News Articles
How a rethink of emergency care is closing the gap, one person at a time
Date of Posting: 06-01-2020
This is one of our occasional Essays on Health, about one community’s attempt at closing the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous health in the Northern Territory. It’s a long read. You can see the gap driving through the ma Read More...
Sights set on solving problem smoking
Date of Posting: 06-01-2020
A new approach to support long-term smokers to quit will be trialled in Adelaide this year, building on a decade of research into finding solutions to tobacco addiction. The program, funded by Cancer Australia, will focus on low socio-economic sta Read More...
Therapy at home helping people with dementia
Date of Posting: 06-01-2020
Receiving occupational therapy at home has been found to be effective for people living with dementia, according to a University of Queensland-led study. Associate Professor Sally Bennett from the UQ School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences sa Read More...
Important changes to improve the quality of aged care start today
Date of Posting: 06-01-2020
The quality of aged care provided to senior Australians will be significantly strengthened as Government measures come into effect today. From 1 January 2020, the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission will be bolstered with additional functions Read More...
Possible dementia vaccine closer after mice studies
Date of Posting: 06-01-2020
A vaccine to ward off dementia may proceed to clinical trials after successful animal testing. The US-led research is looking to develop effective immunotherapy via a dual vaccine to remove ‘brain plaque’ and tau protein aggregates lin Read More...
Steps to make a healthier and safer start to 2020
Last Updated: 06-01-2020
As the countdown to New Year’s Eve celebrations begin, the Alcohol and Drug Foundation is encouraging Australians to plan ahead and follow some simple steps to help make a healthier and safer start to 2020. Chief Executive Office Read More...
Queensland government calls for inquiry into cancer screening
Date of Posting: 03-01-2020
Claims that about 1000 Queensland patients may have been misdiagnosed in cancer screenings dating back to 2012 have prompted a government investigation. The Queensland government says it will investigate how about 1000 patients may have been misdi Read More...
A measles alert has been issued for Sydney's inner west
Date of Posting: 02-01-2020
A man who travelled on trains and buses across Sydney in the past week has been diagnosed with highly-contagious measles. A measles alert has been issued for Sydney's inner west and other locations after a young man contracted the highly-conta Read More...
Report shows Aussies underestimate alcohol drinking guidelines
Date of Posting: 23-12-2019
New research looking into Australians' understanding of responsible drinking highlights the social responsibility behind alcohol drinking constraint. Australians believe responsible drinking has to do with caring for people around you, not how Read More...
Melbourne's supervised injecting room will be separated from a drug outreach service
Date of Posting: 20-12-2019
Melbourne's supervised injecting centre will be separated from a needle exchange and outreach service after two health workers were accused of drug trafficking. The October allegations against the North Richmond Community Health workers sparke Read More...
Are Dental Implants Covered By Health Insurance?
Date of Posting: 18-12-2019
The most common query from patients who are thinking about dental implants is the cost. The second most common question asked of dentists in Australia is whether or not health insurers will cover implants. The short answer is maybe, the long answer i Read More...
Diabetes and pregnancy can be a tricky (but achievable) mix
Last Updated: 18-12-2019
The number of people with diabetes is expected to increase from 463 million in 2019 to 700 million by 2045 globally. So more women with diabetes will be having babies in the future. If you have diabetes, here’s how to have the best cha Read More...
From face masks to air purifiers: what actually works to protect us from bushfire smoke?
Last Updated: 18-12-2019
Bushfire smoke has now been blanketing parts of Australia for months. This week the air quality in Sydney reached new lows, reported to be 12 times hazardous levels in some parts of the city on Tuesday. Beyond being stifling and unpleasant, Read More...
Early medical abortion is legal across Australia but rural women often don't have access to it
Last Updated: 18-12-2019
Around one in six Australian women have had an abortion by their mid-30s. These women come from all age groups and demographics: some are mothers already, while others are child-free; some are partnered, others are single. [subscribe] Ab Read More...
Asthma warning as heatwaves sweep across Australia
Date of Posting: 18-12-2019
With sweltering summer temperatures predicted for many parts of Australia the National Asthma Council Australia is warning people with asthma or hay fever to be well prepared. Asthma Council CEO Siobhan Brophy says that the record-breaking tempera Read More...
Remove profit motive from tobacco to deal with mass addiction, researchers urge
Date of Posting: 18-12-2019
Governments worldwide need to create non-profit supply systems for tobacco and nicotine products because of their potential to cause significant and avoidable harm, researchers from the University of Otago say. In an article in the international j Read More...
NSW health department issued a public warning after a spike in viral gastroenteritis
Date of Posting: 18-12-2019
A spike in the number of gastro outbreaks in December has prompted NSW Health to issue a warning to the community to wash their hands and stay home if sick. The NSW health department has issued a public warning after a spike in viral gastroenterit Read More...
Aussie men are drowning at five times the rate of women
Date of Posting: 18-12-2019
Aussie men are being urged to stop showing off near the water, as alarming statistics reveal they are drowning at almost five times the rate of women. New data from Royal Life Saving Society, released on Wednesday, reveals 80 per cent of the 2855 Read More...
Report shows most Aussie kids not eating their veggies
Date of Posting: 17-12-2019
A report providing a snapshot of the health and habits of Aussie kids has shown some areas for improvement. The latest snapshot of the habits and health of Australia's children shows two-thirds are in front of screens for more than an hour eve Read More...
New federal government alcohol guidelines recommend having no more than 10 standard drinks in a week
Date of Posting: 17-12-2019
New federal government draft alcohol guidelines recommend having no more than four standard drinks on any one day and no more than 10 standards drinks in a week. The previous weekly guideline set in 2009 was 14 standard drinks in a week.[subscribe Read More...
Bushfire related air pollution in NSW have been declared a public emergency
Date of Posting: 16-12-2019
A leading group of doctors and other health professionals say NSW's recent hazardous air quality is a public health emergency. Doctors, nurses and medical scientists have united to declare bushfire-related air pollution in NSW a public emergen Read More...
Foreign Minister Marise Payne will travel to New Zealand after volcano blast
Date of Posting: 16-12-2019
Foreign Minister Marise Payne will travel to New Zealand to meet Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in the wake of the deadly White Island volcanic eruption. The visit comes as an Australian victim caught in the blast died in Sydney's Concord Hospi Read More...
Dangerous smoke choking Sydney could be causing long-term damage even to healthy people
Date of Posting: 12-12-2019
Thick smoke blanketing parts of Australia's east could cause long-term health damage, with experts warning it will get worse if climate change isn't tackled. Dangerous smoke choking Sydney could be causing long-term damage even to healthy Read More...
Date of Posting: 12-12-2019
BPH Energy Limited (ASX:BPH) investee Patagonia Genetics has acquired the rights to a recently discovered and rare high CBD hemp strain. Known as the Carmangola Italian Hemp strain, it is an industrial hemp strain derived from Italy and cultivated Read More...
Is a Fitbit a reliable way to track sleep?
Date of Posting: 11-12-2019
With the growing popularity of fitness watches that track personal data, including sleep, more people are using the information to inform choices about their health. But is this information really accurate? And can it be helpful to doctors?[subscr Read More...
USC research to diagnose 'invisible' illness faster
Date of Posting: 11-12-2019
A USC researcher has been awarded a prestigious National Health and Medical Research Council grant worth more than $1.2million to help find the underlying neurobiological factors that cause chronic fatigue syndrome and help diagnose it faster. Als Read More...
Gene network spars future autism treatment
Date of Posting: 11-12-2019
A mutated gene found in people with intellectual disabilities that could be targeted for treatment has been identified by an international team including University of Queensland researchers. The gene, USP9X, regulates a network of genes underlyin Read More...
Fitness consultations in oncology care motivate child cancer survivors to be more active
Date of Posting: 11-12-2019
Just one exercise physiology consultation is enough to improve motivation and exercise levels among most child cancer survivors, UNSW Sydney study finds. Almost three quarters of child cancer survivors increased their general exercise after just o Read More...
Governments urged to act on new national alcohol strategy
Date of Posting: 11-12-2019
The Alcohol and Drug Foundation is urging Federal and State Governments to act on policies outlined in the new National Alcohol Strategy, aimed at preventing and minimising alcohol-related harms. Chief Executive Officer, Dr Erin Lalor AM welcomed Read More...
Concussion recovery not clear cut for children
Date of Posting: 11-12-2019
Sleep problems, fatigue and attention difficulties in the weeks after a child’s concussion injury could signal reduced brain function and decreased grey matter. Researchers from The University of Queensland have studied persistent concussion Read More...
Brain cancer is now the most deadly form of the disease among Victorian children
Date of Posting: 10-12-2019
Cancer Council Victoria has released 2018 data revealing brain cancer has become the biggest cause of deaths from the disease among children. Brain cancer is now the most deadly form of the disease among Victorian children.[subscribe] A Cancer Read More...
Three young people are dead after 91 suspected drug overdoses in Perth
Date of Posting: 10-12-2019
West Australian police have expressed alarm after three young people died among 91 suspected drug overdoses across a four-day period. Three young people are dead after 91 suspected drug overdoses in Perth across four days, described as the biggest Read More...
New Stolen Generations resources to guide GPs, dentists, aged care
Date of Posting: 09-12-2019
General practitioners, dentists and the aged care sector will be better placed to support Stolen Generations survivors following the launch of new resources at Parliament House today. The resources, launched by the Minister for Indigenous Australi Read More...
New Discovery: How chronic pain changes your brain and personality
Last Updated: 06-12-2019
In a world-first, Australian researchers have found that people with chronic pain experience physical alterations in their brain that likely leads to negative changes in their personality. The study by Associate Professor Sylvia Gustin from Neuros Read More...
Health workers use new app to reduce falls in older Australians by up to 30 per cent
Date of Posting: 06-12-2019
In an Australian first, healthcare workers in New South Wales and Victoria are using a new clinically-tested home exercise app to improve balance and reduce fall risk among older Australians. StandingTall, developed by Neuroscience Research Austra Read More...
Saving little lives - new funding for a national stillbirth awareness public health campaign
Date of Posting: 06-12-2019
Red Nose Australia welcomes the Federal Government’s announcement today that it has awarded significant new funding to Red Nose and its partners to launch a national stillbirth awareness campaign. Red Nose Australia CEO Keren Ludski said Red Read More...
Uncontrolled online marketing of e-cigarettes putting youth at risk
Date of Posting: 04-12-2019
Only 10 per cent of New Zealand websites selling vaping products require proof of age before purchase, researchers from the University of Otago, Wellington, have found. In an article published in today’s New Zealand Medical Journal, the rese Read More...
New report shows Victorians forget their skin cancer check
Date of Posting: 04-12-2019
Almost nine out of 10 Victorians have not had a skin check in the past year, while 41 per cent have never had one, a new report says. More than half of Victorians reckon they're sun smart, but new research shows almost nine in 10 haven't h Read More...
Victoria's WorkCover scheme is hurting long-term injured workers
Date of Posting: 03-12-2019
Victoria's WorkCover scheme to help long-term injured workers has made "immoral and unethical" decisions, a report by the state's ombudsman reveals. Victoria's WorkCover scheme is hurting long-term injured workers with its &q Read More...
Australian researchers have found food imports full of unlisted allergens
Date of Posting: 03-12-2019
Foods imported from Asia are packed with undeclared allergens that could threaten the lives of people with severe allergies, Australian researchers have found. Australians with severe food allergies have been warned products imported from Asia are Read More...
