News Articles
Health messages to help stop patient harm in hospitals
Date of Posting: 23-09-2020
A new global research group led by The Australian National University (ANU) will help tackle communication breakdowns in hospitals that contribute to over 450,000 people per year suffering from an avoidable critical incident. The International Con Read More...
New study reveals why flu can be devastating for pregnant women
Date of Posting: 23-09-2020
New research helps explain why flu can lead to life-threatening complications during pregnancy, suggesting the virus does not stay in the lungs but spreads throughout the mother’s body. The pre-clinical study has overturned current scientifi Read More...
Australia agreed to a global virus vaccine deal
Last Updated: 23-09-2020
Australia is now eligible to buy coronavirus vaccines through a global pool when they become available. Australia has signed onto a global coronavirus agreement in the hope of gaining early access to dozens of potential vaccines.[subscribe] The Read More...
Researchers address the 'COVID Calorie Count' climbing under Victoria's lockdown
Last Updated: 22-09-2020
Research underway to explore how motivation and environment can trigger over-eating could be relevant to growing numbers of Victorians accumulating “COVID calories” under lockdown, says Professor Moyez Jiwa who is leading the study. Hi Read More...
Australians with eating disorders to volunteer for genetic investigation
Date of Posting: 22-09-2020
Researchers are calling for Australians with eating disorders to help in a study to identify the genes that influence risk of developing the illness. Australians with first-hand experience of eating disorders have been called upon to be part of a Read More...
Some parts of Queensland is enjoying a tourism boom
Date of Posting: 22-09-2020
Queensland is nearing 14 days without community COVID-19 transmission which could lead to restrictions being lifted as parts of the state enjoy a tourism boom. Queensland is nearing a COVID-19 milestone which could lead to restrictions being lifte Read More...
NSW Health strives for a COVID-safe summer
Date of Posting: 21-09-2020
NSW Health is striving to achieve zero community transmission of COVID-19, while the premier announced a plan to get people out and about safely during summer. Health authorities are NSW Health striving for zero community transmission of COVID-19 Read More...
How to clear Victoria's backlog of elective surgeries after a 6-month slowdown?
Last Updated: 18-09-2020
With the number of COVID-19 cases in Victoria continuing to trend downwards, Premier Daniel Andrews yesterday announced a phased restart of elective procedures in public and private hospitals. Regional Victoria moves to return to 75% of usua Read More...
Supporting improved healthcare for Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander peoples
Last Updated: 18-09-2020
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples can trial a new tool to help them manage their healthcare with the launch of a pilot program in Perth of the GoShare digital platform which has supported over 1000 patients so far. Launched by Minister Read More...
Future of age care must be built on better housing design
Last Updated: 18-09-2020
Pragmatic housing design features are vital to enable older people to stay home longer, have greater independence and reduce the cost of age care services, according to new RMIT University research. COVID-19 has exposed serious flaws in the qualit Read More...
New blood test finds undetected COVID-19 cases
Date of Posting: 18-09-2020
Researchers at The Australian National University (ANU) have developed a new blood test capturing previous exposure to COVID-19. Initial results suggest many more people have been exposed to the virus in Australia than have been detected so far. & Read More...
Study shows bullying by friends hurts the most
Date of Posting: 17-09-2020
Researchers at Flinders University have found young victims often tolerated hurtful bullying from friends because they don't want to lose the relationship. The spreading of rumours or exclusion by best friends hurt victims more than if the sam Read More...
Women's Safety NSW are calling to have new laws to protect women
Date of Posting: 16-09-2020
Women's Safety NSW says the criminalisation of coercive control is vital if Australia is to reduce violence against women and domestic homicide. Domestic violence survivors and advocates are calling on the NSW government to criminalise coerciv Read More...
Children report increased anxiety, trauma from Hazelwood mine fire
Date of Posting: 15-09-2020
On 9 February 2014, the open-cut brown coal mine servicing the Hazelwood power station in the Latrobe Valley caught fire due to nearby bushfires. The coal mine fire burned for 45 days, covering Morwell and other communities across the Latrobe Valley Read More...
Should I stop running if my knee hurts?
Date of Posting: 15-09-2020
The most common site for pain in recreational runners is the knee. For some, especially older runners, the pain can be a symptom of osteoarthritis. But does running worsen knee pain and osteoarthritis? A study from Canada shows that m Read More...
Here's what we know about CTE, the brain condition that affected Danny Frawley
Last Updated: 15-09-2020
News emerged this week former AFL footballer Danny Frawley was suffering from a brain disease called CTE when he died last year, according to reports received by the Victorian Coroner. Chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, refer Read More...
Grab a rope: seven reasons why skipping is so good for you
Last Updated: 15-09-2020
While many of us may remember skipping as something we did as children, the pastime has regained popularity during the pandemic as a way of keeping fit. Not only is jumping rope a fun, affordable and portable form of exercise, it also has ma Read More...
Lymphoma rates jump 37% in past decade, with further significant increase still to come
Date of Posting: 15-09-2020
Today is World Lymphoma Awareness Day and the Leukaemia Foundation is highlighting the rising incidence of one of Australia’s most common blood cancers. Over the past 10 years, incidence of lymphoma have risen by 37%, leading to close to 700 Read More...
Short-term day surgery model here to stay
Date of Posting: 15-09-2020
Short stay models of care for major orthopaedic surgery may be a way forward to make healthcare more affordable and sustainable, but cautions need to be exercised, according to a recent panel discussion with leading stakeholders in Australia’s Read More...
Former Prime Minister Keating says Australia should adopt HECS model for aged care
Date of Posting: 14-09-2020
Former Prime Minister Paul Keating says Australia should adopt an aged care model similar to the HECS university scheme and recover costs from people's assets. Aged care in Australia should operate under a HECS-style model where costs are reco Read More...
Health Minister Hunt hopeful of early 2021 vaccine
Last Updated: 14-09-2020
Health Minister Greg Hunt says the AstraZeneca Oxford coronavirus vaccine is on track for Australian use early next year after clinical trials resumed. Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt is quietly hopeful about the prospects of a vaccine for Austr Read More...
Here's what under 50's need to know about bowel cancer
Date of Posting: 11-09-2020
If you’re under 50, the recent death of Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman of colon cancer at just 43 may have prompted a worrying thought. Isn’t colon cancer – also known as bowel cancer – an older person’s di Read More...
New glove-like device mimics sense of touch
Date of Posting: 11-09-2020
UNSW engineers have invented a soft wearable device which simulates the sense of touch and has wide potential for medical, industrial and entertainment applications. What if you could touch a loved one during a video call – particularly in t Read More...
Diarrhoea, stomach ache and nausea: the many ways COVID-19 can affect your gut
Last Updated: 11-09-2020
Media reports earlier this week described a Queensland nurse with stomach pains who went on to test positive for COVID-19. Could stomach pains be another symptom of COVID-19? And if you have stomach pains, should you get tested? &nb Read More...
'Died from' or 'died with' COVID-19? We need a transparent approach to counting coronavirus deaths
Last Updated: 11-09-2020
The COVID-19 death toll is reported every day by state and federal governments. These numbers are often used, alongside case numbers, to assess how public health policies are faring in controlling the pandemic, and to gauge the success of various Read More...
New research shows Aussies are drinking and using cannabis more
Last Updated: 10-09-2020
Australians have been drinking and using cannabis more often during the coronavirus pandemic, new research shows. Two in five Australians have been drinking more alcohol during the coronavirus pandemic, a new study shows.[subscribe] The Global Read More...
Understanding Australia's virtual care needs
Date of Posting: 09-09-2020
Health systems around the world have been looking closely at ways that virtual care could enhance the sustainability of health services, a shift accelerating as COVID-19 drives a rapid and widespread uptake of telehealth technology by consumers and h Read More...
A virtual garden brings hope in this pandemic
Last Updated: 08-09-2020
Lifeline's John Brogden says COVID-19 restrictions are exacerbating people's isolation, with many left to grieve or struggle with their thoughts alone. Lifeline plans to send a powerful message to those struggling during the pandemic invit Read More...
RACGP helping people care for COVID-19 positive patients at home
Date of Posting: 08-09-2020
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) is helping people in Australia care for patients with the COVID-19 virus at home. The RACGP has released a home-care guide for people caring for those with mild COVID-19 as well as guid Read More...
New PCOS study shows individualised treatment is best
Date of Posting: 08-09-2020
A new Cochrane Review comparing the two most common treatments used in the long-term medical management of the condition polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), the oral contraceptive pill (OCP) or metformin, shows individualization of treatment provides t Read More...
Designing rural health and aged care services
Date of Posting: 08-09-2020
By Don Marshall, Health Sector Lead - QLD, Partner with ThomsonAdsett Imagine having spent your entire life working the family farm in rural Australia only to retire and be forced to leave the area you love because there are inadequate residential Read More...
Psychological abuse: obstetric care must delve deeper
Date of Posting: 08-09-2020
As domestic violence skyrockets amid COVID-19, women’s health experts are calling for compulsory training of obstetric health practitioners to ensure they can recognise the signs of coercive control for women in their care. The recommendatio Read More...
Research reveals new ideas about autism and social interaction
Date of Posting: 08-09-2020
New research suggests people with autism may not have as much difficulty imagining the thoughts of others as previously believed. The brains of people on the autism spectrum can infer what others think, contrary to a commonly held view that says t Read More...
A new surgery offers hope for people with sleep apnoea
Last Updated: 08-09-2020
Australian sleep specialists say new surgery offers hope to millions of people who suffer from obstructive sleep apnoea but can't adapt to using a CPAP mask. Australian experts say simple surgery could be a dream come true for the billion peop Read More...
Weekly injection could treat type 2 diabetes, new enzyme discovery suggests
Last Updated: 04-09-2020
A newly discovered protein produced by the liver, and which helps to control blood sugar levels, could potentially revolutionise treatment for type 2 diabetes. Our research, published today in Science Translational Medicine, found tha Read More...
Erectile dysfunction meds are more affordable
Last Updated: 04-09-2020
A generic version of a popular drug to treat erectile dysfunction is now available to Australian men, with a potential saving of nearly $200 a month. A popular erectile dysfunction medication has just become more affordable for the 20 per cent of Read More...
World Physiotherapy Day focuses on respiratory illness
Last Updated: 04-09-2020
September 8, 2020, marks World Physiotherapy Day, a global event that recognises the importance of physiotherapists in the community. This year’s theme, ‘rehabilitation after severe respiratory illness’, is crucial to shedding light Read More...
Understanding your menstrual cycle can be key to achieving exercise goals
Last Updated: 03-09-2020
It’s pretty normal to feel full of energy for exercise some days, and as though you can’t be bothered on other days. For women, there’s a physiological explanation behind this. While men’s hormone levels do cha Read More...
Climate change and the tyranny of psychological distance
Date of Posting: 03-09-2020
With last summer’s bushfires largely out of the headlines, has the psychological distance people might feel towards climate change increased? UNSW Sydney’s Professor Ben Newell has been researching climate change psychology for a decad Read More...
Worry increases, distancing decreases during COVID second wave
Date of Posting: 03-09-2020
Victoria’s COVID-19 second-wave outbreak and related lockdown has seen a spike in anxiety and worry among Australians everywhere, but particularly in Victoria, new data from The Australian National University (ANU) shows. The latest survey f Read More...
