News Articles
A parliamentary committee calls to set up national allergy register
Date of Posting: 15-06-2020
A parliamentary committee has recommended the government set up a national allergies register and a federal body to oversee allergies research in Australia. A national register should be set up to list allergy-related medical episodes or deaths, a Read More...
Coronavirus: how physiotherapists are helping patients recover
Last Updated: 15-06-2020
Most people who contract coronavirvus (COVID-19) recover. But about 14% will have a severe infection, and a further 6% will become critically ill. Research shows 16% of those hospitalised need an intensive care bed – often for prolonged peri Read More...
How academics in health sciences cope with stress
Date of Posting: 15-06-2020
Higher education is becoming a stressful occupation, research shows. And academics in health professions experience additional sources of stress related to clinical training. Yet these academics, working in fields like psychology, physiothera Read More...
Heading back to the gym? Here's how to avoid injury after coronavirus isolation
Last Updated: 15-06-2020
To the joy of many, indoor gyms are reopening across Australia as coronavirus restrictions continue to ease. They officially reopen in New South Wales on June 13, in Tasmania two days later, and in Victoria on June 22. They are already open Read More...
Maternal depression: seeking help sooner is better for mums and kids
Date of Posting: 15-06-2020
The children of mothers with long-term depression have been found to be at higher risk than others of behavioural problems and poor development. University of Queensland researchers analysed depression levels in 892 mothers and the development and Read More...
Stop asking for COVID-19 clearance "certificates"
Date of Posting: 15-06-2020
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) has called on employers, school principals and day care managers to stop requiring employees, students and parents to provide a “medical clearance” or certificate stating that Read More...
Serious Incident Response Scheme
Date of Posting: 15-06-2020
A Serious Incident Response Scheme will be introduced by the Morrison Government to protect vulnerable and senior Australians from abuse and neglect. The initial $23 million investment will be rolled out from July 1, 2021.[subscribe] The announ Read More...
RACGP welcomes new commitment to rural health
Date of Posting: 15-06-2020
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) is welcoming today’s announcement that the role of the National Rural Health Commissioner will be extended. The Federal Government has announced that legislation will be introduce Read More...
Later bedtimes fine for pre-schoolers if they get enough sleep
Date of Posting: 15-06-2020
Parents of pre-schoolers can take reassurance from new Otago research which shows early bedtimes aren’t vital for healthy development, as long as young children get enough sleep. A new study led by Dr Melyssa Roy, from the University of Otag Read More...
GPs left in the dark about major changes to reduce harms from prescription opioids
Date of Posting: 15-06-2020
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) is calling for improved communication to GPs after they were not adequately informed about major changes to prescription opioid prescribing. It comes after the RACGP welcomed the change Read More...
Virtual connections can combat loneliness
Date of Posting: 11-06-2020
Positive virtual contact with neighbours is a key antidote to feeling lonely, according to new research. Researchers from The Australian National University (ANU) say that even just one meaningful interaction, virtual or face-to-face, can have las Read More...
RACGP welcomes decision on "heat not burn" tobacco
Date of Posting: 11-06-2020
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) has today welcomed the Therapeutic Goods Administration’s (TGA) interim decision to block the sale of “heat not burn” tobacco products in Australia. The RACGP argued i Read More...
Rural areas need more personalised dementia care
Date of Posting: 11-06-2020
Despite calls from the Federal government’s Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission, increased personalised care for people with dementia in aged care homes located in rural Australia is not being delivered at the required levels – with p Read More...
Therapy for children with severe behavioural problems works online
Date of Posting: 11-06-2020
A real-world trial has tested the effectiveness – and revealed the challenges – of adapting behavioural therapy to the online world. Families in regional and rural NSW have gained virtual parenting support through a live trial led by r Read More...
A Declaration on the stroke 'pandemic'
Date of Posting: 11-06-2020
“COVID-19 has spurred government interventions and individual behaviour change on a global scale that was previously inconceivable, yet we have effectively been living with a stroke pandemic for years,” says Professor of Epidemiology and Read More...
The mental health of fathers of babies born very prematurely
Date of Posting: 11-06-2020
Becoming a dad and preparing for fatherhood can be daunting and for those who have had a baby born very prematurely, there can be extra pressures and responsibilities to navigate. A recent collaborative study, involving the Turner Institute for Brain Read More...
Parents concerned children could catch COVID-19 at school
Last Updated: 11-06-2020
Parents of school-aged children were very concerned that their children may catch COVID-19 if schools were reopened at Alert Level 3 despite no evidence supporting this view, a new University of Otago, Christchurch study reveals. The survey of 119 Read More...
More support needed for GPs on the frontline of COVID-19
Last Updated: 11-06-2020
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) is urging government to provide more support for GPs protecting patients during the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. In its submission to the Senate Select Committee on COVID-19’s inquir Read More...
Free shingles vaccine vital for over-70s
Date of Posting: 11-06-2020
Older Australians are being urged to keep having free shingles vaccinations – along with their annual flu injection – to keep pushing down the incidence of the painful chicken pox-related condition. The warning follows a study of the r Read More...
New wound-healing research project wins NASA tick of approval
Date of Posting: 11-06-2020
A group of Australian scientists has caught the attention of NASA with a novel technology development that could potentially heal wounds in days rather than weeks without using stitches. The research team from Southern Cross University is pioneeri Read More...
New agreement brings fairness back to public hospitals
Date of Posting: 11-06-2020
The new National Health Reform Agreement has the potential to end the practice of public hospitals “harvesting” privately insured patients for their insurance benefits and ensure Australians who need care get it based on clini Read More...
COVID-19 patients who undergo surgery are at greatly increased risk of dying following surgery
Date of Posting: 11-06-2020
Patients undergoing surgery after contracting coronavirus are at greatly increased risk of death following surgery, a new global study published in The Lancet reveals. Researchers from the international COVIDsurg collaborative found that amongst SARS Read More...
Adelaide to be home for new cancer treatment
Date of Posting: 10-06-2020
A new medical development in Adelaide will be home to a proton therapy device that will improve the treatment of tumours as well as cut costs to patients. Cancer treatment across the Asia-Pacific will be "revolutionised" with reduced cos Read More...
Calls for a better education campaign for patients and doctors on good cholesterol levels
Date of Posting: 10-06-2020
Doctors want people to start taking cholesterol treatment more seriously with new data revealing half of those with heart disease not completing treatment. Nearly half of Australians with heart disease aren't getting enough treatment for their Read More...
Nurses In Action program launched to improve health access and increase skill sharing opportunities
Date of Posting: 09-06-2020
World Youth International are excited to announce the launch of their revised Nurses In Action Kenyan program, which will commence taking place as soon as travel restrictions ease. The covid-19 outbreak has had a significant impact on World Youth Read More...
Impressive result for mental health therapy
Date of Posting: 09-06-2020
As Australia looks for the most efficient assessment and treatment of mental health in the era of COVID-19 lockdowns and disruptions, the outcomes of a national trail, published by Flinders University researchers, has identified the effectiveness of Read More...
New awards to celebrate disability, allied health, aged care and community sector professionals
Date of Posting: 09-06-2020
Nominations have today opened for the inaugural HESTA Excellence Awards, which recognise the dedicated professionals working in disability, allied health, aged care and community services. With a $60,000 prize pool up for grabs, the new Awards wil Read More...
Better support for sexual abuse victims under new training for first responders
Date of Posting: 09-06-2020
A new federal grant awarded to Monash University will improve the way frontline workers and health professionals respond to victims of sexual violence. The Minister for Families and Social Services, Senator the Hon. Anne Ruston, today announced th Read More...
Council welcomes the Victorian Government's Medically Supervised Injecting Facility announcement
Date of Posting: 09-06-2020
Yarra City Council today welcomed the Victorian Government’s three-year extension to the Medically Supervised Injecting Facility in Richmond and the introduction of a second facility, expected to be located in the City of Melbourne. Yarra al Read More...
Cutting through COVID-19 myths with science communication
Date of Posting: 09-06-2020
Associate Professor Darren Saunders is known for keeping misinformation in check and helping the public to better understand science. The medical researcher also won a prestigious Eureka Prize for his outstanding contribution to public science com Read More...
Dietary and physical activity intervention reduces LDL cholesterol level in children
Date of Posting: 09-06-2020
An individualised and family-based physical activity and dietary intervention reduced the plasma LDL cholesterol concentration of primary school children, a new study from the University of Eastern Finland shows. The findings of the Physical Activity Read More...
New app helps people monitor COVID-19 symptoms from home and identify mental health needs
Date of Posting: 09-06-2020
A new app that helps patients in self-isolation monitor for symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) and identify their mental health needs has been developed by a team of medical and digital experts. CovidCare provides self-monitoring support to patien Read More...
Millennial mental health toll spikes during COVID
Date of Posting: 09-06-2020
There has been a spike in severe psychological distress in young Australian adults under 35, according to new analysis from The Australian National University (ANU). The study – which tracked 3,155 Australians – is the first-of-its-kin Read More...
Increase in HIV cases, but decline in numbers first diagnosed in New Zealand
Date of Posting: 09-06-2020
After two years of declining numbers of HIV cases in New Zealand, there was a slight increase in 2019, but many of these cases were first diagnosed overseas. Figures released today by the AIDS Epidemiology Group, University of Otago, show a total Read More...
RACGP urges Australians to seek help for alcohol and other drug issues
Date of Posting: 09-06-2020
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) has welcomed changes introduced to help reduce the harms associated with prescription opioids as part of a suite of measures to reduce opioid-related harm. Under changes to the Pharmace Read More...
The New Zealand government confirmed COVID-free status
Date of Posting: 08-06-2020
New Zealand has no active cases of coronavirus after the recovery of the last person identified by health authorities with COVID-19. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says she "did a little dance" of joy with daughter Neve when she learned N Read More...
Australian and Norwegian scientists team up to produce COVID-19 vaccine
Date of Posting: 05-06-2020
Scientists in Australia and Norway are hoping a new biotechnology could help get a COVID-19 vaccine onto the streets by the end of 2021. Australian and Norwegian researchers are teaming up to try and mass produce a coronavirus vaccine by the end o Read More...
Australia's life expectancy slows, while inequality grows
Last Updated: 05-06-2020
New research published in Australian Population Studies shows that people living in outer regional, remote and very remote areas have premature death rates about 40 per cent higher than those in major cities, and the gap is growing. The disparity Read More...
Improving access to early medical abortion amid COVID-19
Last Updated: 05-06-2020
To mark today’s International Day of Action on Women’s Health (May 28), a newly formed coalition of key stakeholders and clinician experts is advocating rapid policy and practice-based changes to improve the accessibility of early medical Read More...
The full circle: from student to midwifery mentor
Date of Posting: 05-06-2020
Julie Jessen was one of Wintec’s very first midwifery students to enrol in 1996. Since graduating she has helped to deliver 1,400 babies. Several decades later she has come full circle and now mentors Wintec midwifery students.[subscribe] Read More...
