EXPERT BLOGS
IMC returns to Cambodia to assist children in need
IMC has joined forces with CFC to provide health screening for CFC schools in Siem Reap. Here’s an update on progress:
IMC’ Support for Caring for Cambodia Reaps Rewards
A year ago, IMC became involved with the Caring for Cambodia (CFC) charity, which supports 10 schools in Siem Reap. IMC and the Health and Dental Committee (H&D) of CFC have chosen two health related initiatives to work on which includes Visual Screening and First Aid. The most recent visit to Cambodia in July 2011 was our third trip, and it included eight volunteers from IMC comprising of nurses, administrative staff, and other CFC members. The results of this trip were very rewarding. Approximately 800 students in two different CFC schools were screened, and of these, 23 children were referred to the Angkor Hospital for Children for further testing. Our volunteers also educated the CFC teachers on how to take heights and weights of the students.
CFC is a non-profit, non-governmental, charitable organization that provides free education for over 5,800 impoverished children in 10 schools spanning pre-school to high school. CFC professionally trains its teachers, and provides everything a child needs to succeed, including food, water, uniforms, school supplies, computers, transportation and basic healthcare. CFC is run entirely on volunteer support, which ensures that every dollar raised directly supports the education of a child. Visit www.caringforcambodia.org or International Medical Clinic www.imc-healthcare.com for more information.
How to decide when to buy your dream home in Australia
Australian property tax and expatriate tax expert Steve Douglas outlines the factors to consider when buying your future home.
Q I am considering buying a property now to live in when I return to Australia. Is this a good idea?
A In short the answer is always “yes”, however there are some key issues to consider. It can be difficult to find a home suitable for today as well as tomorrow. This is because your circumstances may be very different when you eventually return. You may think you want to live in Sydney, but end up posted to Melbourne. You might be single now, but in the meantime marry and have children. It’s very hard to predict what will happen in the future. Regardless, there are benefits in buying property now rather than waiting for your return.
- Australian taxation benefits Don’t underestimate the value of receiving a few years of “Tax Free” salary on your return to Australia, through the build-up of tax credits on your property holding expenses.
- Cost If you buy now you’ll know the full cost of purchase, as you’ve already made the transaction. For example, a house valued at A$500,000 today and bought today, will never cost any more. But if you delay the decision until you return the same house may have increased in value, and it’s impossible to predict the future purchase price. If you want to live in an area with good historical growth, buying today could actually save you thousands of dollars.
- Affordability While you are overseas enjoying improved earnings and savings power you’re in a healthy financial position. And if you engage a tenant and collect rent towards repaying your mortgage, a more expensive property in a better suburb may be easily within reach.
These compelling factors encourage the purchase of your future residence sooner rather than later. But keep in mind the property should be considered an investment with residence potential. Until you return to Australia you won’t be in a position to know with absolute certainty that it will be “home”.
Visit www.aussieproperty.com
for useful links and exclusive information about the Australian property market.
Detecting and preventing breast cancer
IMC’s Dr Robin M Janke discusses the importance of breast screening for detection and prevention of breast cancer in its early stages.
Breast cancer affects one woman in eight over the course of a lifetime. Early detection is essential – the five-year survival rate for advanced breast cancer is five percent compared to 95 percent if the disease is detected earlyHistorically, women have been told to perform monthly breast self-examinations (BSE) to detect breast cancer in its formative stages. However, BSE is not routinely recommended in many countries today because studies have failed to show the benefits of regular examinations. Also women who do BSE frequently tend to have breast biopsies for benign lumps.
If you choose to perform BSE and notice a change in your breasts, don’t ignore it. Consult your physician immediately. Although the changes may not indicate cancer, they should still be evaluated. Remember that breast pain is common – affecting up to 65 percent of women – and it’s not usually a symptom of breast cancer. See a doctor at once if you detect:
• A lump or swelling
• Skin irritation or dimpling
• Nipple pain
• Redness or scaling of the nipple or breast skin
• Your nipple has turned inwards
• Discharge from the nipple other than breast milk
The best way to detect breast cancer early is through mammography– an x-ray of the breast. Mammography can detect breast cancer at a very early stage, even before it has caused any symptoms or noticeable changes.
Because breast cancer occurs predominantly in women over the age of 50 it’s typically at this age that women at average risk should begin routine mammography screening. Screening younger women is more controversial because breast cancer is not as common in younger women and mammography can lead to further evaluation of findings that commonly end up being benign. Starting at age 40, every woman and her doctor should discuss the risks and benefits of mammography to decide whether or not to proceed with screening.
Prevent breast cancer
• Have your first child before the age of 30.
• Breast feed your baby for at least six months.
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Limit alcohol consumption.
• Exercise regularly.
• Minimise the use of postmenopausal hormones.
Dr Robin M Janke MD MPH (USA)Dr Janke trained in family medicine in St Paul, Minnesota and in preventive medicine at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. She also earned a Master’s degree in Public Health and served as a medical officer in the United States Air Force
Common misconceptions on divorce, annulment and separation demystified
Lawyer-mediator RAJAN CHETTIAR demystifies common misconceptions on the various legal options available when ending a marriage.
The number three seems to play a significant role in family law. To be eligible to file for divorce, a couple must be married for at least three years. If you’re a foreigner, you must have lived in Singapore for three continuous years before you’re eligible to file for divorce here. If you’ve left the country at any point in the three years, you’ll be disqualified. Many couples today still try to file for divorce before their third year of marriage. To gain permission to file for a divorce in the first three years of marriage, you must prove exceptional hardship. If one party is medically certified to be suffering mentally from being in the marriage, the court is usually lenient and a quick divorce may be granted. However, most clients are unable to obtain such evidence.
Another option is to file for annulment, provided you didn’t celebrate a customary wedding such as a church service or other religious ceremony. In this case, you will be asked to show evidence that you refused to undergo a customary ceremony. However, if you and your spouse didn’t intend on a customary marriage celebration in the first place, you can’t use this as grounds to annul the marriage. Annulment can also be exercised if one party refuses to consummate the marriage. This will have to be backed up by medical evidence to prove non-consummation.
Another ground for divorce is separation. The minimum separation period in Singapore is three continuous years. Many are under the misconception that you must physically live away from each other during this separation period. In fact, you can live under the same roof with your estranged spouse as long as you occupy separate bedrooms and live completely separate lives.
Separation and divorce are often misinterpreted. Separation is not an order granted by the Family Court. Divorce is. You don’t have to sign a Deed of Separation before filing for divorce. After fulfilling the required separation period, a marriage is not immediately terminated although you can now file for divorce based on the fact of separation. Don’t backdate the period of separation. It’s in your best interest and legally required to complete the three continuous years of separation before deciding to officially file for divorce.
Separation and divorce are often misinterpreted. Separation is not an order granted by the Family Court. Divorce is. You don’t have to sign a Deed of Separation before filing for divorce. After fulfilling the required separation period, a marriage is not immediately terminated although you can now file for divorce based on the fact of separation. Don’t backdate the period of separation. It’s in your best interest and legally required to complete the three continuous years of separation before deciding to officially file for divorce.
Rajan Chettiar
Commissioner For Oaths, Mediator LLB (Honours), Barrister-at-law (Middle Temple), UK
Five ways to ensure you enjoy your next visit to the dentist
Dr Patricia Hancock of SMILEFOCUS offers tips for overcoming a fear of the dentist. There are varying degrees of dental anxiety. Some may force themselves to visit the dentist crying, sweating and trembling all the way, while others may completely refuse to see a dentist, opting to live with gum infections, pain or even broken and unsightly teeth. This usually continues until the pain is more unbearable than the fear and you’re left with no choice but to visit the dentist because the problem can no longer be ignored. But this isn’t ideal as what may have been easily treated in the first instance could become a larger problem to solve.
The most effective way to overcome your fear is to find a good dentist. One who is patient, genuinely caring, communicates well and has your best interests at heart, especially when recommending treatments without any added pressure. A good dentist will also be able to educate you on the progress dentistry has seen over the years. Less intimidating modern techniques and technology ensures most treatments today are virtually pain-free, including injections! A good dentist is someone you’d recommend to others just like you would a good movie
The most effective way to overcome your fear is to find a good dentist. One who is patient, genuinely caring, communicates well and has your best interests at heart, especially when recommending treatments without any added pressure. A good dentist will also be able to educate you on the progress dentistry has seen over the years. Less intimidating modern techniques and technology ensures most treatments today are virtually pain-free, including injections! A good dentist is someone you’d recommend to others just like you would a good movie
How to enjoy your next dental visit…
• When scheduling your appointment, let the receptionist know of your nervous condition. This allows them to schedule enough time for the dentist to be thorough when explaining procedures to you.
• Arrange your appointment for a time when you’re not likely to be stressed. Don’t, for example, make the appointment just before an important business meeting.
• Bring a friend or family member for support and try to arrive early so you’re not strapped for time.
• Discuss relaxation techniques with your dentist such as the use of nitrous oxide (laughing gas), or the television, which can provide a welcome distraction. If you find the noise from the drill unsettling, request headphones.
• Dental anxiety can be overcome. Discuss your fears with your dentist and have confidence he or she will do everything possible to help you. In terms of your long-term dental health, you owe it to yourself to find a dentist you can trust.
Patricia Hancock B.D.S (London) B.Sc (Newcastle)
Dr Patricia Hancock has worked as a dentist in London, Switzerland and Hong Kong – where she also taught Radiology and Conservative dentistry. She is especially talented at treating nervous patients.
Slow and steady wins the race!
I’m sure, like me, your thoughts stray perhaps more than occasionally to that perennial question, “Where does the time go?” For certain, there’s no escaping the daily routine. Whether you’re working long hours building your career or holding the fort on the home front, time and energy seem to just disappear. Whether it’s the kids, classes, meetings, obligations, groups, general running about or your fitness regime, it all takes time, which seems to be slipping away at a rate of knots! So we’re taking a moment now to offer a gentle reminder: slow and steady wins the race. Take time out each day to unwind and re-energise. Reflect on what you have achieved and prepare yourself for what’s to come.
And what better way to do this than to grab a coffee and take a quick break with The Finder to discover what’s on offer to help you relax, reinvent or just make life a little easier.
This month there’s definitely no escaping the 2011 F1 SingTel Singapore Grand Prix and once again we welcome the world to our doorstep. Bring it on! Whether you’re a die-hard rev head or an innocent bystander, the attention the Lion City receives – especially around the September 23-25 focal point, makes us realise what a truly international centre Singapore has become. An estimated audience of 150 million TV viewers is expected to tune in worldwide to watch the after dark thrills and, hopefully not too many, spills. And whether you support Italian Fernando Alonso, Aussie heart throb Mark Webber, Brit Lewis Hamilton, or any other member of the F1 drive pack, you won’t be disappointed with the on-track racing line up or the off-track entertainment. Global superstar Shakira and 1980s legend Boy George headline a terrific cast, which also includes legendary 80s’ crooner Rick Astley, as well as Filipina singing sensation and Glee starlet, Charice.
Check out too some cool tracks by circuit DJs flown in from around the world and get your groove on at one of the many A-list events including Amber Lounge with its sleek international fashion parades or the ultimate track party at The Podium Lounge poolside at the Ritz Carlton, Millenia. Organisers are offering The Finder readers ten double passes for Friday, September 23, so check out Singapore Secrets for entry details and insider tips on the must-do events. You can also meet an F1 organiser who shares personal experiences and challenges over the four years of service since the night race debuted in Singapore.
As you know, The Finder is all about convenience and value. So this issue we’re introducing SMS to WIN. A number of our regular sections offer you the chance to pick up some great prizes by sending us a standard text message without having to pay a premium to enter. Don’t miss Going Places where travel writer Sharmila Melissa Yogalingam explores some of the lesser known, quainter cities of China while Jetstar introduces flights to Beijing with a massive travel voucher giveaway. Just SMS and you could win!
There’s a wealth of information and diversity of choice in the september issue of The Finder, including a special wine, dine & gourmet roundup and professional advice from our regular finance, counselling and services’ contributors. So, take some time to discover what’s hot at The Finder. Life’s a marathon, not a sprint - unlike Grand Prix racing of course! Take time to smell those roses and maybe book in for a reflexology session or that massage you’ve been promising yourself for weeks. Remember time flies, especially when you’re having fun.