Themes identified include personal (stress, anxiety, life skills), university (grades/free physical activity) and home (closer to home, support networks) dimensions. There was no unprompted reference to the community domain. Results reinforce the need to ensure that current and future student mental health policies and initiatives are implemented within each of the domains addressed – to ensure a more holistic approach to students’ well-being and care. Conclusion: Findings highlight challenges concerning Australia’s university students’ mental health status. Findings present an opportunity for the university sector, community health services, and sports and fitness organisations to develop and implement future collaborative health promotion in higher education settings.

The results suggest that appealing, persuasive and reliable MWCT and SM can be used extensively to promote health amongst Australian youth.