News Articles
Voices from the frontline help fight pandemic
Date of Posting: 04-08-2020
Health workers are being encouraged to share their experiences working on the frontline of COVID-19 via WhatsApp thanks to a smart initiative developed by The Nossal Institute for Global Health and the School of Computing and Information Systems at T Read More...
Many Indigenous patients won't tell hospitals they're Indigenous for fear of poorer care
Last Updated: 04-08-2020
The federal government recently announced 16 Closing the Gap targets, seen by some as a policy re-set for yet another “once in a generation” chance to address Indigenous disadvantage. But one barrier Indigenous people still face Read More...
PPE unmasked: why health-care workers in Australia are inadequately protected against coronavirus
Last Updated: 04-08-2020
In Victoria, more than 1,100 health-care workers have now been infected with SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. Some 11% of active cases are workers in the health-care sector. Health-care workers are reported to Read More...
Graduate on cutting edge of respiratory testing in UK
Date of Posting: 04-08-2020
USC Biomedical Science graduate Kellie Strickland had to pinch herself when she landed in England in September last year to take up a respiratory physiologist position at the Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth. “This was a prospect I had Read More...
Popular high blood pressure drug linked to increased skin cancer risk in older Australians
Date of Posting: 04-08-2020
Hydrochlorothiazide use increases older people’s risk of developing skin cancer, a study by UNSW Sydney scientists has shown – but the researchers warn against suddenly stopping the medicine. Hydrochlorothiazide – one of th Read More...
Bupa announces telehealth is here to stay
Date of Posting: 04-08-2020
The move to virtual healthcare, driven by COVID-19, is here to stay with health insurer Bupa announcing that its customers will continue to be covered for a range of popular telehealth services under applicable Extras health insurance products. Th Read More...
Experts say face masks can trigger trauma for victims
Date of Posting: 03-08-2020
With the introduction of mandatory masks in Victoria and other states advocating for their use, experts say it can be a serious concern for trauma survivors. As face masks become increasingly de rigueur for millions of people living in Victoria an Read More...
Fears for culturally and linguistically diverse patients avoiding healthcare due to COVID-19
Last Updated: 03-08-2020
Culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) patients are being urged to take care of their health and contact their GP for any issues following concerns some may be avoiding medical care due to fear of the COVID-19 virus. The Royal Australian Col Read More...
An international trial to sniff out COVID-19
Date of Posting: 30-07-2020
Detection dogs are being trained to sniff out COVID-19 infections as part of an international study. Not only are dogs man's best friend but they're also being trained to sniff out COVID-19 infections.[subscribe] Researchers from the Un Read More...
Australia's researchers have found an Alzheimer's therapy treatment
Last Updated: 30-07-2020
Australian researchers have discovered a treatment that could reverse the effects of memory loss associated with Alzheimer's disease. Australian researchers are hopeful they have found a treatment that could reverse the impacts of memory loss Read More...
New Zealand will charge international arrivals
Last Updated: 30-07-2020
A new scheme to charge entrants to New Zealand has been attacked as unworkable and pointless. The New Zealand government has announced plans to start charging some international arrivals, allowing citizens to return to live for free, but not holid Read More...
Sniffles, sneezing and cough? How to tell if it's a simple allergy rather than The Virus
Date of Posting: 29-07-2020
We’re told to stay home if we feel unwell during the COVID-19 pandemic. But what if your sniffles, sore throat or cough aren’t infectious? What if they’re caused by hayfever or another allergic reaction? You may be doing a lot mo Read More...
Why is the government restricting Medicare funds for ECGs?
Last Updated: 29-07-2020
From August 1, if the federal government has its way, Medicare will stop paying for GPs to interpret common heart tests called electrocardiograms, or ECGs. Health Minister Greg Hunt says the decision is based on safety advice from a t Read More...
Here's what we know so far about the long-term symptoms of COVID-19
Last Updated: 29-07-2020
We’re now all too familiar with the common symptoms of COVID-19: a fever, dry cough and fatigue. Some people also experience aches and pains, a sore throat, and loss of taste or smell. Sufferers with mild illness might expect to Read More...
Viral hepatitis treatment and policy must place affected communities at centre
Date of Posting: 29-07-2020
An annual trends report says addressing the impact of COVID-19, stigma and the distrust of public health is needed to ensure harm reduction and raise treatment numbers. Health support services should engage more deeply with communities affected by Read More...
New covid clinic pop-ups has been set up in Sydney
Date of Posting: 29-07-2020
A new pop-up COVID-19 testing clinic has been set up in Sydney's east due to fears about the possibility of further spread from a Potts Point cluster. A number of new pop-up COVID-19 testing clinics have been set up as the number of confirmed Read More...
A couple in Melbourne gave away free masks
Date of Posting: 28-07-2020
A Melbourne couple is making facemasks to give away to people in their community during the pandemic and their kindness has prompted neighbourhood camaraderie. Once word went around that face masks would become mandatory, a Melbourne husband and w Read More...
RACGP improving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander healthcare
Date of Posting: 27-07-2020
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) has today launched position statements to improve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander healthcare. It comes as the RACGP celebrates the 10-year anniversary of its National Faculty of A Read More...
Extra care and vigilance needed in aged care to protect people living with dementia
Date of Posting: 27-07-2020
Dementia peak body acknowledges the devastating impact that COVID-19 is having on older Australians, particularly on people living with dementia who are some of the most vulnerable people in the community. Dementia Australia CEO Maree McCabe said Read More...
Technology to promote communication of emotion in times of social isolation
Date of Posting: 27-07-2020
A new artificial intelligence (AI) and augmented reality (AR) device which recognises and reads the emotional cues of those around us could be a welcome step in combating mental health disorders experienced as a result of COVID-19. Researchers fro Read More...
Almost 600 COVID-19 cases at Victoria aged care homes
Last Updated: 27-07-2020
More than 550 Victorian aged care residents and staff have been infected with coronavirus, as the state marked its deadliest day. Hundreds of Victorian aged care residents and staff are battling COVID-19, with the death toll expected to rise in th Read More...
NSW police have fined several venues across the state for breaching COVID-19 safety measures
Last Updated: 27-07-2020
The number of COVID-19 cases linked to a western Sydney Thai restaurant has risen to 67 while dozens of people and several hospitality venues have been slapped with fines for breaching coronavirus safety measures. NSW recorded 14 new cases in the Read More...
How this family's foster care journey changed their lives forever
Last Updated: 24-07-2020
Molly* and her husband Joe* never really considered becoming foster carers. Already parents to four biological children, it wasn’t something they knew or thought much about. When their daughter Sarah* – who has a mild intellectual disa Read More...
The City of Melbourne says no to safe injecting site
Last Updated: 23-07-2020
The City of Melbourne has voted against a Victorian government push to locate the state's second safe injecting room across from a popular market. The City of Melbourne has voted against a state government push to put another medically supervi Read More...
Police will enforce Melbourne's new mask rule
Date of Posting: 23-07-2020
Police will be out in force to ensure Melburnians are wearing a mask when they leave their house as Victoria continues to record high coronavirus numbers. The new mandate for Melburnians to mask up has come into effect and police have warned they Read More...
Immunity to COVID-19 may not last. This threatens a vaccine and herd immunity
Date of Posting: 22-07-2020
How is the world going to go back to the days when we could grab a coffee, see a movie, or attend a concert or footy game with anyone? Opinion suggests there are two options: an effective vaccine, or herd immunity via at least 60-80% Read More...
Is psychiatry shrinking what's considered normal?
Last Updated: 22-07-2020
Psychiatric classifications catalogue the many forms of mental ill-health. They define what counts as a disorder and who counts as disordered, drawing the boundary between psychological normality and abnormality. In the past century t Read More...
Victoria's latest elective surgery slowdown is painful but necessary
Last Updated: 22-07-2020
Just weeks after allowing public hospitals to restart elective surgeries, the Victorian government has ordered Melbourne hospitals to defer category 3 procedures again. Category 3 procedures include hip and knee replacements and catar Read More...
'Genomic fingerprinting' helps us trace coronavirus outbreaks. What is it and how does it work?
Date of Posting: 22-07-2020
If you had told me in January that “genomics” would become a buzzword in 2020, I’d have thought you were crazy. But the COVID-19 pandemic has brought medical science to the top of our nightly news bulletins. And now, Read More...
Breakthrough blood test detects positive COVID-19 result in 20 minutes
Date of Posting: 22-07-2020
World-first research by Monash University in Australia has been able to detect positive COVID-19 cases using blood samples in about 20 minutes, and identify whether someone has contracted the virus. In a discovery that could advance the worldwide Read More...
World's smallest blood vessel imaging device made
Date of Posting: 21-07-2020
A team of South Australian and German researchers and clinicians have developed the world's smallest imaging device to look inside blood vessels. The world's smallest imaging device to look inside blood vessels has been developed to help s Read More...
Victorians are required to wear masks
Last Updated: 20-07-2020
Wearing a mask will be compulsory for people living in Victoria's locked down areas as an inspection blitz of at-risk workplaces begins. Efforts to control Victoria's alarming COVID cases have ramped up with Melburnians told to wear a mask Read More...
4 unusual things we've learned about the coronavirus since the start of the pandemic
Date of Posting: 17-07-2020
It is now almost six months since the world became aware of COVID-19, and almost four months since the World Health Organisation declared a pandemic. As the number of people infected with the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus grows, so does our Read More...
The 10 things a skin specialist recommends for winter skin
Last Updated: 17-07-2020
Skin feeling tight, irritated, perhaps flaking and just generally looking dull? Say hello to winter skin! It happens every year and yet we never quite prepare ourselves for the head-to-toe havoc it causes.[subscribe] The bad news is that strang Read More...
Australians urged to monitor their diabetes management during the COVID-19 pandemic
Date of Posting: 17-07-2020
This National Diabetes Week, the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) and Diabetes Australia are urging Australians living with diabetes to look after their health and wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic. The updated editio Read More...
World-first technology breathes new life into cystic fibrosis detection and treatment
Date of Posting: 17-07-2020
World-first research led by Monash University could hold the key to better monitoring and treatment of lung disease associated with cystic fibrosis (CF) – a condition thousands of people are diagnosed with each year. Using X-ray velocimetry Read More...
Rebooting healthy eating habits in child cancer survivors
Date of Posting: 17-07-2020
Fussy eating and taste changes are common side effects of cancer treatment – now, a healthy eating program designed by UNSW medical researchers wants to help parents get their child’s diet back on track. A pilot healthy eating program Read More...
Federal government will fund disability among elderly
Date of Posting: 17-07-2020
The aged care royal commission has been told the commonwealth's aged care funding instrument is too restrictive and stops patients getting the help they need. The federal government's aged care funding model promotes disability among older Read More...
Victoria records highest COVID-19 cases
Date of Posting: 17-07-2020
Victoria has recorded 317 new coronavirus cases, the nation's biggest daily increase since the pandemic began, as well as two more deaths. Victoria has recorded the nation's biggest daily increase of coronavirus cases, as authorities insis Read More...
Elderly should be kept at home to save mental health
Last Updated: 16-07-2020
An aged care expert has told an inquiry keeping people out of aged care homes would reduce the prevalence of mental illnesses including dementia, and cut costs. Keeping people out of aged care homes will save taxpayers in the long term as the faci Read More...
